Palestrina 500th!

Fiori's answer to Glastonbury! A fabulous midsummer concert in the uniquely atmospheric setting of Wolfhampcote - a place that time has forgotten...

As St Peter’s Wolfhampcote begins its ambitious project to install specially commissioned stained glass windows- including one by distinguished stain glass artist Thomas Denny - into this special (but nowadays largely deserted) church, the transcendent voices of the Fiori Musicali Choir will be adding their musical commentary with glorious music celebrating the 500th anniversary of the great Italian Renaissance composer Palestrina.

Fiori mark this major anniversary with a concert devoted to beautiful choral works by Palestrina, the most celebrated choral composer of the Italian late renaissance, and one of the greatest musical luminaries of the 16th century.

Even before William the Conqueror invaded Britain in 1066, right up to the present, there has always been a church standing on this site. Palestrina wrote his gloriously uplifting Missa Papae Marcelli (his most famous work) to honour Pope Marcellus II, who reigned for just 3 weeks in 1555. So a mid-16th century mass setting fits pretty well halfway through this special church’s long history.

The splendid Missa Papae Marcelli is notable for its transparent texture, such that the listener can always pick out the ancient words of the mass, even though Palestrina dresses them up in elaborate music. This musical clarity makes it an ideal piece to mark the installation of Wolfhampcote’s new windows. And, as the concert takes place on St Peter’s Day (the church’s Patronal Festival), Fiori open the evening with Palestrina’s joyous motet for St Petertide, Tu es Petrus (Thou art Peter).

Palestrina Tu es Petrus
Palestrina Stabat MaterPalestrina Missa Brevis
Palestrina Missa Papae Marcelli

Fiori Musicali Chamber Choir, Penelope Rapson director

(This concert is sponsored by Braunston Marina)