Originally a choral work, “Benedictus” is a section of Palestrina’s Missa Aetna Christi Munera. This is a late level 4 piece, but there are options to include levels 8 and 9. These options move the originals up an octave, requiring upper position reading and shifts. As an introduction to polyphony, this piece serves as a great exercise in hearing parts independently and as a part of the ensemble. A good approach to learning the piece includes working with parts separately and then isolating each entrance as a rehearsal point when combining everything.
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina lived from 1525 to 1594 and is one of the most famous composers of the Italian Renaissance. His work held vast influence on the development of Roman Catholic Church music. Palestrinaʼs musical output included 104 masses, 68 offertories, more than 300 motets, 72 hymns, 35 magnificats, 11 litanies, 5 sets of lamentations, 140 madrigals and 9 organ ricercari.