c1490-1545
Not to be confused with the contemporary sacred choral composer John Tavener, Taverner's music is something of a crossover between medieval music and the later, more elegant polyphony of the 16th and 17th century. He moved from being a clerk in a collegiate church to a choirmaster at Oxford. Later he returned to his native Lincolnshire, where he had a hand in the dissolution of the monasteries. Taverner is a complex composer, whose music benefits from repeated listening.
 |
Western Wynde Mass - The Sixteen.
A good exploration of the range of Taverner's haunting music from
the aptly glorious scale of the antiphon O Splendor (such antiphons were
sung as part of extra devotions after the evening service of Compline) to
the setting of the morning canticle, the Te Deum. Particularly interesting
is the Western Wynde mass, named for the folk tune on which the mass is
based. This practice was common on the continent, but may have first
entered England with this piece. Either as a result of the popularity of
this mass or the tune, a number of Taverner's contemporaries and
successors wrote masses around the same theme. Glorious stuff. - New
16 February 2000
- O Splendor Gloriae
- Te Deum
- Alleluia. Veni electa mea
- Mass 'The Western Wynde' - Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei
Looking for a particular type of music or a CD with a particular piece on? Drop us an e-mail and we'll try to help. Do let us know also if you can recommend on online resource and we'll add it to our lists.
Copyright © Creativity
Unleashed Limited 2006
Last update 27 March 2006
The site is part of the Creativity Unleashed Limited site. Click here to go to the Creativity Unleashed home page..
Return to our main Church Music page
For sheet music, try MusicRoom's site.
MP3 downloads (US ONLY):