Audio for this episode will be available Friday.

We’re throwing a 500th birthday celebration for Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, who was born around 1525. We’re featuring music by the birthday boy, himself, and by composers he admired as well as those who looked up to him. We’ve invited a few of special guests: Cristóbal de Morales and Jacquet of Mantua have promised to attend, and Morales is bringing a birthday song for the occasion. The playlist also will include a world premiere recording of Palestrina’s music, sung by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. A big birthday bash like this only happens once every 500 years!

PLAYLIST

El aire se serena: Music from the Courts and Cathedrals of 16th-Century Spain
Seldom Sene Recorder Quartet
Brilliant Classics 2016 | BC95304
Tomàs Luis de Victoria
Tr. 6: Ascendens Christus in altum (4:50)

Segment A:

Palestrina Revealed: Masses and motets
(World premiere recordings) With works by Byrd, White and Mundy
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; Graham Ross
Harmonia mundi 2025 / HMM905375 / B0DJWNY5GS
Palestrina
Tr. 13: Missa Memor esto verbi tui a 5: I.Kyrie (2:43) (total time: 7:50)
Tr. 14: Missa Memor esto verbi tui a 5: II. Gloria (5:17)

Si breve è 'l tempo: Madrigals in the Low Countries
La Compagnia del Madrigale
MUSIQUE EN WALLONIE 2024 / MEW2410
Palestrina
Tr. 17: "Io son ferito" (1561) (3:18)

Palestrina: Canticum Canticorum – Spiritual Madrigals
Hilliard Ensemble
EMI/Virgin Classics 2003 / 724356223950
Palestrina
Tr. 35: VI. "Vergine chiara e stabile in eterno" from Il primo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1581) (3:15)

:59 Midpoint Break Music Bed:

Bálint Bakfark: Lute Music - Complete
Daniel Benko, lute
Hungaroton 1997 / HCD31564-67
Jacquet of Mantua; arr. Valentin Bakfark
Tr. 7: Aspice Domine: Motetta a 5 (trans. for lute) (excerpt of 6:35)

Segment B:

Palestrina Revealed: Masses and motets
(World premiere recordings) with works by Byrd, White and Mundy
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; Graham Ross
Harmonia mundi 2025 / HMM905375 / B0DJWNY5GS
Palestrina
Tr. 10: Palestrina: Ad te levavi oculos meos a 12 (3:47)

Cristóbal de Morales: O Magnum Mysterium - Christmas Motets
Ensemble Weser-Renaissance Bremen, Manfred Cordes
CPO 2013 / 777820-2
Cristóbal de Morales
Tr. 1: O magnum mysterium (3:08)

Bálint Bakfark: Lute Music - Complete
Daniel Benko, lute
Hungaroton 1997 / HCD31564-67
Jacquet of Mantua; arr. Valentin Bakfark
Tr. 7: Aspice Domine: Motetta a 5 (trans. for lute) (6:35)

The Sound of Martin Luther
Concerto Palatino / Hilliard Ensemble
Warner Classics 2016 / 190295893705
Palestrina, arr. Bach
CD1, Tr. 7: Missa sine nomine a 6: Sanctus (1:43)
CD1, Tr. 8: Missa sine nomine a 6: Benedictus (2:10)

Featured Release:

Palestrina Revealed: Masses and motets
(World premiere recordings) with works by Byrd, White and Mundy
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; Graham Ross
Harmonia mundi 2025 / HMM905375 / B0DJWNY5GS
Palestrina
Tr. 1: Palestrina: Magnificat Secundi Toni a 5 (10:02)