It is possible that
Derelinquat impius, a plea for the sinful to return to the Lord, was one of the last pieces written by Tallis. He appears to be almost in experimental mode, defying any tonal centre from the outset so that the cadence in A major at bar 17 feels surprising and unsettling because of the peregrinations of the opening bars. There are eyebrow-raising melodic moments also, like the upward leap of a seventh at the word ‘misericors’ (‘merciful’) and some wonderful textural effects throughout.
from notes by Andrew Carwood © 2005
