According to the conductor, we don't know exactly why Spem was composed; it might have been for either royalty who was alive when Tallis was composing (Queen Elizabeth or Mary); or it might have simply been a response to another composer who wrote something for 16 parts. At least partly, the answer to "why so difficult" and "why so many parts" is surely "because it could be done!"
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Date: Tuesday, 31 May 2005 11:30 am (UTC)