Composer

:

Thomas Morley

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Publication Date

:

1959

Average_duration

:

2:42

'Eheu sustulerunt Dominum' is a sacred choral work composed by Thomas Morley, an English composer, organist, and theorist of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the late 16th century, around 1590, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is a lamentation for the death of Christ, and its text is taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah. The piece is written for four voices, with the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass parts each having their own distinct melodies and harmonies. It is divided into three movements, with each movement having its own unique character and mood. The first movement is marked "Lamentatio I" and is in a slow, mournful tempo. The text is sung in a homophonic style, with all four voices singing together in unison. The harmonies are simple and somber, with dissonances used to create a sense of tension and sadness. The second movement, marked "Lamentatio II," is faster and more rhythmic than the first. The text is sung in a polyphonic style, with each voice singing its own melody and rhythm. The harmonies are more complex than in the first movement, with frequent modulations and chromaticism. The final movement, marked "Lamentatio III," is the most complex and dramatic of the three. It begins with a slow, mournful section, similar to the first movement, but then builds to a powerful climax with the text "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum" ("Jerusalem, Jerusalem, turn to the Lord your God"). The harmonies are rich and full, with frequent use of suspensions and dissonances to create a sense of tension and release. Overall, 'Eheu sustulerunt Dominum' is a powerful and moving work that showcases Morley's skill as a composer. Its use of complex harmonies and polyphonic textures, combined with its somber and mournful mood, make it a masterpiece of Renaissance choral music.

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