Composer

:

Tomás Luis de Victoria

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Publication Date

:

1572

Average_duration

:

4:45

"Descendit angelus Domini" is a sacred motet composed by Tomás Luis de Victoria, a Spanish composer of the Renaissance era. The piece was composed in the late 16th century, around 1585, and was first performed in the Chapel Royal of Madrid. The motet is written for four voices, with the text taken from the Gospel of Matthew, describing the descent of the angel of the Lord to announce the resurrection of Christ. The piece is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements being in triple meter and the second movement in duple meter. The first movement begins with a homophonic texture, with all four voices singing in unison. The texture then becomes more polyphonic, with each voice entering one by one, creating a rich and complex harmony. The second movement is more subdued, with a slower tempo and a more contemplative mood. The third movement returns to the lively triple meter of the first movement, with a joyful and celebratory character. Victoria's use of harmony and counterpoint in "Descendit angelus Domini" is characteristic of his style, with a focus on creating a rich and complex texture through the interweaving of different melodic lines. The piece also showcases Victoria's skill in setting sacred texts to music, with a careful attention to the meaning and emotion of the words. Overall, "Descendit angelus Domini" is a beautiful and expressive example of Victoria's sacred music, showcasing his mastery of harmony, counterpoint, and text setting.

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