- Spem in alium nunquam habui (“I have never had hope in another”) is a motet (a short musical setting of a sacred text) for 40 voices. The piece likely dates from the late 1560s or early 1570s, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
- The motet was presented at court in 1573 for the Queen’s 40th birthday.1
- It is speculated that Tallis’s motet was inspired by another 40-voice religious work written by composer Alessandro Striggio. After hearing the piece while Striggio was on tour in England in 1567, Tallis may have written Spem in alium in competitive emulation.2
Spem in alium nunquam habui
Praeter in te, Deus Israel,
Qui irasceris, et propitius eris,
Et omnia peccata hominum
In tribulatione dimittis.
Domine Deus, creator caeli et terrae,
Respice humilitatem nostram.
I have never placed my hope
In any other than you, God of Israel,
Who can show both anger and graciousness
And absolve all the sins
of suffering man.
Lord God, creator of Heaven and Earth
Be mindful of our humiliation.3
Sources
- Betsy Schwarm, “Spem in alium nunquam habui,” Encyclopedia Britannica (2018), https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spem-in-alium-nunquam-habui.
- Paul Doe and David Allinson, “Tallis [Tallys, Talles], Thomas,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed September 8, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000027423.
- Betsy Schwarm, “Spem in alium nunquam habui,” Encyclopedia Britannica.
Cut IDs
46726 15754