Antiphon: Gloria tibi Trinitas

Today is Trinity Sunday. In the musical and liturgical situations that I have served, it is always celebrated with great solemnity and "massive" joy. Favorite hymns are sung, and there are several famous anthems and motets that feature prominently. Often, a "Te Deum" is sung, and in America, this Sunday often marks the "close of the choir season."

The music I'm uploading today is all "early English." It doesn't have the "grandeur" of the music I just described, but hopefully, all of the "quality" of the composers who wrote it.

Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 – 23 November 1585) occupies a primary place in anthologies of English choral music, and is considered one of England's greatest composers. No contemporary portrait of Tallis survives. In a rare existing copy of his black letter signature, the composer spelled his last name "Tallys."

Little is known about his early life, but there seems to be agreement that he was born in the early 16th century, toward the close of the reign of Henry VII. He was probably a boy chorister of the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace, the same singing establishment which he later joined as a Gentleman. His first known musical appointment was in 1532, as organist of Dover Priory. His career took him to London, then to Waltham Abbey, a large Augustinian monastery, dissolved in 1540.

His next post was at Canterbury Cathedral. He was next sent to Court as Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1543. Throughout his service to successive monarchs as organist and composer, Tallis avoided the religious controversies that raged around him, though, like William Byrd, he stayed an "unreformed Roman Catholic."

His music ranges from the most elaborate Latin Mass settings to the "simply" perfect motet, "If ye love me."

This small Trinity antiphon is quite well-known. It is played upon the beautiful Third Open Diapason 8' of the Great, which I believe is one of the most perfect stops on this organ.

The score and photos are attached below.