Orlande de Lassus' Psalmi Davidis Poenitentiales (Penitential Psalms of David) is the Renaissance master's setting of seven Davidic psalms -- 6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 -- sometimes referred to as the "psalms of confession." As the result of a proclamation of Pope Innocent III, who died in 1216, these particular psalms are read during Lent, so their liturgical application is obvious. Yet that does not mean that Lassus' 1584 publication of these pieces represented the most commercial venture he could have undertaken, ...
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Orlande de Lassus' Psalmi Davidis Poenitentiales (Penitential Psalms of David) is the Renaissance master's setting of seven Davidic psalms -- 6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 -- sometimes referred to as the "psalms of confession." As the result of a proclamation of Pope Innocent III, who died in 1216, these particular psalms are read during Lent, so their liturgical application is obvious. Yet that does not mean that Lassus' 1584 publication of these pieces represented the most commercial venture he could have undertaken, indeed, closer to their 1559 date of composition, Lassus' employer Duke Albrecht V of Munich had them copied out into a giant and expensive manuscript, illustrated by court painter Hans Mielich, in a volume of priceless value today. Rather than functioning as mere music written for a liturgical occasion, Psalmi Davidis Poenitentiales is high-art music, and each psalm setting represents a vocal work of symphonic scope -- the setting of Psalm 50, Domine, exaudi orationem meam, runs...
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