Composer

:

Orlande de Lassus

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Average_duration

:

25:47

Movement_count

:

13

Movement ....

Orlande de Lassus' 'Prophetiae Sibyllarum... chromatico more singulari confectae' is a collection of twelve motets, each based on a prophecy of one of the ancient sibyls. The work was composed in 1557 and premiered in Munich, where Lassus was employed as a court musician. The motets are written in a highly chromatic style, with frequent use of dissonance and unexpected harmonic shifts. This was a departure from the more traditional polyphonic style of the time, and was seen as a bold and innovative move by Lassus. Each motet is structured around a single voice, which sings the prophecy of the sibyl in a highly ornamented and expressive style. The other voices provide a rich and complex harmonic backdrop, with frequent use of imitative counterpoint and intricate rhythmic patterns. The first motet, based on the prophecy of the Cumaean Sibyl, sets the tone for the rest of the work with its highly chromatic harmonies and expressive vocal lines. The second motet, based on the Delphic Sibyl, is notable for its use of a descending chromatic scale in the bass voice, which creates a sense of foreboding and doom. Other highlights of the collection include the third motet, based on the Libyan Sibyl, which features a hauntingly beautiful melody in the alto voice, and the sixth motet, based on the Erythraean Sibyl, which is notable for its use of a descending chromatic scale in the soprano voice. Overall, 'Prophetiae Sibyllarum... chromatico more singulari confectae' is a masterpiece of Renaissance polyphony, showcasing Lassus' innovative approach to harmony and his skill in crafting expressive and emotionally powerful vocal music.

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