THOMAS TALLIS - SPEM IN ALLIUM

Thomas Tallis was one of the most important British composers of the Renaissance period. He was born around 1505. He composed many choral works and other sacred music (religious music) as: anthems and psalms.

Spem in alium is the most popular of his compositions. The most remarkable fact is that it's a motet written in 40 parts! So it requires 8 choirs of  5 voices each (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass). 

The text is written in Latin:

Spem in alium nunquam habui

Praeter in te, Deus Israel

Qui irasceris et propitius eris

et omnia peccata hominum

in tribulatione dimittis

Domine Deus

Creator caeli et terrae

respice humilitatem nostram

I have never put my hope in any other

but in You, O God of Israel

who can show both anger and graciousness,

and who absolves all the sins

of suffering man

Lord God,

Creator of Heaven and Earth

be mindful of our lowliness