Robert Fayrfax (1464-1521) and John Taverner (1490-1545)

John Taverner's grave Photo: James Yardley CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

2014 was the year of Robert Fayrfax’s 550^th birthday. In this programme, Peter Watts combines an exploration of his works with those of fellow Tudor composer, John Taverner.

Thomas Morley was a 16^th century music commentator who praised Fayrfax and Taverner. A couple of hundred years later, the 18^th century music historian Charles Burney said “It seems as if Fayrfax and Taverner should not have been ranked, as they are by Morley, with those of a much higher class at a later period.”

In the intervening years, musical notation and probably also musical taste had changed so much as to make the earlier music seem to lack substance. By the 20^th century attitudes had changed again. Now in the 21^st, Peter Watts revisits all of these ideas to bring us an insightful commentary on Fayrfax and Taverner’s works.

Music Details

HENRY VIII: Pastime with Good Company - Early Music Consort of London/ David Munrow (Testament SBT 1250)
FAYRFAX: Magnificat (Regale) - The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers (Collins 13142)
FAYRFAX: Sumwhat musing - The Cardinall’s Musick/ Andrew Carwood (ASV CD GAU 142)
FAYRFAX: Missa O Quam Glorifica (Sanctus) - The Cardinall’s Musick/ Andrew Carwood (ASV CD GAU 142)
FAYRFAX: Magnificat (Regale) - The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers (Collins 13142)
FAYRFAX: Eterna laudis lilium - The Cardinall’s Musick/ Andrew Carwood (ASV CD GAU 160)
TAVERNER: Dum transisset Sabbatum - The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers (Helios CDH 55054)
TAVERNER: Mater Christi - Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford/ Stephen Darlington (Avie AV 2123)
TAVERNER: Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas - The Tallis Scholars/ Peter Phillips (Gimmell CDGIM 004)
TAVERNER: Missa Gloria Tibi Trinitas - The Tallis Scholars/ Peter Phillips (Gimmell CDGIM 004)
TAVERNER: In Nomine - Fretwork (Harmonia Mundi HMU 907502)
TAVERNER: Leroy Kyrie - The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers (CDH 55054)