Listening to a piece of music as a whole is important to truly appreciate it and understand what the composer was doing. In this “Watch” section you will normally have an option to choose a single piece of music and listen to it in full. However, since these pieces are so short, we recommend you watch all of them.
Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis (13 min)
Spem in alium (Latin for “Hope in any other”) is a 40-part Renaissance motet composed in c. 1570 for eight choirs of five voices each. It is absolutely extraordinary.
A Renaissance Lute Concert (20 min)
World-renown lutest Evangelina Mascardi plays John Dowland & his contemporaries on the Renaissance Lute with Frédéric Zigante. See below for the composers and pieces played.
Timing: A Ground by Anonymous – 0:09 | A Fancy by John Dowland (1563–1626) – 2:53 | Mrs. Clifton’s Almain by John Dowland – 5:32 | The right honourable The Lady Clifton’s Spirit by John Dowland – 6:55 | Robin by John Dowland – 8:45 | Forlorn Hope Fancy by John Dowland – 11:17 | A plaine Song by Thomas Robinson (c. 1560–1610) – 14:42 | La Rosignoll by Anonymous – 17:00
Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina (16 min)
This lovely recording only includes three sections: the Kyrie, Gloria, and Agnus Dei. Although you may have listened to some of these sections before, it’s worth hearing them again at a single setting.