Piece Information/Instrumentation
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina joins the ranks of the most productive composers of the pre-Baroque era. The piece selected for this discussion is “Agnus Dei I,” a movement from Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli. The movement performed by The Tallis Scholars can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRfF7W4El60 and starts at 00:28:33 (Mnemósine Amnésica, 2014). Regarding instrumentation, the mass uses a six-voice choir with no additional instrumental accompaniment.
Form
In terms of form, the work does not rely on pre-existing melodic patterns. Unlike monophonic techniques, the piece imitates polyphonic sound into its texture. The term means that the central melodies and the text are produced in only one singer’s voice, followed by repetitions to deepen and add new layers to the sound. This feature is evident throughout the piece (Mnemósine Amnésica, 2014).
Musical Transitions and Tempo Changes
Starting at 00:28:33 and finishing at 00:29:00, the opening theme references the introductory polyphonic section of “Kyrie,” which is the very first division of Missa Papae Marcelli. The following minutes exemplify transitions from a slower to a medium tempo, with the loudest, fastest, and richest sound evident between 00:29:45 and 00:31:10. Concerning rhythm and mood, the musical transitions resemble waves as calmer fragments follow more enthusiastic short sections.
Textual Properties and Personal Impression
To continue, the textual properties and personal impressions require consideration. “Agnus Dei I” is a combination of two Italian prayers. Prayer one pertains to asking the Lamb of God for mercy and is repeated twice (Mnemósine Amnésica, 2014). It is followed by a similar prayer to request peace from the aforementioned sacred character. The text coexists with the elevated emotion conveyed by the melody, thus creating a harmonious representation of spiritual emotion and devotion. I enjoyed listening to the selected work due to its structural complexity, calm but steady tempo, and the euphoric emotional state that it can induce in listeners regardless of their religious affiliations.
Reference
Mnemósine Amnésica. (2014). Palestrina, Missa Papae Marcelli. The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips [Video]. YouTube. Web.