Talk:O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)

About the disposition of voices for this anthem

It is normally described as for SATTB in modern editions starting with a G minor chord. But CPDL cover sheet says 'SSATB'. Only Ted Dean's edition (starting A minor) could be assigned SSATB, though the alto is low in places: but he describes it as for SATTB!

In my view, the range of 'old' alto parts - sung originally by (male) countertenors - is often difficult for today's (female) contraltos. Transposition up alters the sonority and so is also a compromise that needs careful balancing.

I think the CPDL cover sheet should say 'SATTB'.

Alan Knight —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Marghek (talk • contribs) on 06:03, 31 December 2007.

As no-one objected, I made that change (SATTB in place of SSATB). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Marghek (talk • contribs) on 15:10, 3 January 2008.

Hi Alan. Thanks for flagging this up. I agree with your suggestion of "SATTB" on the score page. Having said that, the alto in the Dean edn (SSATB) is reasonably low but not out of a contralto or countertenor's range, in my opinion, which I'd say goes down to the G below middle C. I've just corrected the voicing categories (at the bottom of the page) so that the page is categorised as SATTB and SSATB. Regards --Bobnotts talk 20:10, 3 January 2008 (PST)