Christopher Tye

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".

Birth and Death Data: Born Cambridge (city in Cambridgeshire, England), Died 1573

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0B3437 10-in. 9/22/1932 While shepherds watched their flocks by night Royal Choral Society ; Malcolm Sargent Vocal chorus, with organ composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tye, Christopher," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102482.

Tye, Christopher. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102482.

"Tye, Christopher." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102482

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