Composer

:

John Dunstable

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

ca. 1410 - 1453

Average_duration

:

5:16

"Sub tuam protectionem, MB 51" is a sacred motet composed by John Dunstable, a prominent English composer of the early 15th century. The piece is believed to have been composed around the year 1420, during Dunstable's tenure as a musician in the court of John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. The motet is written for four voices, with the text taken from a Latin antiphon to the Virgin Mary. The piece is structured in three movements, with the first and third movements featuring the full four-part texture, while the second movement is a duet for two of the voices. The first movement begins with a homophonic statement of the text, with all four voices singing in unison. This is followed by a series of imitative entries, with each voice taking turns to present the text in a polyphonic texture. The movement concludes with a return to the homophonic texture of the opening. The second movement is a duet for the two upper voices, with the lower voices providing a simple harmonic accompaniment. The duet is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody, with the two voices weaving in and out of each other in a delicate interplay. The final movement returns to the full four-part texture, with the voices once again presenting the text in a series of imitative entries. The movement builds to a climax with a series of overlapping entries, before resolving into a final homophonic statement of the text. Overall, "Sub tuam protectionem, MB 51" is a beautiful example of Dunstable's skill in crafting intricate polyphonic textures. The piece is characterized by its gentle, flowing melodies and its use of imitative counterpoint to create a sense of unity and coherence across the different movements.

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