Smolka, Martin: Per divina bellezza

“These chants may be performed separately as well, or in pairs. They are related to madrigals and motets by Adrian Willaert, which were set to the same texts. In Willaert’s collection Musica Nova (1559), quite unusually when comparing the period practice, the madrigals on Petrarca were printed beside motets on Latin sacred texts. The unusual inspiring idea to write new vocal music related to Willaert by pairing Petrarca and sacred texts was proposed by ensemble Singer Pur, who commissioned this piece.” (Martin Smolka)