Thomas Tallis

Renaissance English Composer and Choral Master

Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 – 1585) was an English composer who is considered one of the greatest of the early English Renaissance. He served as an organist and composer at various chapels and cathedrals throughout his career, including the Chapel Royal, where he composed and performed for several monarchs, including Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Tallis's ability to adapt his compositions to suit the shifting religious and political landscape of England during the Reformation is particularly notable. His music includes both Catholic and Protestant liturgical pieces, reflecting the changing demands of his patrons.