The Forty Part Motet - Spem in Alium

Thomas Tallis’s monumental composition, Spem in Alium, a colossal work of the early Renaissance, was featured in Janet Cardiff’s installation ‘The Forty Part Motet’ in the Wellington Art Gallery as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival last year. On Saturday 23 July, The Tudor Consort will give Wellington audiences a chance to hear this magnificent work performed live in the beautiful acoustic of Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Just as the eight banks of speakers were arranged ‘in the round’ in Cardiff’s installation, the eight 5-part choirs will be situated in a circle around the audience. “An eyewitness account of the original performance of Spem makes it clear that the performers were arranged in this way,” says Music Director Michael Stewart. “This gives a breathtaking stereophonic experience for the audience, who will be able to hear the choir's pass musical phrases over the top of them, not to mention the overwhelming effect when all forty parts sing together.”

The Tudor Consort will also perform Ecce Beatam Lucem, the 40 voice motet by Alessandro Striggio that spurred Tallis to compose his own masterpiece.

“Once more, this superb, world-class choir which is far more than simply an ‘early music’ ensemble, delivered performances of warmth, precision, wide-ranging expressiveness, beauty and impressive ensemble.”
- Lindis Taylor, Middle C (April 2011)