In Nomine

This article is about the 16th-17th century musical compositions. For the role-playing game, see In Nomine (role-playing game). In Nomine is a title given to any of numerous short pieces of English polyphonic instrumental music during the 16th and 17th centuries.This genre originated in the early 16th century from a mass composed around 1520 by John Taverner on the plainchant Gloria Tibi Trinitas. In the Benedictus section of this mass, the Latin phrase "in nomine Domini" was sung in four-part counterpoint, with the plainchant melody in the alto. At a time when there was little published music for viol consorts, this attractive passage became popular as a short instrumental piece. Over time, English composers worked this melody into "In Nomine" pieces of ever greater stylistic range.
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