Palestrina: Missa pro defunctis for String Quintet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina String Orchestra - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1702034

The "Missa pro defunctis" (Requiem Mass) by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is a sacred, a cappella work for five voices (ATTBarB), composed in Latin. It was first published in 1591 in the fourth edition of Palestrina's Missarum cum quatuor, quinque ac sex vocibus liber primus. This mass is noted for its meditative and austere polyphony, characteristic of Palestrina’s style at the end of the Renaissance.

The mass includes the following movements:

Kyrie eleison/ Christe eleison/ Kyrie eleison
Offertory/ Hostias/ Quam olim
Sanctus/Benedictus
Agnus Dei (threefold)
It notably omits the full Plainchant Introit, Sequence (Dies irae), Communion, and Responsory, which could be chanted separately. Among Palestrina’s output, this is the only Requiem mass confidently attributed to him, while two others (for four voices) previously thought to be his have been disputed or attributed to other composers such as Giulio Belli.

The "Missa pro defunctis" is revered for its profound meditation on the afterlife and is often performed by renowned vocal ensembles, such as Chanticleer, highlighting its enduring place in liturgical and concert repertoires.

The idea that Palestrina's "Missa pro defunctis" was possibly composed for his funeral is supported by the fact that he wrote this requiem mass just three years before he died in 1594. Some music historians suggest that its somber and introspective nature, along with the timing of its composition, indicate Palestrina may have created it to be performed at his funeral. While this is not certain, the proximity to the end of his life and the tradition of composers writing such works for their memorials add weight to the theory.

Additionally, it fits with a general practice in late Renaissance Italy, where composers sometimes prepared sacred music intended for significant life events, including their passing. However, concrete documentation directly proving Palestrina’s intent is lacking, so while the theory is plausible, it remains speculative and rooted in the context and character of the masses.