Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

c. 1525–1594

An Italian Renaissance composer known chiefly for sacred vocal polyphony. His masses and motets became important models for the study of vocal counterpoint.

1 piece · Renaissance

Choir Mass

Musical context

High Renaissance · 16th c.

Music printing widened the circulation of repertory, while the Reformation and Catholic reform reshaped worship and musical patronage. Josquin, Palestrina, and their contemporaries developed inherited polyphonic traditions; composers of madrigals also explored increasingly close relationships between poetry and sound. Different religious communities adopted different musical practices, so this century brought several overlapping traditions rather than one uniform style. Explore the era →

Related glossary terms

Imitative counterpoint Madrigal Musica reservata Stile antico Word painting

Mass (1)

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Missa Papae Marcelli

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Choir Renaissance