Isle of Man: Tallis Consort Bids Farewell to Musical Director at Spring Concert

Tallis Consort's recent spring concerts, held at St Paul's Church, Ramsey, and St Mary's Church in Douglas, were dedicated to the memory of former MHK Charles Cain, one of the founding members of the early music group and until recent times its Musical Director.

The first half included a selection of choral music from many composers living between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, including William Byrd, J. S. Bach and the group's eponymous inspiration Thomas Tallis.

After a short interval, their varied programme continued but with compositions interlinked with more modern choices from the nineteenth to the late twentieth centuries; including Edmund Rubbra, Ralph Vaughan Williams and contemporary British composer James MacMillan.

The evening concerts were designed to incorporate both a sacred and secular content, moving from the period of Lent and Easter to Madrigals and folk songs, using compositions from the Tudor period up to modern times.

These two concerts marked a series of changes for Tallis Consort, with the death of Charles Cain and the retirement of Brian Head as current Musical Director.

His successor will be Dr Peter Litman, the Director of Music at St German's Cathedral in Peel.

Canon Philip Gillespie of St Mary's Church in Douglas, who has generously supported Tallis Consort over a number of years, will also soon be leaving these shores to continue his ministry in Rome.

Gifts were presented to Brian and his wife by members of Tallis Consort and Canon Gillespie.

Collections from the concerts will be donated to the Nepalese Disaster Fund.

Valerie Caine
© May 2015