Palestrina: Prince of Polyphony

Renaissance polyphony reached its zenith with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594), whose superbly crafted interplay of independent and shaped melodic lines, careful treatment of dissonance and restrained expressive writing became a model for Roman Catholic composition and contrapuntal writing from the seventeenth century until well into the twentieth century. A programme of selected works of Palestrina including Stabat Mater and the highly revered Missa Papae Marcelli was given by Allegri Ensemble directed by Andrew Bainbridge on 22 and 29 April. These original programme notes provide a catalogue to contextualise the performance and individual works and were given to audience members.