CANTICUM CANTICORUM
Giovanni pierluigi da palestrina
500th Anniversary of the Birth
A “representative” concert
The Song of Songs is regarded as the greatest love poem of all time. In his Fourth Book of Motets, Palestrina selects this biblical text to experiment with a novel compositional form that blends elements of both the sacred motet and the secular madrigal. The composer himself noted this unique approach in the original 1587 publication.
SCHOLA ROMANA ENSEMBLE
Paola Alonzi (Sulamith) Soprano
Franco Todde (Solomon) Tenor and Renaissance guitar
Lorenzo Sabene Lute
Stefano Sabene Renaissance transverse flute
Palestrina never abandoned the polyphonic style, for which he stands as both the pinnacle and its final evolution. Among all the compositions by the Princeps musicae, the Song of Songs is the most representative. It seems to glimpse, albeit distantly, the early experiments of Recitar cantando, which would eventually lead to the grand era of opera.
Our interpretation of the work, stemming from these musicological insights, takes a different path from the traditional a cappella vocal arrangement. Only the melodic lines of the two protagonists, Sulamith and Solomon, are sung, while the remaining parts are played by instruments like the Renaissance transverse flute, Renaissance guitar, and lute. This approach creates a varied sonic tapestry, blending the expansive phrasing and rich sound of the voices and flute with the crystalline airiness of the plucked instruments.
Our representative interpretation is brought to life through the vocal roles and variety of arrangements, designed to visually capture the fresco painted by the author of the sacred text. This is highlighted by the time of singing (Song of Songs 2:12), reflected in the changing seasons, the cycle of day and night, the blowing winds, and the movement of stars. Palestrina's music captures this passage of time beautifully, evoking the colors, sounds, and scents of the Middle Eastern setting in which the protagonists move, more effectively than many words or analyses could.
The program notes include both the original Latin text and a modern translation, enabling audiences to fully appreciate the musical brilliance of the compositions that emphasize the text's sublime lyricism.
Canticum Canticorum
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