Chapel Royal Composers & Anthems
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Kelsey LegoreChapel Royal Composers & Anthems
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Kelsey LegoreChapel Royal Part 2
Gibbons
1583-1625
Gentleman in 1606, Degree from Cambridge, then held many positions
Two full services, 40 anthems 13 madrigals
Weelkes
1576-1623
Gentleman in 1602 (or so he claims), Degree from Oxford
10 services (six verse, four full), 50 anthems, 100 secular pieces
Tomkins
1572-1656
Degree from Oxford, Gentleman in 1620, organist in 1621
Five services, 121 anthems, 30 madrigals
Sacred work published posthumously as Musica Deo sacra, 1668.
Chapel Royal ~1600-1662
● 1558–1603 - Reign of Elizabeth I
● 1600- Anthem is commonplace in the Anglican service
● 1603–1625- Reign of James I
● 1625–1649- Reign of Charles I
● 1662- Anthem officially added to the Order of Service in the Book of Common Prayer
Characteristic Techniques:
● Full: Choir only
● Verse: Choir, soloist, and organ
Today’s Selections:
1. This is the record of John (Gibbons)
a. Verse Anthem
b. Soloist accompanied by viols, full chorus accompanied by organ
c. Recording: Magdalen College, Oxford
2. O clap your hands (Gibbons)
a. Full Anthem
b. Dense polyphony, with the exception of decani/cantoris exchanges
c. Recording: Nordic Choir, Luther College
3. Hosanna to the Son of David (Weelkes)
a. Full Anthem
b. Soloistic lines bring attention to text
c. Recording: Oxford Camerata
4. When David heard that Absalom was slain (Weelkes)
a. Spiritual madrigal
b. Cross-relation
c. Recording: The Sixteen
5. When David heard that Absalom was slain (Tomkins)
a. Spiritual madrigal
b. Cross-relation
c. Recording: The Sixteen
6. Behold, I give you glad tidings (Tomkins)
a. Verse Anthem
b. Expanded voicing
c. Recording: St. John’s College, Cambridge
What was the main sacred compositional vehicle of early 17th century Chapel Royal
composers? The Anthem
How did they create musical interest within this form? Verse and Full, imitation, soloistic
passages, instrumentation, expanded voicings
Bibliography:
Bowers, Roger and Johnstonel, Diack. “London: Music At Court- The Chapel Royal” In Grove Music
Online. Oxford Music Online (accessed June 15, 2019).
Brett, Philip. “The Two Musical Personalities of Thomas Weelkes.” Music & Letters, vol. 53, no. 4, 1972,
pp. 369–376. JSTOR, [Link]/stable/733287.
Harper, John et all. “Anthem” In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online (accessed June 15, 2019).
Shrock, Dennis. Choral Repertoire. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Discography:
The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. “Orlando Gibbons: With A Merrie Noyse- Second Service &
Consort Anthems.” harmonia mundi usa, 2005.
The Nordic Choir and Allen Hightower. “Holy, Radiant Light.” Luther College Recordings, 2012.
The Oxford Camerata and Jeremy Summerly. “Weelkes: Anthems.” Naxos, 1996.
The Sixteen and Harry Christophers. “Poetry in Music.” Coro, 2015.
The Sixteen. “Renaissance - Music for Inner Peace.” 2004.
The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge and Andrew Nesingtha. “Tomkins: When David Heard.”
Chaccone, 2014.
