Christopher Tye’s Mass Euge bone: Sanctus

Throughout September, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates the music of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century England.


https://youtu.be/jU5eK-LuEXM

The English composer, organist, and Anglican rector Christopher Tye (c.1505–before 1573) was an important figure in the musical life of England. He was a favourite of Edward VI, and may even have taught the future king music. Even after he “retired” from the Chapel Royal after his ordination, he apparently still returned to London occasionally, as evidenced by this quote: “Dr Tye was a peevish and humoursome man, especially in his latter days, and sometimes playing on the organ in the chapel of Queen Elizabeth, which contained much music but little delight to the ear. She would send the verger to tell him that he played out of tune, whereupon he sent word that her ears were out of tune” (The Life and Times of Anthony à Wood).

No one is quite sure what the title of Christopher Tye’s Mass Euge bone refers to or means. As Chris Whent says, “Probably Tye's most important Latin work is the six-part Mass Euge bone, . . . The title is a mystery. There was no ritual item 'Euge bone'; but the Common of one Confessor or Bishop had a respond and antiphon 'Euge serve bone'. The melody of neither is used in the Mass however, and there appears to be no other borrowed material in it. The six-part scoring implies use on an important occasion, but the Mass is a fairly compact one. . . . There is some limited repetition of sets of imitative entries; but this technique is unusual in Tye's Latin music . . .” And Nigel Davison says, “The fact that the mass has a title implies that it is not free-composed, but is either based on a plainsong Euge bone, or is a parody mass . . .”.

The Sanctus from the Mass Euge bone is a great example of Tye’s versatility. The homophonic opening is followed by wonderful flowing polyphony. The Mass is composed for six voices, and the top treble part is a joy to sing; I sang this many times and always looked forward to seeing it on the schedule.

My classical music post for today is the Sanctus from Christopher Tye’s Mass Euge bone.

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