PALESTRINA’S REQUIEM

Description

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Lauda Jerusalem (II), SV 203,
motet for five voices and basso continuo, Venice, 1650

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
Missa pro defunctis cum quinque vocibus
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Capp. Giulia XV.15, 1588:
Kyrie – Offertorium – Sanctus – Agnus Dei – Libera me, Domine – Kyrie

Claudio Monteverdi
from Messa a quattro voci et salmi […], Venice, posth. 1650:
Mass in G minor for 4 voices a cappella, SV 190
Laudate, pueri, Dominum (III), SV 196

The Missa pro defunctis by Giovanni Pierlugi da Palestrina has stylistic and structural traits that make it a unique work, both in comparison with the Renaissance funeral repertoire and with the production of the author himself. The Tallis Scholars propose this composition for the first time in a new guise, thanks to a new critical edition based on a manuscript witness from the archive of the Cappella Giulia and contemporary with Palestrina’s work. In addition, the same manuscript contains a responsory Libera me, Domine for 5 voices which for a long time was the subject of doubtful attribution, but which thanks to a careful study of the codex has been re-established as an authentic composition by Palestrina. The Tallis Scholars propose the first ever modern performance of this responsory.