GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI

DA PALESTRINA
Lesson 2
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
 GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA

Was an Italian renaissance



composer of sacred music

and the best known 16th
century representative of the
roman school of musical
composition.
He was called Palestrina after his


birth place, a town near Rome

where he spent most of his
musical career. He was nicknamed
II Prenestino and was also known
as the “Prince of Music”.
 When Pierluigi was young, he
peddled products of his parent’s farm
while singing. The choirmaster of
Santa Maria Maggiore heard him
singing on the streets of Rome and he
was impress by the young boy’s voice
that he decide to train him musically.
From 1544 to 1551, Palestrina


was the organist of the principal

church of his native city (St.
Agapito) and in the last year
became maestro di capella at the
Capella Guilia. The papal choir
at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The first composition that he


publish is the Book of

Masses that made do
favorable an impression with
Pope Julius the III that he
appointed as musical director
of the Julian Chapel.
Even though he was married


man and ineligible for the

semi- ecclesiastical post. In
addition, this was the first
book of masses by a native
composer.
Palestrina held position similar to


his Julian Chapel appointment at

other chapels and churches in
Rome during the next decade.
( notably St. John in Letran,
From 1555 to 1560 and St. Maria
Maggiore, from 1561-1566.
In 1571, He returned to the


Julian Chapel and Remained at

St Peter’s for the rest of his life.
The decade of the 1570s was
difficult for him personally; he
lost his, Two of his sons, and
wife for in three separate
outbreaks of the plague.
Palestrina left hundreds of


compositions, including 104

masses, 68 offertories, more than
300 motets, at least 72 hymns, 35
magnificats, 11litanies 5 sets of
lamentations, etc., at least 140
madrigals and 9 organ ricercari.
His “Missa Sine Nomine”


seems to have been

particularly attractive to J.S.
Bach, who studied and
performed it while he was
writing his own masterpiece,
the “Mass in B Minor”.
 Among the works counted as his
masterpieces is the “Missa Papae
Marcelli” (Pope Marcellus Mass). It
was believed that his mass was
supposed to have been written to
convince and satisfy the authorities
at the council of Trents that there
was still a place for polyphony in
the musical performance of the
catholic liturgy.
 The Baroque Period
 Is the music of Europe
between 1600 and 1750.
 Scholars are still not

certain about the

etymology of the term
Baroque.
 The Italian baroco is a
philosophical term meaning
“contradictory” or “paradoxical”.
 The portuguese word baroco

means a crooked round pearl;

and another italian word
parucca means wig or false hair.
 The Baroque era was a
time of turbulent change in
politics, science and the
arts.
 It was dominated in

Germany by religious
political war known as the
“Thirty Years War”.
The new interest in music’s


and rhetorical possibilities

gave rise to a wealth of new
sound ideals in the Baroque
period.
It was the period that saw the


beginning of orchestra- when

composers first began to specify
which instruments to play what
music.
 Harmonic theory and figured bass
(use of numerals below a bass
melody to indicate what chords to
use) came into being.
Major and minor scales replaced
old church modes. Italian words
were now used to tell how music
is to be played.
Musical decorations such as trills

and the modernt were used.

 VOCAL MUSIC

 Many of the forms associated with

the baroque era come directly out of
new dramatic impulse, particularly
opera, the oratorio, and the cantata.
 OPERA
 A drama that is primarily sung, accompanied
by instruments, and presented on the stage.
1. Opera seria - the focus was on a serious

subject matters.
2. Opera buffa – Had a lighter, even comic

tone and sometimes used duet, trios, and

larger ensemble.
3. Tragedie lyrique – French version opera
 ORATORIO

 An extended musical drama with a

text based on religious subject
matter, intended for performance
without scenery, costume, or action
CANTATA

 An extended pieces consisting of

a succession of recitatives and set
pieces such as arias, duets and
choruses.
PASSION

 A dramatic presentation of the

story of Easter.
 INSTRUMENT MUSIC

 In realm of instrument music, the

notion of contrast and the desire to
create large scale forms gave rise to
the concerto, sonata, and suite.
 SONATA
 A work in several movements for one or
more instruments ( most frequently violins.
1. Basso continuo – a sonata for two violins
or other treble instument.
2. Trio sonata – a sonata for two violins or
other treble instrument plus bases.
 Sonatas da chiesa – (church sonatas)
usually comprised of four movements
alternating between slow and fast
tempos and performed in church.
 Sonatas da camera – ( chamber sonata )

consisted of a series of dance skin to the

suite.
 CONCERTO

 Derived from the Italian concertare

(to join together, unite), was simply
a composition that united a diverse
ensemble consisting of voices,
instruments or both.
 SUITE

 Based on a traditional pairing of

dances in the renaissance, the suite
was the first multi-movement work
for instruments.
 TOCCATA
 Is an instrumental piece that
alternates between improvisation
and contrapuntal passage.