Tallis, THOMAS

Tallis, THOMAS, 'the father of English cathedral music,' lived in the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. The date of his birth is unknown, but it is believed to have been between 1510 and 1520. His first known appointment was that of organist of Waltham Abbey, which he held till the Abbey was dissolved in 1540, when it is conjectured he became a 'gentleman of the Chapel Royal.' In Day's Psalter, published in 1560, there appear eight tunes composed by Tallis, one of these being still used to Ken's evening hymn. In 1575-76 letters-patent were granted to Tallis and William Byrd (q.v.) according to them 'the exclusive privilege of printing music and ruled music paper for twenty-one years.' The first work printed under this patent was issued in 1575, entitled, 'Cantiones quæ ab argumento Sacrae vocantur, quinque et sex partium,' containing sixteen motets by Tallis and eighteen by Byrd. Tallis died on 23d November 1585, and was buried in the chancel of Greenwich parish church, with an epitaph in verse, which was afterwards set to music by Dr Cooke as a glee. Tallis, besides writing a large number of anthems, pieces, responses, and Te Deums (a complete list of which appears in Grove's Dictionary of Music), was the author of a celebrated work—'Song of the Forty Parts,' composed for eight choirs of five voices each. Tallis, it has been well said, was 'one of the greatest contrapuntists of the English school. His works are invested with great learning and much dignity, and are highly calculated to impress by their solemnity and power.'