Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod traces Tallis's career through the reign of 'Bloody' Mary and into that of her hated half-sister, Elizabeth I. There's music from both ends of the spectrum of Tallis's output - the simplicity of the setting (in English) of If ye love me, and the glorious, 40-part motet (in Latin), Spem in alium, one of the great masterpieces of music from any age.