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 Aerogramme 1994 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 4th Centenary of Death February 2, 1594, marks the date of the death of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the 16th century composer of sacred music. On May 31, 1994, Vatican City issued its annual aerogramme commemorating the fourth centenary of his death. The aerogramme is divided into three sections. On the left side of the first section is an illustration of Palestrina taken from a sixteenth century oil on canvas portrait owned by the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome. He is depicted in the act of writing his most famous sacred composition, the ”Missa Pape Marcelli”, with staves and musical notes in the background. Under the illustration are the inscriptions “IV CENTENARIO DELLA MORTE DI GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI PALESTRINA 1594-1994” and “AEROGRAMME”. In the upper right corner is the imprint stamp, which measures 38 x 33 mm, including the perforations. The stamp features the motet for five voices, ”Congratulamini mihi omnes” (Musical Library of Saint Cecelia, Rome). Along the bottom of the stamp are the Papal Tiara and Crossed Keys, the words CITTA DEL VATICANO, and the value (850 lira). Below the stamp are five lines for the address. The first section also includes three gummed borders for sealing. The top border bears the inscription indicating that enclosures are prohibited. The second section, which when folded forms the reverse of the aerogramme, bears the word MITTENTE (SENDER) and three dotted lines. The third section is blank. The sheet is blue grey; when unfolded it measures 26.5 x 15.8 cm (excluding the gummed borders) and has a double watermark consisting of the words STATO DELLA CITTA DEL VATICANO. The Tipografia Vaticana printed 180,000 aerogrammes. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525?-1594) is generally considered the most important composer of sacred music in the later sixteenth century. For many years he served as a singing master and organist in Rome and the Vatican, and together with other musicians founded the “Vertuosa Compagnia de li Misici”, the forerunner of the Academy of St. Cecelia in Rome. He is best known for his innovations in choral polyphony. His music combines Italian melodic inspirations and Flemish counterpoint theories. His most important works include the ”Motets”, the book of ”Magnificants”, the ”Hymns” and the ”Lamentations”. His masterpiece was the ”Missa Pape Marcelli” (Mass of Pope Marcellus II), whose servers style foreshadowed the reform of sacred music introduced by Pope Paul IV. This article originally appeared in Vatican Notes in September, 1994, written by Thomas I. Crimando. It has been slightly edited and updated for today’s Daily Email. The original article may be viewed by clicking on the reference link below. As a note, a stamp issue is planned for 2025 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. REFERENCES: |
