Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)
Musical period: Late Renaissance/Early Baroque
Style: English Madrigal School, English Virginalist School
Fun Facts: An organist and student of William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins clung to the polyphonic tradition of the Renaissance during a time when new Baroque ideas were sweeping the music scene.
Tomkins was a Royalist and composed coronation music for Charles I. He lived to see the civil war, and lost his position, church, and organ, but continued to compose for keyboard and instrumental consort.
For your listening pleasure: A heart-breaking motet by Tomkins:
Score:
http://www.choralwiki.org/wiki/images/sheet/tomk-whe.pdf
Text: When David heard that Absolon was slain, he went up to his chamber over the gate, and wept: and thus he said, O my son Absolon, my son, my son Absolon! Would God I had died for thee, O Absolon, my son, my son!
Here is Tomkin’s “Sad Pavan for these Distracted Times” that he wrote after Charles I’s execution:
I really love that motet, although it has been long enough since Theory that I don’t really know what “motet” means any more, nor what you would call that 5th voice part? Anyway, beautiful. Thanks for the score, as well, because otherwise I do tend to get a bit lost in polyphonic vocal stuff.
The short story is that a motet is a sacred polyphonic setting of a Latin text. You’re probably thinking of the fifth voice being a cantus firmus, but this one is more of an imitative counterpoint motet than a cantus firmus motet. They can be for any number of voices (like the 40 parter back in the Tallis post).
I’m glad you like using the score! It helps me, too, to understand whats going on and I always seem to hear more when I’m looking at the music.
Hope you’re doing well