Josquin des Prez: Concert in the Sistine Chapel

By Pierluigi Morelli

On 27 August 1521, one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance died in Condé sur L'Escaut, France: Josquin des Prez, born between 1450 and 1455, probably in the Picardy region.

Des Prez acquired his surname from his uncles who adopted him when he was still a child. Admired for his writing skills and abilities, he even attracted the attention of Martin Luther, who praised him with the appellation "The Master of Notes."

His unmatched skill was precisely the focus of a project involving Vatican Radio – Vatican News, Vatican Media, and the Vatican Museums in the summer of 2021.

The project consisted in an audio-video musical production held inside the Sistine Chapel, in which the Ensemble De Labyrinto, directed by Walter Testolin, performed some of Josquin's vocal works.

Tribute was paid to the artist, while recalling his service as Pontifical Cantor in the famous Sistine Chapel Choir during the years between 1489 and 1495, when he was in Rome following his patron, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza.

On Saturday night, therefore, Vatican Radio's Musical Program replays the recording of the exceptional live performance inside the Sistine Chapel, as part of the "Spiritual Concert" program curated by Pierluigi Morelli which will be broadcast at 10 PM.