Origins & Early Life

Thomas Tallis (; also Tallys or Talles; c. 1505 – 23 November 1585) was an English composer of High Renaissance music. His compositions are primarily vocal, and he occupies a primary place in anthologies of English choral music. Tallis is considered one of England's greatest composers, and he is honored for his original voice in English musicianship.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

No records about the birth, family, or childhood of Thomas Tallis exist, so almost nothing is known about his early life and origins. Historians have calculated that he was born in the early part of the 16th Century, toward the end of the reign of Henry VII of England. Estimates of his birth year range from 1500 to 1520. His only known relative was a cousin named John Sayer. As the surnames Sayer and Tallis both have strong connections with Kent, Thomas Tallis is usually thought to have been born somewhere in the county.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

There are some suggestions that Tallis sang as a child of the chapel in the Chapel Royal, the same singing establishment that he joined as an adult. He was probably a chorister at the Benedictine Priory of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Martin of the New Work in Dover, where he was later employed, but...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al-Suyuti — Contemporary (Died in 1505) (1505): Egyptian Sunni polymath, renowned for authorship across nearly all Islamic sciences.
• Hürrem Sultan — Contemporary (Born in 1505) (1505): Powerful Haseki Sultan, legal wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, and mother of Selim II.
• Heinrich Kramer — Contemporary (Died in 1505) (1505): Dominican friar and influential German inquisitor, known for the Malleus Maleficarum.
• Cardinal Richelieu — Contemporary (Born in 1585) (1585): Powerful French statesman who centralized royal authority and checked Habsburg power.
• Cornelius Jansen — Contemporary (Born in 1585) (1585): Influential Dutch Bishop and founder of the theological movement known as Jansenism.
• Heinrich Schütz — Contemporary (Born in 1585) (1585): Pioneering German early Baroque composer, bridging Italian style to Lutheran tradition.
• Ahmad ibn Hanbal — Shared historical date (11-23 · Born) (780): Founding scholar of the Hanbali school, renowned for vast Hadith memorization.
• Alan Mullery — Shared historical date (11-23 · Born) (1941): Iconic English footballer and manager known for his time at Fulham and Spurs.
• Hongzhi Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1505) (1505): Tenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, known for his diligent rule and Confucian governance.
• Ivan III of Russia — Historical peer (Died in 1505) (1505): Founder of the centralized Russian state and 'Third Rome' concept.
• 1505 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1505
• 1585 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1585
• November 23 (11-23) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 23