If you go
› What: Tallis Scholars› Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St.› When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 28› Admission: $50, students $25› For more information: www.stpaulschatt.org/concert-series
There's a scene in "50 Shades of Grey" in which Christian Grey describes his eclectic taste in music to Anastasia Grey as everything from "Thomas Tallis to the Kings of Leon."
Tallis was a composer of English choral music in the 16th century. A particular Tallis favorite of Grey's turns out to be the 40-part motet "Spem in Alium" sung by the Tallis Scholars. In the movie, that motet is playing during one of the couple's sexual encounters.
After exposure from the book and movie, the Tallis Scholars' recording immediately jumped to the top of iTunes Classical Top 100 chart.
Chattanoogans have the rare opportunity to hear the Tallis Scholars live on Tuesday evening, March 28, in concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church's Artist Series. "Spem in Alium" isn't on the program, but the singers will perform the Renaissance music that has garnered them worldwide fame.
The Tallis Scholars were founded in 1973 by director Peter Phillips. The a cappella chorale has established a reputation for purity and clarity of sound, impeccable tuning and high performance stands over more than 2,000 worldwide appearances.
"The Tallis Scholars are as famous for what they do - impeccable performances of unaccompanied Renaissance sacred music - as the Rolling Stones or U2 are today," says Suzanne Ford, a member of the St. Paul's Artist Series committee.
Their program, "Metamorphosis," will feature four iconic texts in contrasting settings by Renaissance and contemporary composers: "Magnificat," "Pater Noster," "Ave Maria" and "Nunc Dimittis."
Ordinarily, music lovers would have to fly to Washington, D.C., or London to hear a Tallis Scholars concert, says Keith Reas, director of music at St. Paul's.
"They have never been to Chattanooga and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They are specialists in Renaissance music; truly one of the premier vocal ensembles in the world. With the great interest in church music and choral singing in Chattanooga, we thought it was important to give our community the opportunity to hear them live and in person rather than just from recordings."
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.