Listening Assignment, MU111: #7
Palestrina and the Ars perfecta


Prof. Saunders


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Assignment 7

     Before listening to the work below read the assignment in Todd, Discovering Music

I. Giovani Pierluigi Palestrina, Kyrie from the Missa Papae Marcelli

The listening assignment for the next class is short and sweet. Listen to a single section of the Palestrina Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass). The music falls into three clear sections, determined by the 3-part liturgical text (see below). Listen for the way in which each section unfolds by presenting successive points of imitation: put another way, Palestrina created that glorious web of sound (mostly) by having the singers sing the same melodies, just starting at different times.

Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie, eleison.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.