This episode is all about Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
We don’t know the exact year that Palestrina was born, but it probably was 1525 and so this year, 2025, he is celebrated, being one of the most important composers of the Renaissance and with such a substantial oeuvre.
He was a singer for not more than half a year in the Sistine Chapel, admitted in January 1555 by Pope Julius III – a great lover of his music. This wasn’t according to the official rules, as Palestrina wasn’t married and it was the reason he was fired again after half a year.
In the meantime, there had been another pope: Marcellus II. He only ruled for three weeks, as he became ill not long after his accession to office and died. Palestrina composed a Mass in his memory in 1562: the Missa Papae Marcelli, which became the work he is most famous for.
Though Palestrina was only very shortly part of the choir of the Sistine Chapel, his music was central to what was sung by them. This is even the case today, which is the reason why in this programma we chose solely recordings of this choir.
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/26-1594)
1. Missa Papae Marcelli a 6
2. Terra tremuit a 5
3. Surrexit pastor bonus a 8
4. Angelus Domini a 5
5. Exsultate Deo a 5
6. Constitues eos principes a 5
7. Tu es Petrus a 6
8. Tu es pastor ovium a 5
Choir of the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Musicale Pontificia ‘Sistina’) conducted by Massimo Palombella
(CDs: “Missa Papae Marcelli, Motets” – DGG 479 6131, 2016 (1,8); “O crux benedicta” – DGG 483 5673, 2018 (2,3,5); “Cantate Domino” – DGG 479 5300, 2015 (4,6,7))
In addition:
anon, attr Andrea Gabrieli (1532/33-1585)
9. Praeambulum 3. toni
Roberto Loreggian, organ
(CD: “Complete Keyboard Music” – Brilliant Classics 94432, 2015)
Image: Sistine kapel (Musei Vaticani)
