Rob has turned out an interesting series of astronomical sonnets. I will try a series of composers' portraits. The first one out is Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1525-94, the father of advanced polyphony.


Palestrina



Palestrina made some music
which was far too beautiful
to suit His Holiness the Pope,
who thought the music dangerous
in its seducing beauty
luridly diverting people's minds
from the religious formalism and order
to a better world of spiritual harmonies
which in the long run could outdo religion
as something better and a more spiritual alternative;
so the almighty Pope called forth the Inquisition
to investigate the magic of that lewd musician,
which they did, and found, that his polyphony
was insubstantial like the clouds.
So Palestrina was allowed to go on making music
of his own invention, which is quite ingenious still today
and matchless as perfected polyphonal choir singing
much more to the glory of that God
who had been so misunderstood by that almighty church
which thought it fit to make the Inquisition try some music.





Poetry by Christian Lanciai The PoetBay support member heart!
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Written on 2007-12-26 at 10:30

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Christian Lanciai The PoetBay support member heart!
Comment: There is a "Pietá Palestrina" by Michelangelo, which of course had nothing to do with the composer, although the sculptor and the composer might have met in the Vatican and exchanged some thoughts, since they both had similar problems with the popes. The "Pietá Palestrina", Michelangelo's most expressive pietá group although unfinished, had its name only because it was found in Palestrina outside Rome.
2007-12-27


ken d williams The PoetBay support member heart!
This comment may or may not be relevant. While waching and listing to the radeo , T V and reading about slaves in the west indis , and in the U S. Mpusic and dance were offtan a form of dum inserlacse. Egsampole , of the slaves on the plantastions were givein the cast off clothing of '' the masters '' & '' mistresses''. The slaves of the plantastion put on a performance in the cloths of the owners. Whill theowners sade '' how lovely'' '' such sweet voises, like children are they not?'' . Not realiseing they were being laghtde at , the piss being taken, out of them. tyhe songs tho sung as if in to the lord most hight. Infackde the singing pof the songs was to pass on infomastion , I E : when thr coast was clear fore a slave to make a breke fore freedom. Songs , singing , mousic have a very interesting histoy a taile to tell
All the best , Ken ( D Williams )
2007-12-26


Dan Cederholm
**************************

You are so right in this text Christian
I now some young musicians who
are renewing Palestrinas music right
now in Malmoe Sweden . . .

They comes from a Christian background
where the roots is from the Baptiste
and the New revelation of Wineyard
sprung from Canada an USA . . .

If you are interesting in that I would
gladly give you the address to my friend
in Malmoe . . .

All the best, Dan

*******************************
2007-12-26



Giovanni Pierluigi's music is indeed too beautiful to be constantly locked up in churches!
As a choir singer, I used to sing a lot of Palestrina when I was young. Participating in his polyphony is one of the few things I still miss from that time.
2007-12-26