Musicology Annotation << Back The change of liturgical language as a musical style factor: on some English sacred music distinguishing features of the Reformation period Alexander S. Yevdokimov This article deals with English sacred music of the Reformation period which fundamentally differs from that of the Catholic period: it doesn’t succeeds to the refi ned polyphonic powerful sound and monumental duration of its precursor, but offers the ultimate simplicity of musical solution instead. The main objective of new sacred music became providing clear sounding of the Holy words delivered in native language. At an early stage of Reformation, from the midst of 1540th, the syllabic mode was regarded as of paramount importance: according to archbishop Cranmer’s wording, «as nere as may be, for every sillable, a note». Firstly psalms and certain texts from the «King’s primer» (1545) were set to music in this manner. In more stylistically complex parts of Anglican mass, matins and Evensong a connection with the rhythmical peculiarity of English Bible translation can be seen. According to the R. Bray’s thought, biblical verses started to begin with the unstressed conjunctions «for» and «and»: this rythm is reproduced in music with the syncopated fi gures. An interesting and promising Bray’s idea, in our judgment, requires a more precise clarifi cation of many aspects. This article offers our suggestions upon these aspects. Keywords: Reformation, sacred texts, English translation, sacred music, syllabic mode, rhythmics. Contacts: E-mail: yeas1986@gmail.com Pp. 29-35.