Palestrina to study
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    OK: let's see if I can ask this simply and clearly.

    Palestrina: What works are especially worth studying for (1) their beauty or (2) the educational value?

    I have heard that the Offertoria pretty much answer both criteria, but it is late in his career, so perhaps other works have other value.

    Other motets?

    Which masses?

    Did I make that clear?

    Thanks.

    Kenneth
  • Unda_Maris
    Posts: 53
    Kenneth, I have a few suggestions as personal Palestrina favorites: "Sicut Cervus" (Ps. 42), "O Bone Jesu", "Adoramus Christe", "Tu Es Petrus". There are a plethera of masses, but I suggest the following: "Missa Sine Nomine" (esp. the Kyrie & Gloria). "Missa Assumpta Est Maria", and "Missa Aterna Christi Munera". Hope these suggestions are helpful.
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    Very helpful. With Palestrina, it's more a matter of remembering, "Oh, yes, that one." Kenneth
  • GavinGavin
    Posts: 2,799
    All of it.

    In my counterpoint studies the Missa Brevis was very heavily emphasized, however. I also suggest going outside of Palestrina to Josquin and Lassus.
  • GavinGavin
    Posts: 2,799
    Well, the question is are you studying the Prima Practica style? Or a more musico-biographical study of Palestrina? If the former, then expand a bit, even as you study Palestrina. If the latter... someone else should be able to help you.
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    I'm doing both, actually. Limiting myself to particular pieces to study, going composer by composer to find out. Haven't gotten to Josquin. Lassus is my favorite, and there is just so much.

    What is interesting to me is that increasingly sites dedicated to one composer are coming on line. For instance, it is hard to image what of Robert Parson you can't find at the site dedicated to him, and there is a very nice Spanish site for Victoria. Plus, some choir groups have started making their singing editions generally available. I just found this one. Judging by the dates, they seem to have just uploaded a lot over the last couple of years and then just linked them to CPDL.

    http://www.mipucpr.org/cantoral/all/
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    study, going composer by composer


    Byrd.
    So smooth and creamy, like homemade butter.

    Om nom nom nom.
    Thanked by 6Adam Schwend Hilary Cesare JulieColl CharlesW CHGiffen tomboysuze
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    I have downloaded lots of him, but someone on this list recommended Merritt's 16th Century Polyphony and he makes the entirely apposite comment that everyone wants to jump to Byrd and Tallis but that they are, both individually and together, sui generis. That said, I just ran off some of both.
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    We're in the midst of learning Palestrina's Verbum caro panem verum. It's SATB and quite accessible (attached). This seems to be quite rarely performed. I can't find a recording of it anywhere.

    Other suggestions:

    O Crux Ave
    O memoriale mortis Domini

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usNCHp69_lI

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krx1BVk2bmw
    Verbum Caro (Palestrina, Tambling, ed.).pdf
    289K
    Thanked by 1amindthatsuits
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    This one, as with Lassus, is a lot like asking, "What's a good Bach piece to study?'
    Thanked by 1Gavin
  • MarkThompson
    Posts: 768
    Allow me to add one of my very favorites, Super flumina Babylonis à 4.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUp-EgsqZnw
    Thanked by 2JulieColl amindthatsuits
  • Aristotle EsguerraAristotle Esguerra
    Posts: 1,186
    One more for the Communion repertoire:

    Ego sum panis vivus [PDF]

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeOdI68d58Y
    Thanked by 2JulieColl amindthatsuits
  • hartleymartin
    Posts: 1,447
    Palestrina's "Sicut Cervus" should be considered a bread-and-butter motet for choirs. "O Bone Jesu" is another good one. If you can find the people to sing a 6-part motet, "Tu Es Petrus" is a glorious piece of music and should be used on the Solemnity of Peter and Paul. "O Beata Trinitas" is a 5-voice (double soprano) motet, which has been described to me as "Palestrina at his most prozac-iness!", but it is a fantastic piece, and should be there for Trinity Sunday each year.
    Thanked by 2amindthatsuits tomboysuze
  • SamuelDorlaque
    Posts: 318
    Kenneth,
    Do look at the Offertoria a 5. This collection sums up the High Renaissance. My first introduction to Palestrina came as a college freshman in a 16th century counterpoint class. Our choir is in the midst of a three-year project to learn as many as we can.
    Other suggestions that have worked for us: "Dies sanctificatus" and the mass based on it; Missa "Aeterna Christi munera" and "Missa Brevis." We are currently learning the motet "Assumpta est Maria" and the Missa "Assumpta est Maria." We will sing them for an Extraordinary Form Missa solemnis on 15 August. The choir that can sing Palestrina can sing anything. Blend, intonation, purity of and "agreement" on vowels- these all help to make Palestrina to music what the Pieta is to sculpture. Palestrina is the musical version of pure flawless marble. I wish you well in your studies!
    Thanked by 3amindthatsuits Heath tomboysuze
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Mark Thompson, I was playing the YouTube you put up of Super flumina Babylonis, and my 11-year old daughter rushed over immediately and wanted to know what it was. It is hauntingly, plaintively beautiful.

    Just looked it up on CPDL; it's recommended for Pentecost XX and is a variation on the Offertorio for that Sunday. Pentecost XX falls on Oct. 14 this year so that should give us ample time to prepare! Thanks for the suggestion.

    Samuel, your Assumption Day program sounds awesome. Wish I could be there to hear it.
    Thanked by 2amindthatsuits CHGiffen
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    Thanks one and all--that is plenty to start on. And continue on.

    Kenneth
  • JulieCollJulieColl
    Posts: 2,465
    Just thought of two more, Kenneth. Don't know why I didn't think of them before. These are real gems and not exceedingly difficult:

    Alma Redemptoris Mater
    Regina Caeli

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugrR3tBrI8

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfqnqVM62BQ
    Thanked by 1amindthatsuits
  • amindthatsuits
    Posts: 860
    Those two are wonderful--I have heard them before. I only remembered that there were two settings of commonly set prayers, but couldn't remember which. They are now downloaded, and I think, unless I am preparing a dissertation on Palestrina, I have enough to keep my busy!

    Thanks, one and all.

    Kenneth
Add a Comment