Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli & Missa brevis

Featuring

David Hill
Westminster Cathedral Choir
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

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Recording & Production

This album was recorded in Westminster Cathedral, London, in May 1987, with David Hill as Master of the Music for The Choir of Westminster Cathedral.

Historical Context

Cardinal Borromeo called for 'la musica intelligibile'—music that made the Mass texts clear for the congregation—following the Council of Trent's injunctions in 1562.

Composer Biography

Palestrina, considered the grand master of the polyphonic style, composed over 104 Masses, 375 motets, 65 hymns, 35 Magnificats, and 140 madrigals.

Compositional Technique

The Missa Papae Marcelli achieves liturgical clarity, simplicity, and melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic refinement, ensuring every word of the text is clearly projected.

Composition History

The Missa Papae Marcelli is Palestrina's most famous work, surrounded by myths that it saved polyphonic Church music from abolition during the Counter-Reformation.

Composer Biography

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the composer, was dismissed from the Sistine Chapel by Pope Paul IV because he was married, which was considered an unacceptable status.

Composition History

Palestrina's Missa Brevis, first published in 1570, is not particularly short despite its title, which was likely chosen because no other title suggested itself.

Byrd: Infelix ego

Tomás Luis de Victoria: Requiem "Officium defunctorum"

Victoria: Missa "Vidi Speciosam"; Motet "Vidi Speciosam"; Responsorium IV; Motet "O Domine Jesu Christe"; Responsorium IV; Responsorium VI; Lectio III; Responsorium IX; Motet "Dum Complerentur"; Motet "Surrexit Pastor Bonus"