Search - Thomas [Composer] Tallis, Peter Phillips, The Tallis Scholars :: Tallis: Spem in Alium

Superb recording of music rarely heard

PARTHO ROY | Tampa, Florida USA | 09/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whereas Dominican Friars are carolling all the way to the (charitable) bank with their recently in-vogue CD's of medieval chants juxtaposed against New Age beats, there waits the Tallis Scholars group with a more serious interpretation of this venerable church music. "Spem in alium" is a superb recording of the antiphonal choral music composed by Oxford's musical giant of times past, Thomas Tallis. Featuring a variety of his choral music for ensembles both intimate and grand, these gifted singers exemplify outstanding vocal skill, brilliant acoustic engineering (Merton College chapel, I believe), sensitive and scholarly interpretation, and (most important) historical authenticity--no Enigma beats here. For a true musical experience of this centuries-old style, head straight for the Old Guard and purchase this CD for serious appreciation."

Rolling Waves of Voices

Andrew Hingston | Saint Helena, CA United States | 07/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Spem in Alium was Tallis' Doctoral Thesis, and thus a piece intended to display his complete mastery of techniques in liturgical music. Though outlandish in its conception, it was not particularly innovative or experimental. However, as a forty-part motet, it's form is cerainly rare if not wholly unique. Tallis compositional idiosyncracies aside, this CD is absolutely first-rate. There are other recordings of Spem in Alium (and the other of Tallis' works on this CD) nearly as good -- but none finer. The singing is all beautifully clear and manages to be warmly emotional without being Romantic. The accoustic is superb, full and alive without being cloudy, and, like all Gimell recordings I've heard, the actual recording quality is as near to perfect as can be -- which means you hear everything in the music, but are not particulary aware of the recording as a recording. Whether or not you like early music, or liturgical music, or choral music, or English music, or any combination of them: all you have to do to be impressed and completely delighted with this CD is like music. Any kind of music. No one should be without this -- no matter what the rest of their collection consists of. A great record in every way."

A warhorse in my collection?

NotATameLion | Michigan | 03/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Tallis Scholars recording of their namesake's "Spem in alium" is a crystal-clear, though somewhat ungenerous disc (forty-three minutes) that has become a warhorse in my musical collection. As with all the Tallis Scholars recordings that I have heard, "Spem in Alium" is a thing of true beauty. I rank it alongside their recording of Palestrina's assumption Mass and Obrecht's Missa Maria Zart as some of their best work. "Spem in alium" is something to hear. There are very few pieces of early music that even come close to its scope or grandeur. I suggest waiting until you are all alone in the house and then cranking the volume way up--it is the only proper way to truly drink in this music.Yet, for as great as the grand title track is, the real jewel for me on this recording is the "Gaude gloriosa." One cannot listen to this stirring, intense music without being moved. This program of music, though short, is very well put together. The singing is first rate. The recording captures everything perfectly. I highly recommend this CD.
."