1. Composer: Tomas Luis de Victoria Time Period: Renaissance

2. Renaissance Period 1450-1600 Understanding the text was the most important aspect to a composition Religious officials almost banned music in the Catholic Church because it was too difficult to understand the text Composers often used Melismas when writing sacred music Many notes on 1 syllable When melismas were too long the text was obscured

3. O Magnum Mysterium The piece is sung in Latin Sounds similar to chant but is polyphonic More than 1 melodic line Style is a Motet Sacred style based on a chant tune

4. O Magnum Mysterium Considered to be the most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain Studied in Rome and music sounds like music by G.P. da Palestrina One of the few composers of the time to write exclusively for the church, Victoria produced no secular works Tomas Luis de Victoria