The (Lent) Madness continues with another surreal pairing -- this time between an influential 16th-century church musician and a 20th-century Ugandan archbishop and martyr. This match-up even has the holy odds-makers in Vegas shaking their collective heads.
Yesterday, Luke outpaced Absalom Jones by a wide margin, 61% to 39% with over 4,500 votes cast, though many commented on Jones' inspirational story in bidding him farewell. For some commentary on why these pairings are often so difficult, make sure to watch the most recent version of Monday Madness with Tim and Scott. This, along with many other mysteries such as where Scott likes to stay when in Silver Spring, Maryland, and how he copes without his trusty Lent Madness 2013 mug, will be revealed.
In other news, we passed the 4,000 "like" mark on our Facebook page. Don't forget to like us if you haven't yet done so and encourage your friends to go and do likewise. There's no finder's fee for getting people to join in the Madness; you'll just have to be content with the knowledge that your reward will be in heaven.
Finally, stay tuned for a major announcement on the whereabouts of Tim's missing Lent Madness mug sometime soon.
Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis is considered the father of English Church music. Little is known about his personal life. We don’t know when he was born, we don’t know if he did or didn’t sing with the Chapel Royal of St. James boys’ choir, we have no idea what he really looked like, and we don’t know how really how to spell his last name - the one copy of his signature we have shows Tallys.
What we do know is he forever changed church music with his compositions. His legacy sings to us in music glorifying God, expressing hope and lament, joy and veneration. He composed elegantly simple tunes that welcome the gracious light of dusk in Tallis’ Canon and intricately complex motets, like Spem in Alium, a 40-part motet expressing humanity’s eternal hope in God.
He and his contemporaries Merbecke and Byrd, lived and composed in a time of significant political and religious upheaval. The Tudor throne of England shifted British religion from Roman Catholic to English Protestant back to Roman Catholic and finally to Anglicanism. Throughout these massive shifts, all composed the music which allowed the words of the prayers to sing.
Tallis’ talent and political maneuvering brought him to the personal choir for the British monarchy. During his adult life, Tallis taught, composed, and performed for Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth I and their courts and managed not to get himself executed. Few musicians past or present have the ability to compose and perform in the style that suited the ever-changing tastes of religious folks, but Tallis did.
Tallis and Byrd eventually became business partners and held the Crown Patent for the printing of music and lined music paper for 21 years, as well as a monopoly on polyphonic music, one of the first arrangements of this type in England. If composers of the day wanted to print music or get paper to write down compositions in Tudor England, they had to pay Tallis. While this sounds like Tallis and Byrd were the Cosa Nostra of the Tudor British Music world, they didn’t own a printing press. Thus, they didn’t make much money from their arrangement. Tallis, like many saints, was creative, passionate, and not so awesome in business.
He died at home in Greenwich in November 1585 and was buried in the chancel of St. Alfege Church. His remains were likely discarded in the early 18th century by laborers rebuilding the church. His music, however, is with us, sung almost every week in prayer and praise to God.
Collect for Thomas Tallis (and some others)
O God most glorious, whose praises are sung night and day by your saints and angels in heaven: We give you thanks for William Byrd, John Merbecke, and Thomas Tallis, whose music has enriched the praise that your Church offers you here on earth. Grant, we pray, to all who are touched by the power of music such glimpses of eternity that we may be made ready to join your saints in heaven and behold your glory unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Laurie Brock
Janani Luwum
Above the Great West Doors of Westminster Abbey are ten statues of martyrs from the twentieth century. One of those statues depicts an African named Janani Luwum (1922-1977). He was a convert to Christianity and an Anglican priest. He eventually became the Archbishop of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Boga-Zaire. And he died for his faith thirty-six years ago last Sunday because he spoke out on behalf of others in the name of Christ. He gave a voice to those who could not speak for themselves. In the midst of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s brutal regime, Luwum warned the Church not to conform to “the powers of darkness.”
The story of Luwum’s death was told to me in the sermon at my ordination to the priesthood by someone who knew him well. This is how his friend and former colleague described it:
“He was a tall and very taciturn man. And if it had not been for the twinkle in his eye, you would have thought him perhaps even mean. But he was a kindly, large, and very strong man. One morning he was awakened early in his house by soldiers, who accused him of storing arms – which they never found – the purpose of which was to overthrow General Amin’s government.
“He was taken to a large amphitheatre in the middle of Kampala, where Amin had assembled his private guard, and where he was jeered. He was then taken by automobile to Luzira Prison, some five miles outside the city. And there he was tortured, and he was asked to confess his crime. His only response was to pray, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done…’ He prayed this prayer constantly for some time under the leader. And finally, in a rage, Amin pulled out a pistol and shot him twice – once in the head and once in the chest.
“Surely here is a witness to Christ’s suffering. And surely here even more is a life that partakes of the glory that is to be revealed. And here is the shadow of what we hope for. And surely here is a life in which we can recognize the suffering and the glory which belong to God’s entire flock. Here is a life in which we can see ourselves as we are destined by grace to be.”
That is the story of Janani Luwum as it was told to me. It reminds me that in every time and place there are people like him – people empowered by the Holy Spirit – who would be willing to speak on our behalf if we were in need and could not speak for ourselves.
Collect for Janani Luwum
O God, whose Son the Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep: We give you thanks for your faithful shepherd Janani Luwum, who after his Savior’s example, gave up his life for the people of Uganda. Grant us to be so inspired by his witness that we make no peace with oppression, but live as those who are sealed with the cross of Christ, who died and rose again, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Vote!
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139 comments on “Thomas Tallis vs. Janani Luwuum”
I have much admiration to anyone who can withstand the buffeting winds of change within the Church AND maintain their creativity, but I'm awed by Janani Luwuum's courage to stand up in the name of Christ for those with no voice against the merciless Idi Amin. My vote goes to the archbishop.
I also made a comment on the Facebook page, but y'all have a typo. The Tudor king named Edward was Edward VI and not Edward I. I know my British monarchs starting with the Tudors, so this caught my eye right away.
Thanks for pointing out that typo. SEC, get on that to correct!!
With that out of the way, thanks for introducing us to the story and sacrifice of Janani Luwum. I love the music of Tallis, so this was a hard choice.
At risk of being cast out by the supreme executive committee I would like to protest this match up. It seems to me that putting a musician up against a martyr with a first hand account of his death is entirely unfair if there is no similarly heart tugging link to the music. While I think the good bishop would still win this battle, it would put Tallis in his best light and give him a fighting chance. If "Spem in Alium" is too long, perhaps "If ye love me"?
Thank you to all who did the work to put these battles together, and especially the guest bloggers.
Have to go with Luwum. I gave a short talk on him at a Province meeting once. In a world where clergy considers themselves persecuted if someone doesn't like their sermon and we, the laity, feel persecuted if someone snares our parking space; we all need to be reminded of those truly persecuted in this day and age.
I like to say I was born in a choir stall and cut my teeth on the 1928 Prayer Book. I learned "Tallis' Canon" as a child and still love it decades later. I have been in church choirs for more years than I care to admit. I was all set to vote for Tallis (as so many of you were).
BUT
As so many of you did, I voted for Bishop Luwuum for his sheer strength of devotion to God. And as so many of you have said, the angels and Communion of Saints were singing Tallis as he arrived.
Leonard is casting the family vote for Janani Lumwuum because he spoke up for the people who had no voice and because he was brave.
What Laurie Atwater said, since she said it so much better than I could have.
My ex-wife and I were ready to go to Africa to work with Bishop Luwum after he gave a keynote speech at our diocesan convention in Oregon. We talked with him after the speech, and were very eager to go to Africa. Shorlty after that, he was murdered by the Kenyan government.
oops-wrong bishop
Maybe a candidate for next year!
Postscript--Just finished listening to "Spem in Alium" on YouTube. Oh, my!
Dear Verdery, Would you care to share a link to "Spem in Alium" on YouTube? I notice there are quite a few performances posted. Others may be interested in listening. Many Thanks!
Here's one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtJvtk6EHZE. There are others. For those who want to follow along, here's a link to the score. http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/images/9/9c/Spem_in_alium%2C_full_score_in_A.pdf
I was teaching in Uganda during the terrible time of Idi Amin, and as much as I love and appreciate Thomas Tallis, I'm voting for Janani Luwum in honor of all the courageous martyrs and confessors of the period, including some of my students. But what a choice!! Fortunately, I trust, in the resurrection we get to have them all alike as friends and companions. Lent Madness is followed by Easter.
I didn't know anything about Bishop Luwum until reading this post today. I had to vote for him. I think we need to be reminded that not all martyrs for the faith were from centuries ago. We in the U.S. tend to take it for granted that we can practice our Christian faith unhindered and don't always realize that this is not so in the entire world. Don't know if I would be able to do what he did, knowing the consequences.
Above my desk is card reminding me that we have tickets to the Tallis Scholars on their 40th Anniversary Tour mid-March. "The Rock Stars of Renaissance vocal music". Each day I welcome the stories of two saints and then the less welcome struggle to choose. Enriching and playful, informative and troubling....as I hear the timeless notes of Tallis , I vote for Bishop Luwum ...who speaks for those without voice. I must remember this is fun and not be so disturbed by the impossible daily choices!
Archbishop Luwum faced pure evil with the courage and faith few people could match. It is wonderful to have written such glorious music, but it is to represent the faith and courage of people such as the Archbishop that much of this music is written.
Wonderfully put!!
NOT FAIR! Pairing a modern martyr with a songster (no matter how great). The deck is loaded!
I voted for Luwum. Reading his story was one of the factors that led me to become
an Anglican.
There is something I have always found curious: Luwum's situation was very similar
to that of fellow Archbishop and Martyr Oscar Romero. And yet, as far as I can see,
in this country anyway, Romero's murder got a lot more media play than Luwum's. Why is this? Was it because at the time of Romero's death the Reagan administration was supportive of the government that killed him?
And (unlike Romero) no one ever made a movie about Luwum. Is this because the
Roman Catholic church has more money to make movies than the Anglican church?
I've always wondered.
Both were gifted in incredible ways, but I'm going with the Bishop, who's situation hits closer to home (for me). I just shudder to think of what the next choir practice will be like if my Director of Music finds out I didn't vote for Tallis! She gave our congregation a great presentation on the "top ten" reasons to vote for Thomas, this past weekend.
HAD to be Janani Luwuum. His LIFE was the most spectacular music.
Friends of Church Music Awake! Thomas Tallis the great visionary and composer of English church music is being crushed in Lent Madness! A Tallis loss will be one more step down the road to Happy-Clappy, 7-11 style psudo-rock smelted by the devil from the drug corrupted souls of aging hippies. If you care at all for the sacradness of worship you will go now and support Thomas Tallis in Lent Madness.
Thanks for interjecting some humour into this oh-so-serious discussion.
Tallis has fed my soul through his music my whole life and has for many years graced my family's meals. However, the witness of Janani Luwuum, whose martyrdom I remember, stands as a shining example of the greatest of Christian witness. Besides, I love his smile. He gets my vote.
What a witness the Archbishop's life is for all of us in the Church! However we all know that musicians like Tallis need continual affirmation, so 1 more vote for Tallis!!!
I just don't remember all the choices being so hard last year! Musically I long to go for Tallis, but Luwuum's story is so compelling. I think I"m still going to go for Tallis, but with great reluctance at leaving Luwuum out. Of course it looks like Tallis won't win anyhow, so I'll just be continuing my 100% underdog vote. SEC if I change my mind and keep voting back and forth but the votes cancel out to = 1 vote, is that cheating?
Wish could vote for both. But it's madness, so voted for one.
Much as I love the music composed by Thomas Tallis, anyone who stood up to Idi Amin (who would have had Pilate and the whole Sanhedrin shaking in their sandals) in the name of Christ wins
As much as I love Tallis' music (inc. the hymn "I heard the voice of Jesus say" and the Vaughn Williams Fantasia on the same Tallis theme) and recognize the key role he played in the worship of the Elizabethan Church and beyond, one of the important ancient criteria for sainthood is martyrdom, and courageous Christian witness. Therefore, I am voting for Archbishop Luwuum. Besides, I first read a brief biography of him while I was discerning the renewal of my call to ordination and was very moved and encouraged by his witness.
Martyr over musician. What more can you give up for Lent, than life itself?
We have enough suffering in this world. Voting today for the beauty that helps make the suffering bearable.
Yes, thank you for this wisdom.
Not at all comfortable in judging a man killed by a horrible present day dictator. Please bring back the lions, silver platters and lands of make believe. Until then, hum your favorite Tallis hymn.
I was so ready to vote for Thomas Tallis because I am a music nut, in the church choir, etc. But the story of Lawuum won me over, too. I love the idea of saints who are representing the incarnation in our own day -- it reminds me that we should all embrace the audacity of being faithful and perhaps take more risks in the name of Christ.
I am having trouble voting today. The vote place under the biographies is not activated on my screen...either on my I-pad or my MAC. I have pasted the address as directed and keep getting the place where it says to vote, but it does not take me to the voting option. Hope you can help before the voting closes. My husband, jmcneillanderson@comcast.net , also votes from this MAC.
Luwuum's life and testimony struck a chord with me. It reminded me of what Jesus went through, taunted, tortured and killed, yet all the while giving thanks to God. As significant as Tallis' contribution is to Church Music and a worthy competitior, my vote is with Lawuum.
apologies for my atrocious spelling!