The story goes that the London musical crowd of 1567 was in a spin over Ecce beatam lucem, a choral work for 40 individual voices by Allessandro Striggio. At the time there was competition between English and Continental music publishers. The Duke of Norfolk issued a challenge to English musicians to better the Italian effort and the result was Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis.

Another version says that Tallis wrote the 40 part motet for the 40th birthday of Queen Elizabeth I in 1573. The choice of text, from the Book of Judith, may have been to flatter the Queen, comparing her to the heroic Judith.

But even that may not be the truth. The strictly Catholic Tallis may have written Spem to honour the Catholic Queen Mary, in defiance of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth.

Whatever the truth, Spem is Alium is one of the treasures of Elizabethan English music. It is scored for 40 individual voices, divided into eight choirs of five voices each. The opening theme weaves its way through the eight choirs one by one, until all 40 voices come together in a climax at the 40th bar.

Spem in alium numquam habui praeter in te Deus Israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis Domine Deus Creator coeli et terra respice humilitatem nostram

I have never put my hope in any other but in you God of Israel who will be angry and yet become again gracious and who forgives all the sins of suffering man Lord God Creator of Heaven and Earth look upon our lowliness

It is possible that the first performance of Spem in Alium was at the banquet hall of Arundel Castle, an octagonal room that would have accomodated the eight choirs to perfection. A listener in this room would have music from heaven coming from all directions, a Renaissance version of surround sound.

Other recordings of Spem include women in the soprano parts or organ or instrumental accompaniment. This, however is an authentic version, being sung only by the men and boys of the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, led by Stephen Cleobury. Spem is a showpiece, and this recording brings out the deliciously rich texture of this tapestry of sound.

Coupled with the Lamentations of Jeremiah I and II, Tallis's last works and some lesser known works, this CD is to be savoured, the perfect introduction to the greatest of English Renaissance music.

Editorial note - this CD is no longer available. However many of the recordings on this CD have been incorporated into a 2 CD set of the music of Thomas Tallis. The Amazon buttons above link to this 2 CD set, available at bargain price.

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