The Tallis Scholars’ recording of Spem in Alium climbs the charts thanks to literary sensation 50 Shades of Grey
“…an uncanny ability to increase emotional intensity so subtly that you don’t realise it’s happening. Then, suddenly, pow! The music’s blazing; so are you…”
The Times
11 July 2012
The Tallis Scholars' recording of Tallis's magnificent 40-part motet Spem in alium is this week at number 7 in the official UK Classical Singles Chart.
Tallis's Spem in alium is featured in the controversial literary sensation 50 Shades of Grey by E L James. So many readers have been buying The Tallis Scholars' recording as a single track download from iTunes that it has risen steadily in the official UK Classical Singles Chart, from number 20, to number 13, to number 8 and this week to number 7.
Peter Phillips, the founder and director of The Tallis Scholars, said:
"I haven't read 50 Shades of Grey but I am most grateful to the author for introducing so many new listeners to the musical sensation that is Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium. Written during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth it features 40 individual voices singing in Latin that combine to a thrilling climax for the words "respice humilitatem nostram" (be mindful of our humiliation). Please buy The Tallis Scholars recording today from iTunes and we might just replace Nessun Dorma at the top of the Classical Singles Chart! "
If you would like to help the group reach number 1 in the UK Classical Singles Chart on Monday, please click here to buy the track from iTunes. It will cost you just 79p to promote this masterpiece of the English Renaissance to the number 1 spot.
