O Sacrum Convivium was probably composed in the 1560's but like several other motets composed by Tallis in his 1575 collection it was later substantially revised. This music was originally conceived as an instrumental fantasia; subsequently during the course of its extensive musical remoulding it was adapted to a variety of English texts as well as to the present Latin words. The version published in 1575 from which this edition is taken may be regarded as Tallis' final definitive statement on the work. For SAATB a cappella.
