John Taverner was the leading composer of church music under Henry VIII. His contributions to the mass and votive antiphon are varied, distinguished and sometimes innovative; he has left more important settings for the office than any of his predecessors, and even a little secular music survives. Hugh Benham, editor of Taverner?s complete works for Early English Church Music, now provides the first full-length study of the composer for over twenty years. He places the music in context, with the help of biographical information, discussion of Taverner?s place in society, and explanation of how each piece was used in the pre-Reformation church services. He investigates the musical language of Taverner?s predecessors as background for a fresh examination and appraisal of the music in the course of which he traces similarities with the work of younger composers. Issues confronting the performer are considered, and the music is also approached from the listener?s point of view, initially through close analytical inspection of the celebrated votive antiphon Gaude plurimum.

The Secrets of Dr. John Taverner by Dion Fortune invites readers on an extraordinary journey into the esoteric world of occult mysteries and hidden realms. Within the pages of this captivating book, Fortune skillfully weaves together elements of magic, psychology, and spiritual exploration, offering a unique perspective on the human psyche and the hidden forces that shape our lives. Set in the backdrop of a mysterious psychiatric institution, the story follows the enigmatic Dr. John Taverner as he delves into the depths of the human mind and encounters supernatural beings from other planes of existence. As Taverner unravels the secrets of his patients' psyches, he discovers a hidden reality that exists beyond the boundaries of conventional understanding. With its blend of mysticism, suspense, and psychological insight, this book invites readers to embark upon a thrilling odyssey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening, where the secrets of the universe and the depths of the human psyche converge in a tapestry of wonder and enlightenment.

This book develops an innovative approach for understanding the relationship between music and words in the works of five major composers of the English Renaissance: John Taverner, Christopher Tye, John Sheppard, Thomas Tallis, and William Byrd. Focusing on these composers’ settings of the Latin Credo, the author shows how musical and linguistic emphasis can be used to understand the composers’ theological interpretations of the text. By combining markedness theory with style analysis, this study demonstrates that the composers used their musical skills to not only create beautiful music but also raise certain elements of the text to the foreground of perception and relegate others to supporting roles, inviting listeners to experience the familiar words of the liturgy in unique ways. Providing new insights into the changing musical and religious world of the sixteenth century, this book is relevant to anyone researching music or religion in early modern England, while offering a flexible and widely adaptable tool for the analysis of musical-textual relationships.