Christes Crosse (after Thomas Morley) [Tashi Version]

Instrumentation

cl, vln, vc, pno

Year

2007

Duration

4:00

CHRISTES CROSSE is a setting for soprano and piano of a singing exercise found in Thomas Morley's PLAINE AND EASIE INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICALL MUSICKE of 1597. In the original a simple cantus floats above two lower parts which become increasingly complex and active as the piece unfolds. In my version these parts are transferred to the piano, with considerable alterations effected mainly through registral change. This amplifies the already slightly hysterical quality of the original.
-CW, May 1998

Christes crosse be my speede, in all vertue to proceede,
A, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, l, m, n, o, p,
q, r, s, & t, double w, v, x, with y, ezod &
per se, con per se,
title, title est Amen,
When you have done, begin againe.

Press

"Sunday's program began, though, with a work that Charles Wuorinen wrote last year in anticipation of Tashi's reunion, his ingenious arrangements of two Renaissance vocal works: Josquin des Prez's ''Ave Maria ... Virgo Serena,'' and Thomas Morley's ''Christes Crosse.'' The Josquin emerges here as calmly beautiful, with undulant modal counterpoint. The Morley is restless, alive with fidgety lines that break loose from the harmonic backdrop." Anthony Tommasini, New York Times