motet notes - Palestrina

Palestrina: Tu es Petrus

Palestrina is most well-known for his extraordinary masses. Of equal value is the cool perfection of his motet writing.  The Pentacost motet "Tu es Petrus" is a marvelous example of that pure style.  The six-voice work takes its text from Matthew.  The words from the end of the first section are repeated at the end of the second section to give the work a marvelous symmetry.

©Craig Smith

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

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