If ye love me - Arpa D'or / Thoma Tallis - Christian Anthems and Hymns

Audio CD 2004

English Description:

Arpa d'Or - HU

The Arpa d’Or  Vocal  Ensemble was founded in 1995. Their first important concert was in 1998, they have been giving several concerts each year since. The aim of the ensemble is to bring the audience, especially focusing on young people, closer to the hardly known vocal works of the Renaissance. The repertoire of Arpa d’Or consists of several genres of church music (starting from the early polyphony unto Dufay, Tallis, Lassus, Palestrina ending with Gesualdo) as well as XVI. Century wordly works (such as Lassus’s Villanelle and Moresche and songs of Dowland). It is important for the ensemble to present church music in its original context, within the liturgy as well. The first CD of the Arpa d’Or Ensemble was released in 2001. On the album ”Vigilate” there are renaissance compositions from the whole liturgical year. The ensemble’s latest CD ”If ye love me”, recorded two years ago, presented the Anthems of Thomas Tallis.


Artistic Director - Péter Mészáros

"If Ye Love Me" is a four-part motet or anthem by the English composer Thomas Tallis, a setting of a passage from the Gospel of John. First published in 1565 during the reign of Elizabeth I, it is an example of Tudor music and is part of the repertoire of Anglican church music. An early homophonic motet in English, it is frequently performed today, and has been sung at special occasions including a papal visit and a royal wedding.

Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 – 23 November 1585) was an English composer who occupies a primary place in anthologies of English choral music. He is considered one of England's greatest composers, and he is honoured for his original voice in English musicianship.No contemporaneous portrait of Tallis survives; the one painted by Gerard Vandergucht dates from 150 years after Tallis died, and there is no reason to suppose that it is a likeness. In a rare existing copy of his blackletter signature, he spelled his name "Tallys".

Tracklist / Song list:

1 IF YE LOVE ME 2.21
2 O LORD, GIVE THY HOLY SPIRIT 2.26
3 Hear the Voice and Prayer 3.23
4 A NEW COMMANDEMENT  3.10
5 Verily, Verily I Say unto you 2.14
6 O LORD IN THEE IS ALL MY TRUST 4.33
7 PURGE ME,O LORD 2.02
8 OUT FROM THE DEEP 2.01
9 REMEMBER NOT, O LORD GOD 4.31
10 BENEDICTUS 6.27

TUNES FOR ARCHBISHOP PARKER’S PSALTER
11 THEFIRSTTUNE 0.59
12 THESECOND TUNE 0.48
13 THETHIRDTUNE 0.50
14 THE FOURTH TUNE 0.51
15 THE FIFTHTUNE 0.55
16 THE SIXTH TUNE 1.04
17 THE SEVENTH TUNE 0.46
18 THE EIGHTH TUNE 1.06
19 “TALLIS” ORDINAL 0.50
20 CHRIST RISING AGAIN 5.15
21 BLESSED ARE THOSE 4.03