Composer

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Italian Renaissance composer (c. 1525–1594)

1525–1594

266 works in the index

Born: 1525
Died: 1594
Birthplace: Palestrina
Citizenship / historical state: Papal States
Period (estimated from birth year): Renaissance

Biography

The precise birth date of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is unknown, but the year was either 1525 or 1526.

His name and reputation are bound up with that of the Council of Trent, the great series of gatherings of the archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Church that began in 1545 and continued until 1563, and that defined the Counter-Reformation.

One question that this Council faced involved the use of polyphonic music in the context of the mass. There is a legend that Palestrinaâs music saved polyphony for the mass, and perhaps even for southern Europe. The legend exaggerates, as legends do.

But what it exaggerates is a truth: some Catholic prelates saw polyphony as a threat, as tainted by the Protestant schism, and Palestrina worked against that backdrop of suspicion.

He died in 1594. Attached to his coffin was a plate with the words: Libera me Domine (Deliver me, oh Lord).

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments: Choir, A Cappella, Voice, Recorder, Viola
Genres represented: Classical
Works with composition dates: 7 of 266

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 1 of 6

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
Work	Year composed	Catalogue / opus	Key in title	Listed instruments	Genre	Editions
Missa Papae Marcelli: I. Kyrie	—	—	—	Organ, Choir, Tuba	Classical	23
Tu Es Petrus	—	—	—	Voice, Tenor, Choir	Classical	12
Gloria Patri	—	—	—	Trombone, Trumpet, A Cappella	Classical	12
Sicut Cervus	1584Wikidata	—	—	Voice, Choir, A Cappella	Classical	13
Adoramus te Christe	1604IMSLP	—	—	Recorder	Classical	9
Loquebantur Variis Linguis	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	8
Valde Honorandus Est	1564 or beforeIMSLP	—	—	Choir	Classical	6
The Strife Is O'er	—	—	—	Piano	Classical	7
Ricercar del Primo Tuono	—	—	—	Horn, Trombone, Tuba	Classical	9
Benedicta Sit Sancta Trinitas	1564 or beforeIMSLP	—	—	Choir	Classical	4
Sicut Locutus Est II	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Recorder, Viola	Classical	7
Christ, We Do All Adore Thee	—	—	—	Organ	—	7
Sicut lilium inter spinas	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	7
Laeva ejus	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	8
Surge, amica mea	1564 or beforeIMSLP	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	6
Offertoria, Pars Prima: IV. Ave Maria, gratia plena (Dominica quarta Adventus, et in Annuntiat. B.M.V.)	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	6
Stabat Mater	1560Wikidata	—	—	—	Classical	6
Pulchrae sunt genae tuae	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	7
Dilectus meus descendit	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	7
Quam pulchra es	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	6
Dies Sanctificatus	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	6
Vaghi Fiori	—	—	—	Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Horn, English Horn, Viola, Tenor Saxophone	—	6
Adoramus Te	—	—	—	Voice, Choir, A Cappella	Classical	5
Ascendo Ad Patrem	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	6
Benedictus	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	6
Agnus Dei I	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	6
Agnus Dei II	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	6
Exsultate Deo	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
O bone Jesu - Phrygisch/Phrygian	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	5
Fecit Potentiam I	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Recorder, Viola	Classical	5
Veni, dilecte mi	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	6
Alma Redemptoris	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
Super Flumina	1564 or beforeIMSLP	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
Canite Tuba	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	6
O crux ave	—	—	—	—	Classical	4
Motette Sicut cervus (4v)	—	—	—	—	Classical	3
Missa Veni Sponsa Christi	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
Missa O Magnum Mysterium	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
Gloria in excelsis Deo	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	5
Sanctus	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	5
Domine Fili Unigenite	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	4
The Strife Is Over	—	—	—	Guitar	—	5
Missa Assumpta Est Maria	—	—	—	Choir	Classical	3
Et Misericordia Ejus II	—	—	—	Cello, violin, Recorder, Viola	Classical	4
Matin responsory Performed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	5
Benedictus Qui Venit	—	—	—	Voice, A Cappella	Classical	4
Ecce tu pulcher es	—	—	—	A Cappella	Classical	5
Jesu Rex Admirabilis	—	—	—	Voice, Choir	Classical	4

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 92280854. Portrait: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/senesino/Dei/Palestrina.jpg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.