50 Shades Of Grey track tops the Official Classical Singles Chart

Undoubtedly helped by literary sensation 50 Shades Of Grey, The Tallis Scholars' recording of Thomas Tallis’s Spem In Alium holds Number 1 on the Official Classical Singles Chart for the second week running.

Readers of EL James’ controversial novel have been downloading the The Tallis Scholars' version of the 16th century choral work, which features on the “playroom iPod”, in their thousands, and this week the piece holds firm at the top of the Official Classical Singles Chart.

“I am delighted to have introduced so many of my readers to this amazing 16th century piece of music,” EL James told OfficialCharts.com.  “It is absolutely wonderful and the recording from the Tallis Scholars is particularly special. A deserved Number 1!”

The Official Classical Singles Chart was launched in May of this year to reflect the growing interest in individual downloads of classical tracks. The past two years have seen a surge in individual classical track download sales in the UK – up 46% in 2011 compared to 2010 (from 834,000 to 1.2 million). This trend has continued in 2012, and in the first quarter of this year, some 284,000 classical downloads were sold, a 34% increase on the 212,000 sold in the first three months of 2011.

“I am thrilled that Spem In Alium has attracted such a large new audience,” added . Peter Phillips, director of The Tallis Scholars. “It is one of the most remarkable achievements of the human brain, an extra-ordinary and moving piece written for 40 individual singers. After performing Spem In Alium for nearly 40 years I still cannot conceive how Thomas Tallis set about writing it.  Even with 21st century computers it would be a daunting task! For me it ranks alongside the best works of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and confirms Tallis as England’s greatest composer.”

To see this week’s Official Classical Singles Chart Top 20, click here.