A motet by Salieri

Antonio Salieri (1750 - 1825), Italian composer born in Legnago in Veneto, was Kapellmeister in the imperial court of the Habsburgs in Wien. He is also famous for being a teacher of composers such as Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt.

The motet "Confirma hoc Deus" (Offertory for Pentecost) was composed in 1809. The text is taken from Psalm 67/68, vv.28-29: "Confirm, O God, what have you done for us! In your temple, overlooking Jerusalem, kings will bring gifts."

It is a choral work of simple workmanship and noble structure, which can be sung without great difficulty even by an amateur choir. Two musical themes alternate in a classical form and elegant.

I therefore propose some simple audio files for this composition, which allow the singers of each section to learn the individual part.

Study of the part of the sopranos

Study of the part of the altos

Study of the part of the tenors

Study of the part of the bass

Here's the score:

Study of Tallis motet "If ye love me"

Thomas Tallis (1505 ca. - 1585) (ca. 1505 - 1585) was a famous English musician of the sixteenth century, organist and composer in the chapel of the Royal Court. His work also has a great ecumenical value

because, while remaining faithful to the Catholic faith, he worked for the liturgical service of the new Anglican Church.

The motet If ye love me is based on the text of the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses 15 to 17:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may bide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth.

The execution of the motet is not particularly difficult for an amateur choir: prevail consecutive notes (ie the conjunct motion in the musical scale); polyphony is simple and the effect extraordinarily effective, fervent in the expression of God's Word.

Here the music, in F (a fourth above compared to the original key), which is used routinely in amateur choirs:

I propose audio files, where I exercise, in every section, every single phrase: first by rhythmic reading of the text, then with the repeated listening of each phrase. After this, propose to exercise two or three contiguous phrases and finally the entire part of each section.

Listen section of sopranos: Tallis, If ye love me, soprani

Listen section of altos: Tallis, If ye love me, contralti

Listen to the section of the tenors: Tallis, If ye love me, tenori

Listen to the bass section: Tallis, If ye love me, bassi