Renaissance Music Online Lesson

Palestrina is one of the great Italian composers from the Renaissance period. As a young boy he sang in the cathedral choir and then later went to the choir school of St. Maria Maggiore in Rome. In 1539 when his voice changed, Palestrina left the choir-school and returned home.

In 1544 he was became the organist and choir master of the cathedral where he sang as a young boy. Shortly after he married and eventually became the father of two sons. About 1551, the Pope made him choir master of the Julian Chapel at the Vatican. In 1554, Palestrina published a book of Masses, dedicated to the Pope. Palestrina was awarded for this and was made a member for the Pope's private chapel choir in 1555. He served for only six months as a change of popes occurred; and he was dismissed because of a rule against married singers. In 1571 he became Maestro of the Cappella Giulia, retaining this position until death.

Although Palestrina's music was always sung in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, it otherwise fell into general neglect for almost 200 years after his death. In the 1800's a revival of interest began, and modern editions of his music were published.

Palestrina composed 105 Masses, more than 250 motets, Magnificats, other sacred music, and some secular madrigals. Bach is known to have arranged one of Palestrina's Missa sine nomine for voices and instruments.

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