Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter
Encyclopedia
In 1567 the English composer Thomas Tallis
contributed nine tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter, vernacular
psalm settings intended for publication in a metrical psalter
then being compiled for the first Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury
, Matthew Parker
:
These tunes were not separately named and appear to have become obscure for some centuries following the death of Tallis but the set includes some of his most famous melodies: the third, "Why Fum'th In Fight", in the third or phrygian mode
, was used by Ralph Vaughan Williams
as the basis of his Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
and became known as the "third mode melody"; the eighth is known as Tallis' Canon and the last is Tallis' Ordinal, which is still included in numerous hymnals.
Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis was an English composer. Tallis flourished as a church musician in 16th century Tudor England. He occupies a primary place in anthologies of English church music, and is considered among the best of England's early composers. He is honoured for his original voice in English...
contributed nine tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter, vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
psalm settings intended for publication in a metrical psalter
Metrical psalter
A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a book containing a metrical translation of all or part of the Book of Psalms in vernacular poetry, meant to be sung as hymns in a church. Some metrical psalters include melodies or even harmonizations...
then being compiled for the first Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
:
- Man Blest No Doubt (Psalm 1Psalm 1Psalm 1 is the first Psalm in the Bible. It has been dated to early in King David’s reign and is believed to have been divinely inspired by God. The righteous person is one who takes care to know the laws of God and so has good judgment and avoids bad company. The result is the ability to...
) - Let God Arise In Majesty (Psalm 68Psalm 68-Judaism:*Is recited on Shavuot in some traditions.*Verses 5-6 are part of the prayers recited following Motzei Shabbat Maariv.*Verse 20 is part of Uva Letzion.*Verses 35-36 are the fourth and fifth verses of V'hu Rachum in Pesukei Dezimra....
) - Why Fum'th In Fight (Psalm 2Psalm 2Psalm 2 is the second Psalm of the Bible. It tells us that we can either defy God and perish, or submit to him and be blessed. Psalm 2 itself does not identify its author, but Acts 4:25-26 clearly attributes it to David.-In the original Hebrew:...
) - O Come In One To Praise The Lord (Psalm 95Psalm 95Psalm 95 is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. One of the Royal Psalms, Psalm 93-99, praising God as the King of His people.-Judaism:*Is the opening paragraph of Kabbalat Shabbat.*Is recited on Shabbat Hagadol....
) - E'en Like The Hunted Hind (Psalm 42Psalm 42Psalm 42 op. 42 "Wie der Hirsch schreit" is a composition by Felix Mendelssohn composed in 1837/38 for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra....
) - Expend, O Lord, My Plaint (Psalm 5Psalm 5Psalm 5 is the 5th psalm from the Book of Psalms. Its authorship is traditionally assigned to king David. It is a reflection of how the righteous man prays for deliverance not only for freedom from suffering, but to allow himself to be able to serve God without distraction....
) - Why Brag'st In Malice High (Psalm 52Psalm 52Psalm 52 is the 52nd psalm from the Book of Psalms. It was written by David. In it, he is criticizing those who use their talents for evil....
) - God Grant With Grace (Psalm 67Psalm 67Psalm 67 is part of the biblical Book of Psalms.-Anglican Church:It may be recited as a canticle in the Anglican liturgy of Evening Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer as an alternative to the Nunc dimittis, when it is referred to by its incipit as the Deus misereatur .The main hymn...
, tune known as Tallis' Canon) - Ordinal (Veni CreatorVeni Creator SpiritusVeni Creator Spiritus is a hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. It is normally sung in Gregorian Chant and often associated with the Roman Catholic Church, where it is performed during the liturgical celebration of the feast of Pentecost...
)
These tunes were not separately named and appear to have become obscure for some centuries following the death of Tallis but the set includes some of his most famous melodies: the third, "Why Fum'th In Fight", in the third or phrygian mode
Phrygian mode
The Phrygian mode can refer to three different musical modes: the ancient Greek tonos or harmonia sometimes called Phrygian, formed on a particular set octave species or scales; the Medieval Phrygian mode, and the modern conception of the Phrygian mode as a diatonic scale, based on the latter...
, was used by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
as the basis of his Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, also known as the Tallis Fantasia, is a work for string orchestra by the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. It was composed in 1910, and performed for the first time in September of that year at Gloucester Cathedral for the Three Choirs Festival...
and became known as the "third mode melody"; the eighth is known as Tallis' Canon and the last is Tallis' Ordinal, which is still included in numerous hymnals.