Born:
February 3, 1525; Palestrina, Italy
Died:
February 2, 1594; Rome, Italy
Nationality:
Italian
Occupation:
Composer
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina,
born on February 3, 1525 and died on February 2, 1594, was an Italian
Renaissance composer of sacred music and the most famous 16th-century
representative of the Roman School. He had a great influence on the development
of European church and secular music, especially on the development of counterpoint,
and his works are considered the pinnacle of Renaissance polyphony.
Palestrina was born in Palestrina,
near Rome, to Naples parents, Santo and Palma Pierluigi. He first visited Rome
in 1537, when he became a member of the choir at the Santa Maria Maggiore
basilica in Rome.
Santa Maria Maggiore
Palestrina served as the organist
of the Cathedral of St. Agapito, the main church in his hometown from 1544 to
1551.
Cathedral of St. Agapito
In 1551, Pope Julius III, former Bishop of Palestrina, appointed
Palestrina the musical director of the Cappella Giulia, the choir of the
chapter of canons at St. Peter's Basilica. Palestrina dedicated to Julius III a
book of Masses, his first published compositions in 1554.
Pope Julius III
During the next decade, Palestrina
held similar positions to Julian Chapel at other chapels and churches in Rome,
notably St. John Lateran (1555–1560), and Santa Maria Maggiore
(1561–1566).
Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
In 1571, he returned to the
Julian Chapel and remained at St Peter's for the rest of his life. In the
1570s, Palestrina had personally a difficult time, including the death of his
brother, two sons and his wife due to three separate plagues.
He considered
becoming a priest at this time, but instead of becoming a priest, he remarried
a wealthy widow. This allowed him to give financial independence and to compose
many works until his death.
He died of pleurisy in Rome on
February 2, 1594, only one day before his 69th birthday, and was buried on the
same day he died. Palestrina's funeral was held at St. Peter's, and he was
buried beneath the floor of the basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment