Composer

:

Pedro de Escobar

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

4:22

'Clamabat Autem Mulier' is a sacred motet composed by Pedro de Escobar, a prominent Portuguese composer of the Renaissance period. The piece was composed in the late 15th century and is believed to have been premiered in the royal chapel of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. The motet is written for four voices, with the text taken from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, verses 22-28. The text tells the story of a Canaanite woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter, and despite being initially rebuffed, persists in her request until Jesus grants her wish. The piece is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements featuring the full four-part choir, while the second movement is a duet between the alto and tenor voices. The first movement begins with a solemn and plaintive melody, with the voices singing in unison before breaking into harmonies. The second movement is more lively and features a call-and-response between the two voices, with the alto voice taking on the role of the woman and the tenor voice representing Jesus. The final movement returns to the solemnity of the first, with the full choir singing in harmony. The characteristics of 'Clamabat Autem Mulier' reflect the musical style of the Renaissance period, with a focus on polyphony and vocal harmonies. The piece is notable for its use of dissonance, particularly in the second movement, which creates a sense of tension and drama in the music. The use of imitation between the voices is also a hallmark of Renaissance music, with each voice taking turns to present the main melody. Overall, 'Clamabat Autem Mulier' is a beautiful and moving piece of sacred music that showcases Pedro de Escobar's skill as a composer and his ability to convey the emotional depth of the text through music.

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