This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Caput eius
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
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6 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Caput eius by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Lyrics
Caput eius aurum optimum,
comae eius sicut elatae palmarum,
nigrae quasi corvus.
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About Caput eius
A sublime example of Renaissance sacred polyphony, Palestrina's Caput eius is a motet for treble voices and men's voices (SAATB). Sung in Latin, it draws its text from the Song of Solomon, a rich source of imagery for the church's liturgical celebrations. The music conjures the radiant beauty of the beloved, describing her golden hair and eyes like doves beside streams of milk. Palestrina's mastery of counterpoint and his gift for lyrical expression combine to create a devotional work of profound spiritual beauty, ideal for services during Marian feasts or other celebrations of the Virgin Mary.
