Renaissance · 1565
If Ye Love Me
T. Tallis
- Key
- F
- Time
- 4/4
- Tempo
- ♩=64
- AO focus
- AO3
Incipit
Form
Four-voice anthem — SATB, English text from John 14. AABB structure: opening homophonic statement → imitative middle section → repeat of the imitative section.
Teaching points
- Modal harmony rooted in F (Ionian on F, with frequent B♭ — emerging tonality)
- Imitative entries on 'and he shall give you another comforter' — point of imitation in stretto
- AO3: discuss text-music relationship — settled, conjunct lines for 'love me' vs. moving lines for 'comforter'
- AO1: easy stand-by for school choirs — limited range, no leaps over a 5th, four short phrases
Full score ↓Public domain
Score: Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL) — multiple editions, all public domain. Choose any edition that suits your forces.