Palestrina 500th birthday concert

Feast your ears as 24-voice Renaissance vocal ensemble Tactus SF celebrates the 500th birthday of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, arguably the most-celebrated composer of the 16th century, with a concert of his works.

The program features Palestrina’s splendid Missa Tu Es Petrus for six voices, one of the most renowned of his 105 settings of the Roman Catholic mass. Written in brilliant counterpoint, uses movement is based on his motet by the same name, translated: “You are Peter [literally, 'the rock'], and on this rock I will build my church.”

Along with sacred music, Tactus SF will also sing secular love songs from Musica Transalpina, a 1580s collection of madrigals adapted to appeal to English-speaking audiences—a testimony to Palestrina’s international popularity. Guest organist Eugene Petrushansky rounds out the program with selected keyboard works often attributed to Palestrina.

A reception will follow the concert.