Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

c. 1525 – 2 February 1594

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and the foremost master of Roman school polyphony. Spending nearly his entire career at the great basilicas of Rome, he composed over a hundred masses and hundreds of motets, and his smooth contrapuntal style became the model for the study of counterpoint for centuries. His Pope Marcellus Mass is legendarily associated with the Council of Trent's deliberations on church music.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

Life events

Born in Palestrina, near Rome
c. 1525

Giovanni Pierluigi was born around 1525 in the town of Palestrina in the Sabine hills, then part of the Papal States, from which he took his name.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Choirboy at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome
c. 1537

As a boy Palestrina was a chorister at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he received his musical education.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed organist of the cathedral of Palestrina
1544

Palestrina became organist of the cathedral of San Agapito in his native town, where the future Pope Julius III was bishop.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Lucrezia Gori
12 June 1547

Palestrina married Lucrezia Gori, with whom he had three sons.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed maestro of the Cappella Giulia at Saint Peter's
1551

His former bishop, now Pope Julius III, brought Palestrina to Rome as director of the Julian Chapel choir at Saint Peter's Basilica.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Directed music at St John Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore
October 1555 – 1566

After a brief spell in the Sistine choir ended by a new pope's celibacy rule, Palestrina led the music at St John Lateran and then at Santa Maria Maggiore.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Composed the Pope Marcellus Mass
c. 1562

Palestrina composed the Missa Papae Marcelli, later credited in legend with persuading the Council of Trent that polyphony could remain in the liturgy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Returned to the Cappella Giulia as maestro
1571

Palestrina resumed direction of the Julian Chapel at Saint Peter's, the post he held for the rest of his life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Widowed by plague and remarried Virginia Dormoli
28 February 1581

After his wife Lucrezia died in the epidemics of 1580, Palestrina considered the priesthood but instead married the wealthy widow Virginia Dormoli in 1581.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Rome
2 February 1594

Palestrina died of pleurisy on 2 February 1594 and was buried in Saint Peter's Basilica.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓