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Portrait of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

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 Palestrina’s 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 2 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
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Missa Ave Regina Coelorum — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 4
Missa L'Homme Arme — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 4
Alma Redemptoris Mater — —— ChoirClassical 3
Missa Aeterna Christi Munera — —— ChoirClassical 2
O Rex Gloriae — —— ChoirClassical 3
Osculetur me — —— A CappellaClassical 4
Surgam et circuibo civitatem — —— A CappellaClassical 4
Descendi in hortum meum — —— A CappellaClassical 4
Missa Brevis - Altus — —— —Classical 2
O Domine Jesu Christe - Trombone 4 — —— —Classical 2
Christus factus est - Trombone 3 — —— —Classical 2
Missa 'Iste Confessor' — —— —Classical 1
Super Flumina Babylonis — —— ChoirClassical 2
Veni Sponsa Christi — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 3
O Magnum Mysterium — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 3
Missa Pape Marcelli — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 3
Matin responsory (Advent) — —— Choir— 2
Credo in unum Deum — —— ChoirClassical 3
Salve Regina — —— A CappellaClassical 2
Sitivit anima mea — —— A CappellaClassical 3
Alla riva del Tebro (madrigal) — —— Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone— 1
Illumina Oculos Meos — —— ChoirClassical 2
Improperien und Antiphon — —— ChoirClassical 2
Deposuit Potentes I — —— Cello, violin, Recorder, ViolaClassical 2
13. Ricercare — —— OrganClassical 1
Io Son Ferito, Ahi Lasso — —— Voice, A CappellaClassical 2
VestivMa i Colli — —— Voice, A CappellaClassical 3
Benedictus - No. 3 from Missa "de Feria" — —— —Classical 1
Agnus Dei 2 - No. 7 from Missa "L'homme arme" — —— —Classical 1
Sanctus, No. 4 from Missa "L'homme arme" — —— —Classical 1
Agnus Dei - No. 6 from "Missa Papae Marcelli" — —— —Classical 1
Sanctus - No. 4 from "Missa Papae Marcelli" — —— —Classical 1
Benedictus - No. 5 from Missa Brevis — —— —Classical 1
Agnus Dei 1 - No. 4 frim Missa "de Feria" — —— —Classical 1
Missa Tertia: O Magnum Mysterium, No. 6: Benedictus — —— —Classical 1
Missa Tertia: O Magnum Mysterium, No. 5: Sanctus — —— —Classical 1
Spiritus Sanctus - Choir I Part 3, Trombone — —— —Classical 1
Dies Sanctus - Trumpet 2 — —— —Classical 1
Three Sacred Palestrina Pieces - Tuba 1 — —— —Classical 1
I Vaghi Fiori - Trumpet 1 in B-flat — —— —Classical 1
O Magnum Mysterium from "Liber Primus Motettorum" — —— —Classical 1
Agnus Dei 2 - No. 5 from Missa "de Feria" — —— —Classical 1
Benedictus - No. 5 from Missa "L'homme arme" — —— —Classical 1
Benedictus - No. 5 from "Missa Papae Marcelli" — —— —Classical 1
Missa Tertia: O Magnum Mysterium, No. 3: Gloria — —— —Classical 1
Missa Tertia: O Magnum Mysterium, No. 8: Agnus Dei — —— —Classical 1
Missa Tertia: O Magnum Mysterium, No. 7: Hosanna 2 — —— —Classical 1
Largo from "Stabat Mater" — —— —Classical 1

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.