other notes - Victoria

Tomás Luis de Victoria (ca.1548–1611) was one of the most important composers of the Roman CatholicCounter-Reformation, along with Palestrina and di Lasso. Published in 1572, Netimeas, Maria, was composed for the Feast of the Annunciation. After a reassuring, controlled polyphonic opening,elaborate melismas focus our attention on God’s grace (gratiam . . . Dominum)and the miraculous being in Mary’s womb (in utero).  A full cadencesets off the final line, “and he shall be called Son of the Most High” (etvocabitur Altissimi filius), with its upward leaps on Altissimi andjoyous melismas on filium.