Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (C. 1525–1594)
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (C. 1525–1594)
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian composer who made a big impact on sacred music during the Renaissance. His compositions showed the characteristics of the Counter-Reformation. The Counter-Reformation is characterized by clarity, balance, and reverence for the text. Palestrina's works, including his masses and motets, had beautiful melodies, subtle harmonic progressions, and precise counterpoint. He helped develop polyphonic choral music. Paelstrina wrote over 350 masses and motets and is one of the central composers in the Roman School.
Life
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was born near Rome in a town called Palestrina between February 1525 and 1526. When he was ten-years-old, his mother died. In 1537, he traveled to Rome to be a chorister. This helped him learn about music. He became an organist and then in 1551, Pope Julius III appointed Palestrina to the position of musical director of Capella Giulia. This lasted only four years, because in 1555, there was a new law by Pope Paul IV that papal choristers should be clerical. Palestrina was already married and had four children, so he could not continue his position although he held similar positions at other churches. He lost his brother, his wife, and two sons to the plague between 1572-1580. Palestrina later remarried and continued to compose for the rest of his life at the Julian Chapel.
The Palestrina Style
There are certain unique characteristics that are considered the Palestrina style. The music should flow and be dynamic. The melody should contain few leaps between notes. If there is a leap, then it should be followed by a stepwise motion moving in the opposite direction. And finally, dissonances should primarily be on passing notes and weak beats. Dissonances on suspensions should always be resolved.
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian composer who made a big impact on sacred music during the Renaissance. His compositions showed the characteristics of the Counter-Reformation. The Counter-Reformation is characterized by clarity, balance, and reverence for the text. Palestrina's works, including his masses and motets, had beautiful melodies, subtle harmonic progressions, and precise counterpoint. He helped develop polyphonic choral music. Paelstrina wrote over 350 masses and motets and is one of the central composers in the Roman School.
Life
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was born near Rome in a town called Palestrina between February 1525 and 1526. When he was ten-years-old, his mother died. In 1537, he traveled to Rome to be a chorister. This helped him learn about music. He became an organist and then in 1551, Pope Julius III appointed Palestrina to the position of musical director of Capella Giulia. This lasted only four years, because in 1555, there was a new law by Pope Paul IV that papal choristers should be clerical. Palestrina was already married and had four children, so he could not continue his position although he held similar positions at other churches. He lost his brother, his wife, and two sons to the plague between 1572-1580. Palestrina later remarried and continued to compose for the rest of his life at the Julian Chapel.
The Palestrina Style
There are certain unique characteristics that are considered the Palestrina style. The music should flow and be dynamic. The melody should contain few leaps between notes. If there is a leap, then it should be followed by a stepwise motion moving in the opposite direction. And finally, dissonances should primarily be on passing notes and weak beats. Dissonances on suspensions should always be resolved.
Josquin des Prez (c. 1450–1455 – 27 August 1521)
Josquin des Prez
Josquin des Prez, often referred to simply as Josquin, stands as one of the great figures of Renaissance music. From the Franco-Flemish school, his compositions showcased a mastery of polyphonic writing. Josquin des Prez wrote vocal music that had smoothly blended voices and intricate harmonies. Josquin's works had a wide range of musical forms, including masses, motets, chansons, and secular songs. He used imitation, and wrote expressive melodic lines. This made him admired by many future composers.
Thomas Tallis (c. 1505 – 23 November 1585)
Thomas Tallis was an English composer who composed both sacred and secular music. His works, including motets, masses, hymns, and anthems, demonstrated a masterful command of polyphony and a sensitivity to text setting. His composition "Spem in alium," a monumental 40-part motet, stands as a testament to his genius and remains an important work of the era.
Orlando di LAsso (c. 1532 – 14 June 1594)
Orlando di Lasso, also known as Orlande de Lassus, was a highly influential Franco-Flemish composer. He composed in many musical genres, including masses, motets, madrigals, and chansons. Lasso's compositions were celebrated for their expressive harmonies, vivid word painting, and intricate polyphonic textures. Lasso's impact was in his ability to capture the emotions of the text through sophisticated musical techniques, shaping the future of vocal music. Almost 60 masses have survived today in their complete form.
Life
Orlando di Lasso was born in the Netherlands which is modern-day Belgium. We don't know very much about his early life, but there is a story that he was kidnapped three times because he had such a beautiful singing voice. He worked as a singer and composer in Naples, Italy in the early 1550s. He worked for Cosimo I de Medici and became the maestro di cappella of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. This was a very good position, but he only stayed for one year. After traveling for some time, he married Regina Wackinger in 1558 and settled in Munich. They had two sons who also became composers and a daughter. In 1563, Lasso was appointed maestro di cappella. He stayed at this position for the rest of his life. By the 1560s, Lasso was very famous. People would come to Munich to study composition with him. Pope Gregory XIII knighted him and the king of France, Charles IX invited him to visit. Even though kings and aristocrats tried to get him to leave Munich, he wanted to stay. He wrote in 1580 to the Duke of Electorate of Saxony, "I do not want to leave my house, my garden, and the other good things in Munich."
Life
Orlando di Lasso was born in the Netherlands which is modern-day Belgium. We don't know very much about his early life, but there is a story that he was kidnapped three times because he had such a beautiful singing voice. He worked as a singer and composer in Naples, Italy in the early 1550s. He worked for Cosimo I de Medici and became the maestro di cappella of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. This was a very good position, but he only stayed for one year. After traveling for some time, he married Regina Wackinger in 1558 and settled in Munich. They had two sons who also became composers and a daughter. In 1563, Lasso was appointed maestro di cappella. He stayed at this position for the rest of his life. By the 1560s, Lasso was very famous. People would come to Munich to study composition with him. Pope Gregory XIII knighted him and the king of France, Charles IX invited him to visit. Even though kings and aristocrats tried to get him to leave Munich, he wanted to stay. He wrote in 1580 to the Duke of Electorate of Saxony, "I do not want to leave my house, my garden, and the other good things in Munich."
William Byrd (c. 1540 – 4 July 1623)
William Byrd was an English composer and organist. He was a transitional composer from Renaissance to Baroque era music. His compositions spanned a broad spectrum, including masses, motets, consort music, and keyboard pieces.
Life
The exact date of William Byrd's birth is unknown. He was most likely born in London. His family was described as gentlemen. His two brother were choristers. William Byrd may have been a chorister himself at the Chapel Royal. After William became an adolescent, he became an assistant and learned composition. He wrote some student compositions before the age of eighteen, including Miserere. In 1563, Byrd became an organist and master of choristers at the Lincoln Cathedral. In 1568, Byrd married. They had at least seven children together. In 1572, he was appointed Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, which was the largest choir in England. This was a lifetime position with a good salary which allowed him to continue to compose and play organ.
Cantiones 1575
Queen Elizabeth gave Byrd and Tallis a royal monopoly to print music. They published a set of works called the Cantiones. It is one of the first sets of printed sacred works in England. The Cantiones was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her seventeenth year of reign. Each composer dedicated 17 motets to the collection.
Life
The exact date of William Byrd's birth is unknown. He was most likely born in London. His family was described as gentlemen. His two brother were choristers. William Byrd may have been a chorister himself at the Chapel Royal. After William became an adolescent, he became an assistant and learned composition. He wrote some student compositions before the age of eighteen, including Miserere. In 1563, Byrd became an organist and master of choristers at the Lincoln Cathedral. In 1568, Byrd married. They had at least seven children together. In 1572, he was appointed Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, which was the largest choir in England. This was a lifetime position with a good salary which allowed him to continue to compose and play organ.
Cantiones 1575
Queen Elizabeth gave Byrd and Tallis a royal monopoly to print music. They published a set of works called the Cantiones. It is one of the first sets of printed sacred works in England. The Cantiones was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her seventeenth year of reign. Each composer dedicated 17 motets to the collection.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Name three composers of the Renaissance era.
- Which composer was a transitional composer that bridged the Baroque era?