Album insights
The early Tudor England, during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, was marked by an insular nature and a xenophobic population. An Italian visitor in 1497 noted the English people's self-love and innate antipathy towards outsiders. However, composer John Taverner defied this stereotype by showing respect for foreign musicians and continent-based composition techniques. Taverner's works like the Motet and Mass Mater Christi sanctissima displayed imitative counterpoint and structural contrasts resembling Josquin Des Prez's style, with the Western Wynde Mass showcasing a near-Lutheran finesse in blending secular influences with sacred music.
During this period, England's church life was under the control of the Pope, with the Italian visitor observing lavish church decorations and a superstitious, soul-concerned laity. Taverner's later rejection of this orthodoxy led to regret for his papist compositions. In 1526, Cardinal College, a new institution founded by Cardinal Wolsey, saw the choral direction of Taverner provide a unique blend of English and continental influence in musical settings. Taverner's Motet Mater Christi sanctissima exemplified this fusion, resonating deeply with Marian devotion prevalent at Wolsey's college. The subsequent Missa Mater Christi sanctissima, while not contemporarily documented, was reconstructed expertly, showcasing Taverner's astute musical transformation within a rich religious tapestry.
Taverner's tenure at Cardinal College eventually drew suspicion for his Lutheran leanings, but as a mere musician, he evaded severe consequences. His Western Wynde Mass, drawing from a secular melody, captured the spirit of the time, blending religious and worldly influences. Taverner's innovative reuse of melodies in the Masses revealed his remarkable artistry and strategic musical adaptations that set him apart from his peers. The dynamic interplay between text and music in Taverner's compositions reflected a deeply thoughtful approach, elevating his works to a level of intricate sophistication that placed him among the great composers of his era.