Hello Christopher,
Tye's book sets out the first 14 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles,
from the New Testament, rewritten in rhyming couplets. At the head of
each chapter is a setting for four voices of the first couple of
verses. The music looks simple, but has some compositional tricks in
it: chapter 9 has two voices in canon and chapter 14 has all four.
The interest for me is not just that this is early in the Protestant
adventure (though Tye's timing was not that great, since 1553 was the
year that 'Bloody' Mary came to the throne), but also -
a) that it's very early in the English lute adventure, at least in
terms of surviving music
b) that Tye is one of the great 16th century English composers
c) that the book was dedicated to Prince (sic) Edward, himself a
lutenist according to Spring (p. 54). Tye is bold enough in his
preface to suggest that the king should play these verses on his lute
instead of songs of 'wanton love'.
So it would be great if they were indeed viable lute repertoire.
Peter
2009/12/26 Christopher Stetson <[1]cstet...@smith.edu>
I've worked some from Richard Allison's "Psalmes of David..."
years
ago, but not Tye. I'd have to check, but I remember Allison as
having lute, cittern, and bass (viol) parts, along with vocal
quartet.
It was interesting, but IMO it depends how Protestant you want to
get
whether they're worth the effort.
Tye's 1553 publication date, so early in the English Protestant
adventure, might make it illuminating. Do you know what the
relation
is to the New Testament book of the same name?
Best, and keep playing yet again,
Chris.
>>> Peter Martin <[2]peter.l...@gmail.com> 12/26/2009 8:54 AM >>>
Matthew Spring's book contains a reference to Christopher Tye's
Acts
of
The Apostles, published in 1553, with music "to synge and also
play
upon the Lute".
However, Tye's book (available on EEBO) doesn't have any lute
tablature, just four voice parts. Has anyone tried doing these
songs
on lute? Worth the effort?
P
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