Paper at CESEM/UÉvora Conferences
Next October 31st (Sala dos Espelhos, Colégio Mateus d’Aranda, 14h00) I will give a brief presentation on one of the works by Diogo Dias Melgaz, the four-voice a capella motet Memento homo, for Ash Wednesday.
This is one of the works I’m studying in my PhD thesis, that focuses on the continuity of the polyphonic practices in Évora Cathedral. In resume, there are some features, notably the setting of the text and imitation between the various parts, handling of dissonance and cadences, etc., that point towards well-established models. At the same time, Melgaz introduces new features in his music that point towards what we will hear in the eighteenth century. Thus, the motet Memento homo is here used as an example of text-setting and dissonance in a analytical perspective of Melgaz’s stile antico-inspired works.
I will post a more detailed text on this work soon. Until then, here is a recording of the work by vocal ensemble Pro Cantione Antiqua.