Composer

:

Chiara Margarita Cozzolani

Genre

:

Vocal

Publication Date

:

1642

Average_duration

:

4:15

"Alma redemptoris mater" is a sacred composition by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, an Italian composer and singer of the Baroque era. The piece was composed in 1642 and is part of her collection of sacred works, "Concerti Sacri." The premiere of the piece is not known, but it was likely performed in the convent of Santa Radegonda in Milan, where Cozzolani was a nun and music director. The composition is in four movements, each of which is based on a different section of the Marian antiphon "Alma redemptoris mater." The first movement is a lively and joyful setting of the antiphon's opening lines, "Loving mother of the Redeemer, / Gate of heaven, star of the sea." The second movement is a more contemplative and introspective setting of the antiphon's second verse, "To the wonder of nature you bore your Creator, / Yet remained a virgin after as before." The third movement is a lively and dance-like setting of the antiphon's third verse, "You who heard Gabriel's greeting, / Have pity on us sinners." The final movement is a grand and majestic setting of the antiphon's final verse, "O gentle, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary." Cozzolani's "Alma redemptoris mater" is characterized by its rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and virtuosic vocal writing. The piece showcases Cozzolani's skill as a composer and her deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. It is a testament to the important role that women played in the development of sacred music during the Baroque era, and to the enduring power of music to inspire and uplift the human spirit.

More....