John Taverner - His Life and Music

Hugh Benham, editor of Taverner's complete works for Early English Church Music, now provides the first full-length study of John Taverner (c.1490-1545) for over twenty years. He places the music in context, with the help of biographical information, discussion of Taverner's place in society, and explanation of how each piece was used in the pre-Reformation church services. He investigates the musical language of Taverner's predecessors as background for a fresh examination and appraisal of the music in the course of which he traces similarities with the work of younger composers. Issues confronting the performer are considered, and the music is also approached from the listener's point of view, initially through close analytical inspection of the celebrated votive antiphon Gaude plurimum.

List of contents

Contents: Introduction; The life of John Taverner; The sources of Taverner's music; Some performance issues; Music and worship, with a catalogue of Taverner's work; Taverner's musical background; Taverner's style and technique: Gaude Plurimum; Ave Dei Patris Filia and O Splendor Gloriae; Mater Christi, O Christe Jesu Pastor Bone and the incomplete antiphons; The masses Gloria Tibi Trinitas, Corona Spinea, and O Michael; The masses for five and four voices; Music for the Office; The songs, and Quemadmodum; Conclusion; Appendices; Notes; Bibliography; Discography; Index.

About the author

Hugh Benham

Summary

John Taverner was the leading composer of church music under Henry VIII. His contributions to the mass and votive antiphon are varied, distinguished and sometimes innovative. In this volume, Hugh Benham provides a full-length study of John Taverner and his work.

Product details

• Authors: Hugh Benham, Benham Hugh
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 28.11.2003
• EAN: 9780754601425
• ISBN: 978-0-7546-0142-5
• No. of pages: 350
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 234 mm x 21 mm
• Weight: 453 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music > General, dictionaries; RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical, Biography: historical, political & military, Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups, MUSIC / Individual Composer & Musician, MUSIC / Religious / Christian, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Classical, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Renaissance style, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church, Composers and songwriters, Biography: historical, political and military, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, c 1500 to c 1600, Art music, orchestral and formal music, Medieval & Renaissance music (c 1000 to c 1600), Medieval style, Sacred and religious music, Sacred & Religious Music