Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today’s Gospel lesson from Acts 2 recounts the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples as they gathered together in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.

Read the account here (https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/daily-readings/2023-06-21).

This story connects to a well-known motet by Thomas Tallis. The text of the setting is from Acts 2:4, which formed a sung response (called a responsory) to a biblical reading at Matins on Pentecost:

The Apostles spoke in many languages, Alleluia,
of the great works of God, Alleluia.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
of the mighty works of God, Alleluia.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost. Alleluia.

The setting by Tallis is particularly exciting. The tenor contains the ‘tune’ of the responsory chant (called the cantus firmus) and the other six voices, both higher and lower, move in imitative shapes, painting in vivid detail the descent of the Holy Spirit. Rather than confusion, however, the resulting linguistic outburst results in understanding as people in the crowd recognized their own language. I think we too can feel some of the excitement of that moment through this music.

Loqubantur variis linguis, Thomas Tallis (https://youtu.be/EOfoI7CuD4o)

Yours in Christ,
—Justin