External Solemnity of St. Lawrence, 2024
Recessional music: Toccata from Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1, Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)
Kyriale: Missa Beatus Laurentius, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525–1594)
Motet after Offertory: Beatus Laurentius, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Motet after Communion: Deus Tuorum Militum, Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611)
For the occasion of the solemnity of our patron’s feast, the choir will sing the Missa Beatus Laurentius by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525–1594), which is a polyphonic setting of the ordinary text of the Mass. Beatus Laurentius is the fifth antiphon from Vespers for the feast. Both the Mass and motet are composed using a cantus firmus, where one voice is singing the original Gregorian melody in long notes while the musical ideas are developed in the other four voices. Palestrina used the themes created in the motet and altered them to fit the various texts for the Ordinary of the Mass, giving the composition the designation of a “Parody Mass.” The five voice choir splits into six for the final movement where two tenor voices singing in canon—meaning the same tune but a few measures apart—using the Gregorian melody to the text of Agnus Dei.
Deus Tuorum Militum is the hymn from Vespers which is sung for feasts of one martyr. Victoria composed the even verses of this hymn and alternated with one of the plainchant melodies.
G.P. Palestrina (c. 1525–1594) is highly regarded for his contributions of Sacred Polyphony and development of counterpoint in the late 16th Century. In the post-Tridentine period he earned the reputation of the ideal Catholic composer for his success in reconciling the functional and aesthetic aims of Catholic church music. Palestrina wrote over 105 Masses and 250 sacred motets in addition to many other works.