Motet notes - Anerio

Felice Anerio (1560-1614), began his career in 1568 as a choirboy at S. Maria Maggiore, sang under Palestrina in the Cappella Giulia from 1575 to 1579 and was choirmaster of the English College in Rome. He wrote the usual range of music for a composer of the time: madrigals both secular and sacred. But the great achievement of his life was his appointment as official Papal composer in 1594, on the death of Palestrina, who had held the post since 1565, a post created especially for Palestrina, and which ceased with Anerio's death. Anerio wrote two settings of the Eastertide motet Regina coeli laetare. One an eight-voice, double choir motet, and today’s setting for four voices. Our motet begins with the incipit followed by sections based on plainchant that alternate throughout with bouncy “Alleluias” celebrating the joy of Easter.