Palestrina's Church Music Reforms

Timeline

1. 1561–1565Vatican · VaticanIn 1561 Palestrina became maestro of the Cappella Giulia attached to St. Peter's Basilica, training the choir and composing masses and motets; his clear contrapuntal style began to gain recognition in papal musical circles.
2. 1562–1567Rome · RomeDuring and after the Council of Trent, the Church debated whether polyphony obscured the meaning of the texts. Palestrina composed the Missa Papae Marcelli, responding to reform demands with clear voices and transparent harmony; though the legend of 'saving polyphony' is largely a later embellishment, his work did become the benchmark of new liturgical music.
3. 1566–1570Sistine Chapel · VaticanIn 1566 Palestrina was appointed maestro of the Cappella Sistina, becoming the head of the papacy's highest liturgical music. He thereafter published several collections of masses and motets, his style spreading through print across Italy and into Catholic regions of Spain and Germany.