John Taverner His Life and Music

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; he has left more important settings for the office than any of his predecessors, and even a little secular music survives. Hugh Benham, editor of Taverner?s complete works for Early English Church Music, now provides the first full-length study of the composer 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.

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.

Hugh Benham