Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) – Giovanni Palestrina

Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) by Giovanni Palestrina

Italian composer Giovanni Palestrina completed this Mass in 1562 in honour of Pope Marcellus II, who reigned as Pope in 1555, dying from a stroke only 9 days into his papacy. 1562 marked the year of the third session of the Council of Trent. This gathering was intended to unify the Catholic Church after the momentous Protestant Reformation, which is considered by some to have begun in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed the ‘Ninety-five Theses’ to a church door in Germany.

One of the issues discussed at the Council of Trent (also known as the embodiment of the ‘Counter-Reformation) was the use of polyphonic music in the Church. The main area of concern regarding the use of polyphonic music for sacred purposes was that it potentially obscured the words of devotion. Had the council agreed to ban such music, the development of choral music may have become crippled in Europe as the Catholic church was one of the most influential patrons of the arts at that time.

The legend is that this Mass by Palestrina was considered so beautiful that the council could not agree to ban it from the Church.

This Mass is comprised of five sections:
I. Kyrie
II. Gloria
III. Credo
IV. Sanctus
V. Agnus Dei
VI. Benedictus