Spem in alium
General information
The Tallis motet is not the source for Palestrina's Missa Spem in alium, which was published almost contemporaneously in 1570. Palestrina's parody mass is based on a 4–part motet with a similar text, by Jacquet de Mantua, dating from 1539.
The source for the original Latin text is a respond in the Sarum liturgy. It is derived from Judith 8.19 and 6.19. The Book of Judith is included in the Septuagint, which was translated into Greek for the use of Hellenized Jews in Alexandria. The book is included in the Roman Catholic Old Testament, but relegated to the Apocrypha by Protestants.
List of works
- Spem in alium (Jacquet de Mantua) a 4
- Spem in alium (Cristóbal de Morales) a 5
- Spem in alium (Thomas Tallis) a 40
Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above
- Giulio Cesare Gabussi — Spem in alium
Text and translations
Latin text Spem in alium nunquam habui |
Dutch translation Mijn hoop is slechts |
English translation I have never put my hope |
German translation Ich habe niemals meine Hoffnung in irgendeinen |
Polish translation Translation by Jerzy Sosnowski |
Portuguese translation Em ninguém coloquei minha esperança, |