Composer

:

John Taverner

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Publication Date

:

1990

Average_duration

:

5:07

John Taverner was a prominent English composer of the Renaissance period, known for his sacred choral music. One of his most famous works is "Dum transisset sabbatum (ii)," which was composed in the early 16th century. The piece is a setting of the Latin text from the Gospel of John, which describes the moment when Mary Magdalene and the other women visit Jesus' tomb on the morning after the Sabbath. The text is divided into three sections, each of which is set to music in a different style. The first section is a plainchant setting of the text, sung by a solo voice. This section is characterized by its simplicity and purity of tone, and sets the mood for the rest of the piece. The second section is a polyphonic setting of the text, sung by the full choir. This section is more complex than the first, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other to create a rich, layered sound. The music is characterized by its use of imitation, where one voice repeats a melody that has just been sung by another voice. The third and final section is a return to the plainchant setting of the text, sung by the full choir. This section is similar to the first, but with added ornamentation and embellishment. The music is characterized by its use of melisma, where a single syllable is stretched out over multiple notes. Overall, "Dum transisset sabbatum (ii)" is a beautiful and moving piece of music that showcases Taverner's skill as a composer. It was likely composed in the early 1520s, and was first performed at the Chapel Royal in London. Today, it remains a popular piece in the choral repertoire, and is often performed in churches and concert halls around the world.

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