Tallis's 40-Part Motet: Spem in alium

The 2021-2022 Cathedral Concert Series presents the choirs of the Cathedral Church of the Advent and St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, in a performance of Thomas Tallis’s 40-part motet “Spem in alium,” along with other choral works, conducted by Woo-sug Kang and Frederick Teardo.

Thomas Tallis’s monumental motet Spem in alium nunquam habui comprises 40 separate vocal parts – a combination of eight five-voice choirs. Scholars debate when and why it was written. Some scholars believe it was written in the 1570s for Elizabeth I’s 40th birthday, others believe it was written upon commission by the Duke of Norfolk as a challenge, and yet others theorize it was written nearly 20 years earlier. In any event, the great motet Spem in alium is a most challenging work to perform, given the resources it demands, and performances of it are rare. The Cathedral Choir will join forces with the Choir of St. George’s, Nashville, to perform this work in Birmingham and Nashville. The performance will be supplemented by other choral works sung by both choirs.