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Palestrina

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Dates
1525–1594
Era
Renaissance (1400–1600)
Recognition
essential
Wikipedia

Where to start with Palestrina

Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles
  1. Vocal
    Missa Papae Marcelli
  2. Vocal
    Missa Brevis
  3. Vocal
    Missa Tu es Petrus
  4. Vocal
    A solis ortus cardine
  5. Vocal
    Ad te levavi
  6. Vocal
    Ad te levavi, motet
  7. Vocal
    Ad te levavi, motet
  8. Vocal
    Adiuro vos
  9. Vocal
    Adoramus te Christe
  10. Vocal
    Afferentur regi,
  11. Vocal
    Alma Redemptoris mater, no. 1
  12. Vocal
    Amor che meco in quest'ombre ti stavi
  13. Vocal
    Amor, fortuna e la mia mente schiva
  14. Vocal
    Angelus Domini
  15. Vocal
    Ascendi Deus

Listening guide

Hand-curated paths into Palestrina's catalogue
  1. Missa Papae Marcelli
  2. Tu es Petrus (motet)
  3. Stabat Mater
  4. Sicut cervus desiderat
  5. Ave Maria

Most Acclaimed

  1. Missa Papae Marcelli
  2. Song of Songs (Canticum Canticorum) — 29 madrigals
  3. Missa L\’homme armé
  4. Stabat Mater
  5. Masses (complete 104)

Most Weird

  1. Song of Songs settings
    29 madrigals on the erotic biblical text — ”Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” set to sacred polyphony
  2. Missa Brevis
    stripped to near-simplicity — haunting in its economy
  3. Missa Assumpta est Maria
    the cyclic structure links all movements through a single theme
  4. Ricercari (complete)
    keyboard works — systematic exploration of all modes
  5. Madrigals (secular) Op. 11
    he later repudiated secular madrigals — these survive despite him

Similar composers

Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinity

Works 202