Motet notes - Anerio

Felice Anerio (c.1560-1614) was born into a Roman musical family — his father Maurizio was a trombone player and his younger brother Giovanni Francesco was also a composer.  In 1594 he was appointed composer to the Papal Chapel on the death of Palestrina. "Christus factus est" is notable for the striking dissonance of its opening, and for its effective use of suspensions as the main expressive device. This motet, for which Anerio is now most widely known, was not published in his lifetime along with his other sacred works.