Palestrina favorites
Leonard Cornelius
I wish to be introduced to the music of Palestrina. I am interested in
knowing which compositions of his are among his best.
--
Best wishes,
Leonard Cornelius
Southfield, MI
Thomas Bergeron
Hi
On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 23:36:53 -0400, Leonard Cornelius
<len...@coast.net> wrote:
>I wish to be introduced to the music of Palestrina. I am interested in
>knowing which compositions of his are among his best.
>
Historians of music often states Missa Papae Marcelli as Palestrina
masterwork.
Darin Manica
Undoubtedly, the Missa Papae Marcelli is his most important work (at least
in a historical context, since it basically saved 16th century polyphony
from being removed from the church entirely.) In short, the congregation
was tired of not being able to understand the text, the musicians
appreciated the complexities (i.e. Ockeghem)... Palestrina wrote the Missa
Papae Marcelli to prove that complex music could be easily understood.
If you enjoy Palestrina, you must seek out the Tallis Scholars 4 CD box set
(for the price of 3.) Excellent music, great cathedral accoustics, and a
first rate ensemble. Enjoy! --
Darin
Alan Swindells
In article <6lvtiq$6...@peabody.colorado.edu>, "Darin Manica"
<man...@ucsu.colorado.edu> wrote:
Seconded, enthusiastically. You might, however get it even
cheaper. Over here it seems to be going at about the price of
2 CDs, although I got mine even cheaper - about £16.
BTW reflect when thinking about the 'best' of Palestrina, that
fewer than 15 masses have been recorded, and not many more
performed in modern times, AFAIK, and that over 100 are known
to exist. Now there's a recording project for some adventurous
soul!
--
Regards: Alan * alan...@argonet.co.uk *
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I. Neill Reid
In article <6lvtiq$6...@peabody.colorado.edu>, "Darin Manica" <man...@ucsu.colorado.edu> writes...
>Undoubtedly, the Missa Papae Marcelli is his most important work (at least
>in a historical context, since it basically saved 16th century polyphony
>from being removed from the church entirely.) In short, the congregation
>was tired of not being able to understand the text, the musicians
>appreciated the complexities (i.e. Ockeghem)... Palestrina wrote the Missa
>Papae Marcelli to prove that complex music could be easily understood.
This is a musical version of the urban myth - which Pfitzner chose to
dramatise in his opera Palestrina. The fact is that, while the Council of
Trent was discussing ways and means of simplifying choral music, largely
because they wanted the text to become more audible, and to some
extent following the lead of the short-lived (as pope) Marcellus II,
there wasn't any serious discussion of eliminating music entirely.
Palestrina's mass happens to have been one of the first published after
Trent. No question that it's a great work. My own fabourites amongst the
works I've heard are the motets Sicut Cervus and Tu es Petrus, and his
Fourth Book of Lamentations (Pro Cantione Antiqua on Allegro PCD 973)
Neill Reid - i...@dowland.caltech.edu
>
>If you enjoy Palestrina, you must seek out the Tallis Scholars 4 CD box set
>(for the price of 3.) Excellent music, great cathedral accoustics, and a
>first rate ensemble. Enjoy! --
>
>Darin
>
>
Donald Rice
To start out listening to Palestrina I would look for the Tallis Scholars "Live in Rome" recording of
the Missa Papae Marcelli which has a more intense quality. (Gimmell label CDGIM 994) Included are a
Stabat Mater and Magnificat and two motets which are stunningly beautiful. The concert celebrated
Palestrinas 400th birthday at the church for which he composed a substantial number of pieces and
where he heard his music performed.
Also on EMI Eminence, (CD-EMX 2098) a budget label, is the mass Hodie Christus Natus Est, a joyfully
celebratory Christmas mass along with 6 motets including the one on which the mass is based. Philip
Ledger directs the all male King's College Choir which includes boys singing the highest parts with
lovely effect (if you like boys "white" voices.)
Don
matthew...@my-dejanews.com
In article <35834554...@coast.net>,
Leonard Cornelius <len...@coast.net> wrote:
>
> I wish to be introduced to the music of Palestrina. I am interested in
> knowing which compositions of his are among his best.
>
> Best wishes,
> Leonard Cornelius
> Southfield, MI
>
>
Well,... many (not all, I'm sure) music historians say the Missa Papae
Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) is his greatest work; legend certainly does
-- indeed, legend holds that Palestrina saved polyphonic church music by
presenting this Mass to the Council of Trent, which nearly banned polyphony
in favor of plainchant.
I'm not a trained music historian, but I don't agree that this is his best
mass.
In any case, for a recording of the Missa Papae Mercelli, I recommend "The
Tallis Scholars - Live in Rome" (Palestrina 400th anniversary concert). This
is the most famous Renaissance-specialist vocal ensemble doing the most
famous pieces of the composer they do best in the church where he finished
his career.
As a further introduction to Palestrina, I'd recommend the Missa "ut re mi fa
sol la" by the Studio de musique ancienne de Montreal on Analekta. The
eponymous theme on which the mass is based is very simple and clear, so it's
easy for a newcomer to the style to hear what Palestrina does with it.
My two favorite Palestrina recordings show his music in liturgical context
(or something close to it) - and they're gorgeous as well:
- Missa Hodie Christus Natus Est ("Christmas Mass in Rome")
Gabrieli Consort & Players/Paul McCreesh on DG Archiv
- Missa Viri Galilei
La Chapelle Royale/Ensemble Organum on Harmonia Mundi France
Two other recordings (on the Stradivarius label) I recommend are by an
Italian ensemble called Delitiae Musicae which uses a different, equally
valid but rarely tried approach to Palestrina - all male voices, one singer
per part.
- Missae ex Cipriano de Rore
- Missae ex Jacquet de mantua vol.1
These are "parody" masses - that is, masses based on a previously existing
polyphonic composition.
The ideal place to have posted your question is rec.music.early. I recommend
it as well.
You should definitely visit the very useful and informative "Early Music FAQ"
site at www.medieval.org/emfaq.
Matthew Westphal
matthew...@worldnet.att.net
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David Tayler
emag...@julian.uwo.ca wrote:
>
> In article <35834ee3...@news.microtec.net>,> > On Sat, 13 Jun 1998 23:36:53 -0400, Leonard Cornelius
> > <len...@coast.net> wrote:
> >
> > >I wish to be introduced to the music of Palestrina. I am interested in
> > >knowing which compositions of his are among his best.
> > >
> > masterwork.
> >
Settings. Sandwiched a bit by Lassus and Victoria.
dt