Chapel Royal Part 2

Gibbons
1583-1625
Gentleman in 1606, Degree from Cambridge, then held many positions
Two full services, 40 anthems 13 madrigals

Weelkes
1576-1623
Gentleman in 1602 (or so he claims), Degree from Oxford
10 services (six verse, four full), 50 anthems, 100 secular pieces

Tomkins
1572-1656
Degree from Oxford, Gentleman in 1620, organist in 1621
Five services, 121 anthems, 30 madrigals
Sacred work published posthumously as ​Musica Deo sacra, ​1668.

Chapel Royal ~1600-1662

● 1558–1603 - Reign of Elizabeth I
● 1600- Anthem is commonplace in the Anglican service
● 1603–1625- Reign of James I
● 1625–1649- Reign of Charles I
● 1662- Anthem officially added to the Order of Service in the Book of Common Prayer

Characteristic Techniques:
● Full: Choir only
● Verse: Choir, soloist, and organ

Today’s Selections:
1. This is the record of John (Gibbons)
a. Verse Anthem
b. Soloist accompanied by viols, full chorus accompanied by organ
c. Recording: Magdalen College, Oxford
2. O clap your hands (Gibbons)
a. Full Anthem
b. Dense polyphony, with the exception of decani/cantoris exchanges
c. Recording: Nordic Choir, Luther College
3. Hosanna to the Son of David (Weelkes)
a. Full Anthem
b. Soloistic lines bring attention to text
c. Recording: Oxford Camerata
4. When David heard that Absalom was slain (Weelkes)
 a. Spiritual madrigal
b. Cross-relation
c. Recording: The Sixteen
5. When David heard that Absalom was slain (Tomkins)
a. Spiritual madrigal
b. Cross-relation
c. Recording: The Sixteen
6. Behold, I give you glad tidings (Tomkins)
a. Verse Anthem
b. Expanded voicing
c. Recording: St. John’s College, Cambridge

What was the main sacred compositional vehicle of early 17th century Chapel Royal
composers? ​The Anthem

How did they create musical interest within this form? ​Verse and Full, imitation, soloistic
passages, instrumentation, expanded voicings

Bibliography:

Bowers, Roger and Johnstonel, Diack. “London: Music At Court- The Chapel Royal” In Grove Music
Online. Oxford Music Online (accessed June 15, 2019).

Brett, Philip. “The Two Musical Personalities of Thomas Weelkes.” Music & Letters, vol. 53, no. 4, 1972,
pp. 369–376. JSTOR, ​www.jstor.org/stable/733287​.

Harper, John et all. “Anthem” In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online (accessed June 15, 2019).

Shrock, Dennis. Choral Repertoire. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Discography:

The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. “Orlando Gibbons: With A Merrie Noyse- Second Service &
Consort Anthems.” harmonia mundi usa, 2005.

The Nordic Choir and Allen Hightower. “Holy, Radiant Light.” Luther College Recordings, 2012.

The Oxford Camerata and Jeremy Summerly. “Weelkes: Anthems.” Naxos, 1996.

The Sixteen and Harry Christophers. “Poetry in Music.” Coro, 2015.

The Sixteen. “Renaissance - Music for Inner Peace.” 2004.

The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge and Andrew Nesingtha. “Tomkins: When David Heard.”
Chaccone, 2014.