Composer

:

Cipriano de Rore

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Mass

Compose Date

:

ca. 1555

Average_duration

:

29:43

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Cipriano de Rore's 'Missa Praeter Rerum Seriem' is a six-voice mass setting that was composed in the late 1550s. It was premiered in the court of Duke Alfonso II d'Este in Ferrara, Italy, where Rore was employed as a musician. The mass is based on a motet by the Franco-Flemish composer Jean Mouton, which was itself based on a poem by the Italian humanist Francesco Petrarca. The 'Missa Praeter Rerum Seriem' is divided into six movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei. Each movement is characterized by Rore's use of complex polyphony, with each voice weaving in and out of the texture to create a rich and intricate sound. The mass also features moments of homophony, where all voices sing in unison to emphasize certain words or phrases. One of the most striking characteristics of the 'Missa Praeter Rerum Seriem' is Rore's use of chromaticism. He employs chromaticism to create tension and dissonance, which he then resolves in unexpected ways. This creates a sense of unpredictability and drama in the music, which was highly innovative for its time. Another notable feature of the mass is Rore's use of word painting. He uses musical gestures to illustrate the meaning of the text, such as a descending melody on the word "descendit" in the Credo, or a rising melody on the word "resurrexit" in the Sanctus. This adds an extra layer of meaning to the music, and helps to convey the emotional content of the text. Overall, the 'Missa Praeter Rerum Seriem' is a masterpiece of Renaissance polyphony. Its complex textures, innovative harmonies, and expressive word painting make it a landmark work in the history of Western music.

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