Dies Sanctificatus by Palestrina
I've just realized that I somehow thus far have neglected to send out a Palestrina motet (except for our 'Sicut cervus' recording project) for our Friday motet. So I am rectifying this omission today by featuring his 'Dies sanctificatus'. This is also a Nativity piece, celebrating the 'holy day which has illuminated us'. It's classic Palestrina--smooth, flowing lines, restrained but clear word painting, consummate counterpoint. It also ends with a wonderful, joyful triple time section:
'Let us rejoice and be glad!'
In 1982 or so, I did an independent study at Berkeley with the formidable (=terrifying) Joseph Kerman on parody masses, comparing them with their models. Most of my work dealt with the 'Dies sanctificatus' and Palestrina's eponymous mass based thereupon. The motet was the first Palestrina piece I ever really got to know, and also the first of his motets
I conducted. I still love it!
In addition to the 'Palestrina-Dies sanctificatus' zip file containing the materials for this project, you also might like to check out these links to the various movements of his mass: Kyrie; Gloria; Credo; Sanctus; Benedictus; Agnus Dei I; Agnus Dei II.
I've just realized that I somehow thus far have neglected to send out a Palestrina motet (except for our 'Sicut cervus' recording project) for our Friday motet. So I am rectifying this omission today by featuring his 'Dies sanctificatus'. This is also a Nativity piece, celebrating the 'holy day which has illuminated us'. It's classic Palestrina--smooth, flowing lines, restrained but clear word painting, consummate counterpoint. It also ends with a wonderful, joyful triple time section:
'Let us rejoice and be glad!'
In 1982 or so, I did an independent study at Berkeley with the formidable (=terrifying) Joseph Kerman on parody masses, comparing them with their models. Most of my work dealt with the 'Dies sanctificatus' and Palestrina's eponymous mass based thereupon. The motet was the first Palestrina piece I ever really got to know, and also the first of his motets
I conducted. I still love it!
In addition to the 'Palestrina-Dies sanctificatus' zip file containing the materials for this project, you also might like to check out these links to the various movements of his mass: Kyrie; Gloria; Credo; Sanctus; Benedictus; Agnus Dei I; Agnus Dei II.