450 Years of Tallis & Byrd's 'Cantiones Sacrae'

Aim

Debut concert of a new vocal ensemble - Catterwall - celebrating 450 years of Tallis and Byrd's 'Cantiones Sacrae' (1575) and its music.

Catterwall is a new charitable organisation dedicated to uncovering and sharing the rich musical and liturgical traditions of the English Renaissance, with a special focus on vocal music from the 15th to 17th centuries. Our ensemble brings together open-minded singers with flexible technique and diverse musical backgrounds, united by a delight in the full expressive range of the human voice—from glassy refinement to unruly noise.

Our debut project centres on the 450th anniversary of Cantiones, quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur (1575), the first collection of Latin motets printed in England. This extraordinary volume by William Byrd and Thomas Tallis sits at the heart of a programme exploring religious upheaval, artistic defiance, and musical innovation. Alongside works from Cantiones, we’ll present newly reconstructed works from the fragmentary Baldwin Partbooks.

The concert will be held at the National Centre for Early Music in York, accompanied by a special exhibition at the York Minster Library and Archives, featuring rare early printed music including original copies of the Cantiones partbooks and the unique first edition of Byrd’s Gradualia (1605).

Funds raised here will go directly towards fees and travel costs for the ten singers involved—supporting young emerging artists, and ensuring that they are compensated fairly for their time and effort.

Thank you for helping us make this ambitious project possible.

This project successfully funded on 23rd October 2025