Palestrina: Missa O rex gloriae & Missa Viri Galilaei

Featuring

James O'Donnell
Westminster Cathedral Choir
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

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Composition History

The Masses on this album, Missa O rex gloriae and Missa Viri Galilaei, were both printed in the Missarum liber duodecimus of 1601, published in Venice.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Palestrina is still regarded as the grand master of the polyphonic style, and his works were highly esteemed and widely published during his lifetime.

Composer Biography

Palestrina was dismissed from the Sistine Chapel by Pope Paul IV due to his married status, which was considered unacceptable.

Composer Biography

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, whose name derives from a town near Rome, was born around 1525 or 1526.

Composition History

Palestrina's publications often bore dedications to powerful patrons, including foreign princes like Philip II of Spain and, increasingly in his later years, popes.

Recording & Production

This album represents the first recording of these specific works by Palestrina, aiming to balance the often lop-sided view of his output.

Compositional Technique

The motets O rex gloriae and Viri Galilaei are characterized by the joyful element of the Ascension, often using homophony for dramatic emphasis after contrapuntal textures.