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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Christopher Tye
Person · male · Kingdom of England · Cambridge · born 1505 · died 1573 · recording since 1982
British organist and composer
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Also known as クリストファー・タイ
Timeline
14 events▣ Album 11◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1500s
1570s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Western Wind Mass and other motets
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
· Album
Album: Tye: Missa Euge Bone / Peccavimus / Omnes Gentes / Mundy: Kyrie / Magnificat
Album
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography669 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1366998974
Biography
Christopher Tye (c. 1505 – before 1573) was an English Renaissance composer and organist. Probably born in Cambridgeshire, he trained at the University of Cambridge and became the master of the choir at Ely Cathedral. He is noted as the music teacher of Edward VI and was held in high esteem for his choral music, as well as chamber works such as his 24 polyphonic In nomines. It is likely that only a small percentage of his compositional output survives, often only as fragments; his Acts of the Apostles was the only work to be published in his lifetime.
He ceased composing when he was ordained, returning to Ely Cathedral and later becoming rector of Doddington, Cambridgeshire. Today, he is perhaps best known for the hymn "Winchester Old", based on a theme from Acts of the Apostles, which forms the basis of the most commonly performed version in the United Kingdom of "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks".
Beginnings
Little is known about Tye's origins. Cambridge University records for the academic year 1536–37 indicate that he received the degree of Bachelor of Music after "a study of ten years in the musical art"; from this it is supposed that Tye was born around 1505 (making him a direct contemporary of Thomas Tallis), probably in Cambridgeshire, where the family name was common and where Tye would go on to spend much of his career. For two terms in 1537 Tye is recorded among the lay clerks of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge; it was in 1536–37 that the so called "temporary" chapel (in use since the 1440s) collapsed, so Tye may well have been part of the first generation of lay clerks to sing in regular worship in the iconic King's College Chapel known today.
By 1543 Tye had taken up the position of Magister Choristarum (choirmaster) at Ely Cathedral. In 1545 the University of Cambridge awarded him the degree of Doctor of Music, and three years later the same honour was bestowed on him by the University of Oxford.
Work with the Royal Court
The composer's career shows that he had a strong connection to Richard Cox, who was a passionate church reformer and a tutor of King Edward (then Prince Edward). This affiliation would prove to have a strong influence on him for the rest of his life. Cox was also the person who very probably introduced Tye to the royal court. It is believed that this led to Christopher Tye being a kind of musical adviser of the court who worked closely with Edward. In 1605, Samuel Rowley (believed to be Tye's grandson) wrote a play entitled When You See Me You Know Me. In the play, Tye and King Edward play important roles and exchange dialogue where Edward identifies 'Doctor Tye' as 'Our music's lecturer.'
Later, in 1553, Tye published his rhymed scriptural paraphrase, The Actes of the Apostles. In it he takes the ideas set forth in the book of 'Acts' in the Bible and sets them to meter. Although it was met with divided reviews (even today), the work is hugely important because it is dedicated to Edward. In the preface he goes into some detail that implies a kind of friendship between the two. Although it is never mentioned explicitly, it is generally assumed that Tye held a position in the Chapel Royal staff during the 1550s at some point.
Religious posts
In 1558, Tye took up his posting again at Ely Cathedral, probably at the request of his old friend, Richard Cox. Soon, thereafter, Tye took it upon himself to take up a place in the ministry and thus ceased to compose music. Cox, who was Bishop of Ely during this time, ordained the composer as deacon in 1560 and later in the year as priest. Tye resigned from the post at Ely and was appointed to Doddington, Cambridgeshire, the richest benefice in England.
Tye is believed to have died at Doddington before March 1573 when his successor as rector was appointed, although no record is found of his death.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 15 | 72.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | -409 | 0.6th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (11 release groups · 11 studio albums)
Albums · 11
The Western Wind Mass and other motets
1982 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 49:52
1Western Wind Mass : Gloria6:352Western Wind Mass : Credo6:573Western Wind Mass : Sanctus - Benedictus6:324Western Wind Mass : Agnus Dei5:055My trust, O Lord, in Thee is grounded4:056Christ rising again from the dead3:497Omnes gentes plaudite manibus4:388Pecavimus cum patribus12:11Cathedral Music by Christopher Tye
1990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:04:36
1Kyrie "Orbis factor"3:462Mass "Euge Bone": Gloria6:233Mass "Euge Bone": Credo5:084Mass "Euge Bone": Sanctus3:345Mass "Euge Bone": Benedictus2:536Mass "Euge Bone": Agnus Dei I1:427Mass "Euge Bone": Agnus Dei II2:388Mass "Euge Bone": Agnus Dei III1:599Mass "Euge Bone": Agnus Dei IV1:5810Quaesumus omnipotens Deus7:0311Miserere mei, Deus9:2612Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus4:1913Peccavimus cum patribus nostris13:47Tye: Missa Euge Bone / Peccavimus / Omnes Gentes / Mundy: Kyrie / Magnificat
1994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 58:23
1Omnes Gentes5:212Kyrie4:423Missa Euge Bone: Gloria6:414Missa Euge Bone: Credo5:495Missa Euge Bone: Sanctus7:206Missa Euge Bone: Agnus Dei5:467Magnificat9:588Peccavimus12:463 Masses: Eugene Bone / Western Wind / Peterhouse
1999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:22:23
Disc 11Western Wind Mass: Gloria8:552Western Wind Mass: Credo8:533Western Wind Mass: Sanctus4:594Western Wind Mass: Benedictus3:055Western Wind Mass: Agnus Dei5:336Euge Bone Mass: Gloria6:377Euge Bone Mass: Credo5:378Euge Bone Mass: Sanctus4:119Euge Bone Mass: Benedictus2:3610Euge Bone Mass: Agnus Dei5:58Disc 21Peterhouse Mass: Gloria6:572Peterhouse Mass: Credo7:073Peterhouse Mass: Sanctus3:404Peterhouse Mass: Benedictus2:305Peterhouse Mass: Agnus Dei5:452000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 31 tracks · 1:18:45
1O Lux a 53:152In Nomine a 41:523In Nomine a 5 "Weep no more Rachell"2:194In Nomine a 62:045In Nomine a 5 "Farwell my good 1 for ever"1:416In Nomine a 5 "Rachells weepinge"2:187Fantasia a 5 "Rubum Quem"1:158In Nomine a 5 "My death"2:199In Nomine a 5 "Blamles"2:3110In Nomine a 52:1111In Nomine a 5 "Rounde"2:2812In Nomine a 5 "Follow me"2:1413Christus Resurgens a 52:5614Dum Transisset a 53:4915Dum Transisset a 5 (2)3:4116Dum Transisset a 5 (3)3:5317Dum Transisset a 5 (4)3:4118Amavit a 52:5419In Nomine a 5 "Surrexit non est hicc"2:3220In Nomine a 5 "Free from all"2:1321In Nomine a 5 "Trust"1:3322In Nomine a 5 "Beleve me"2:2423In Nomine a 5 "Crye"2:0824Lawdes Deo a 52:2125In Nomine a 5 "I come"2:2526In Nomine a 5 "Re la re"1:1627In Nomine a 5 "Howld fast"1:1328In Nomine a 5 "Saye so"2:0429In Nomine a 5 "Seldom sene"2:0930In Nomine a 5 "Reporte"1:3331Sit Fast a 37:332005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:05:56
1Omnes gentes plaudite manibus4:582In pace in idipsum6:103Dum transisset3:024I lift my heart to thee, my God3:595Save me, O God3:566Praise ye the Lord, ye children3:577Rubum quem1:218Magnificat4:379Nunc Dimittis2:1810Christus resurgens2:1911To Father, Son and Holy Ghost2:5012Miserere mei Deus10:1213Amavit eum Dominus2:4914Peccavimus cum patribus nostris13:282008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:03:37
1Ave Maria4:372O bone Jesu13:243Lamentations a 522:304Christe qui lux es et dies IV5:435Mass "Euge bone": Agnus Dei6:326Peccavimus cum patribus nostris10:51Missa Euge bone / Peccavimus / Western Wynde Mass
2012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:13:47
1Quaesumus omnipotens et misericors Deus6:252Missa Euge bone: Gloria5:553Missa Euge bone: Credo4:534Missa Euge bone: Sanctus3:475Missa Euge bone: Benedictus2:226Missa Euge bone: Agnus Dei I1:037Missa Euge bone: Agnus Dei II1:328Missa Euge bone: Agnus Dei III1:189Missa Euge bone: Agnus Dei IV1:1310Give almes of thy goods1:4711Christ rising3:4012Peccavimus cum patribus nostris11:3913Western Wynde Mass: Gloria6:3314Western Wynde Mass: Credo6:5315Western Wynde Mass: Sanctus4:0216Western Wynde Mass: Benedictus2:3917Western Wynde Mass: Agnus Dei I1:0618Western Wynde Mass: Agnus Dei II1:3919Western Wynde Mass: Agnus Dei III1:4820Nunc dimittis3:33In Nomine: Works for Recorder Consort
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 29 tracks · 1:01:44
1In nomine2:022In nomine Reporte1:343In nomine Surrexit non est hic2:204In nomine Crye1:325Dum transisset Sabbatum III4:276In nomine Howld fast1:197In nomine Seldom sene1:358In nomine Blamles2:149Laudes Deo1:4610In nomine Rounde1:5611In nomine à 42:0512In nomine Re la re1:0713In nomine à 62:3014Christus resurgens2:4015In nomine Free from all1:3016In nomine Trust1:5417In nomine Saye so1:1618In nomine I come1:3019Dum transisset Sabbatum II4:1820In nomine My deathe bedde2:3521In nomine Weepe no more Rachell2:2022In nomine Rachel‘s Weepinge2:2523Amavit eum Dominus2:5524Rubum quem0:5325In nomine Farewell my good 1, for ever2:0426In nomine Follow me2:1527In nomine Beleve me1:5428In nomine à 52:2529O lux beata Trinitas2:232017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 31 tracks · 1:07:02
1In nomine a42:062In nomine “Trust”1:463In nomine “Rachel’s weeping”2:254Dum transisset Sabbatum I2:515Laudes Deo1:236In nomine “Free from all”1:267In nomine “Round”1:538In nomine “Weep no more, Rachel”2:019In nomine “Say so”1:0410In nomine “Follow me”1:4511Christus resurgens2:1212In nomine “Cry”1:3613Rubum quem1:0914In nomine “Hold fast”1:0815In nomine “Seldom seen”1:4216In nomine “Re la re”1:1617Dum transisset Sabbatum III4:1218Sit fast (prima et secunda pars)6:1319In nomine “Surrexit non est hie”1:5920In nomine “Believe me”1:2221In nomine “Report”1:3722In nomine a51:5323In nomine “I come”2:1124Dum transisset Sabbatum II4:1825O lux beata Trinitas2:4126In nomine “My death bed”1:4227In nomine “Blameless”2:1228In nomine “Farewell my good one forever”1:0829Dum transisset Sabbatum IV3:0330Amavit eum Dominus2:3431In nomine a62:14The Peterhouse Mass & other works
2026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:02:18
1Amavit eum Dominus3:302The Peterhouse Mass: Gloria6:593The Peterhouse Mass: Credo6:144The Peterhouse Mass: Sanctus3:095The Peterhouse Mass: Benedictus2:116The Peterhouse Mass: Agnus Dei4:557The Peterhouse Mass: Alleluia. Per te Dei genitrix4:198The Peterhouse Mass: Sub tuam protectionem2:339The Peterhouse Mass: Cantate Domino8:4010The Peterhouse Mass: Kyrie 'Orbis factor'4:3011The Peterhouse Mass: In pace5:1312Miserere mei, Deus: Miserere mei, Deus5:0313Miserere mei, Deus: Laqueum paraverunt5:02
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Christopher Tye head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 15 | 72.5th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 11 | 91.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | -409 | 0.6th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a2cf1521-af9a-4ecb-820c-882698901025discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a2cf1521-af9a-4ecb-820c-882698901025core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1087040seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Tyebiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Tye
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait (not displayed: the licence credit is missing)
Wikidata: Q1087040 · MusicBrainz: a2cf1521-af9a-4ecb-820c-882698901025