Composer

:

Giacomo Carissimi

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

1648

Average_duration

:

7:50

Giacomo Carissimi was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, known for his sacred music and oratorios. One of his most famous works is "Turbabantur impii," a sacred oratorio composed in the mid-17th century. The oratorio is based on the story of the martyrdom of St. Cecilia, a Christian saint who was martyred in the 3rd century AD. The text is in Latin and is divided into several movements, each of which tells a different part of the story. The oratorio begins with an instrumental introduction, followed by a chorus of voices singing "Turbabantur impii," which means "The wicked were raging." This sets the tone for the rest of the piece, which is filled with dramatic and emotional music. The first movement tells the story of St. Cecilia's conversion to Christianity and her refusal to worship the Roman gods. The second movement describes her arrest and imprisonment, and the third movement tells of her trial and condemnation to death. The fourth movement is a duet between St. Cecilia and an angel, in which the angel comforts her and tells her that she will soon be in heaven. The fifth movement is a chorus of angels singing praises to God, and the final movement is a chorus of voices singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo," which means "Glory to God in the highest." The music of "Turbabantur impii" is characterized by its use of polyphony, in which multiple voices sing different melodies at the same time. The music is also highly emotional, with dramatic shifts in dynamics and tempo. The oratorio premiered in Rome in the mid-17th century and quickly became popular throughout Europe. It is still performed today and is considered one of Carissimi's greatest works.

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