Cappella Giulia
Encyclopedia
The choir "Cappella Giulia," officially named the Reverend Musical Chapel "Julia" of the Sacrosanct Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican
, is the choir
of St. Peter's Basilica
that sings for all solemn functions of the Vatican Chapter, such as Holy Mass
, Lauds
, and Vespers
, when these are not celebrated by the Pope (for functions celebrated by the Pope, the Sistine Chapel Choir
sings instead). The choir has played an important role as an interpreter and a proponent of Gregorian chant
and sacred polyphony
.
-604
) is credited with establishing the first papal schola cantorum at the Basilica of St. Peter
, after the model of the guild-like papal schola at St. John Lateran. This choir remained in Rome during the Avignon Papacy
(1309-1378) and was merged with the Avignon papal choir upon the Pope's return to Rome. Sixtus IV (1471-1484) transferred all papal functions and the papal choir to his newly built chapel, now known as the Sistine Chapel
, while providing for a small choir of eight singers for the chapter functions at St. Peter's. On 19 February 1512, Julius II (1503-1513) issued a Bull
completely reorganizing the Vatican capella (hence the name "Julia" in Latin, "Giulia" in Italian). He enlarged its revenue and its size to twelve men and twelve boys, so that it could serve as a sort of preparatory school for the papal choir, on the plan of the ancient schola.
Among the Cappella Giulia's choir masters were esteemed names such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(1551-1554 and 1571-1594), Giovanni Animuccia
, Francesco Soriano
, Orazio Benevoli
, Domenico Scarlatti
, Niccolò Jommelli
, Pietro Raimondi
, Salvatore Meluzzi, and Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
.
The Chapel was disbanded in 1980 and replaced temporarily by a choir directed by the Spanish Monsignor Pablo Colino Paulis (Magister ad nutum) to continue to perform the key functions of the previous choir. This new choir was called the Musical Chapel of the Sacrosanct Patriarchal Vatican Basilica, and unlike the previous capella, the voices of the boy singers were replaced by female voices, when they sang on major holidays (Easter, Christmas, and Saints Peter and Paul). In 2006 the choir was again reorganized, retaining the addition of women's voices, under the current choir master, the Canadian Rev. Pierre Paul, O.M.V.
In May 2008 a new title was conferred upon the choir, the Reverend Musical Chapel of the Sacrosanct Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, because at that time the major basilicas, formerly designated as "patriarchal basilicas," were renamed "papal basilicas
."
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
, is the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
of St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
that sings for all solemn functions of the Vatican Chapter, such as Holy Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, Lauds
Lauds
Lauds is a divine office that takes place in the early morning hours and is one of the two major hours in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it forms part of the Office of Matins...
, and Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
, when these are not celebrated by the Pope (for functions celebrated by the Pope, the Sistine Chapel Choir
Sistine Chapel Choir
The Sistine Chapel Choir is a choir based in Vatican City and is one of the oldest religious choirs in the world. At present, the choir comprises approximately twenty adult singers and thirty unpaid boy choristers .-Middle Ages :Although it is known that the Church, from her earliest days,...
sings instead). The choir has played an important role as an interpreter and a proponent of Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
and sacred polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
.
History
Pope Gregory I (590590
Year 590 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 590 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Summer – Maurice agrees to...
-604
604
Year 604 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 604 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* The Sassanids destroy the...
) is credited with establishing the first papal schola cantorum at the Basilica of St. Peter
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
, after the model of the guild-like papal schola at St. John Lateran. This choir remained in Rome during the Avignon Papacy
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
(1309-1378) and was merged with the Avignon papal choir upon the Pope's return to Rome. Sixtus IV (1471-1484) transferred all papal functions and the papal choir to his newly built chapel, now known as the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
, while providing for a small choir of eight singers for the chapter functions at St. Peter's. On 19 February 1512, Julius II (1503-1513) issued a Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
completely reorganizing the Vatican capella (hence the name "Julia" in Latin, "Giulia" in Italian). He enlarged its revenue and its size to twelve men and twelve boys, so that it could serve as a sort of preparatory school for the papal choir, on the plan of the ancient schola.
Among the Cappella Giulia's choir masters were esteemed names such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition...
(1551-1554 and 1571-1594), Giovanni Animuccia
Giovanni Animuccia
Giovanni Animuccia was an Italian composer of the Renaissance and was involved in the heart of Rome’s liturgical musical life, and one of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's most important contemporaries...
, Francesco Soriano
Francesco Soriano
Francesco Soriano was an Italian composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the most skilled members of the Roman School in the first generation after Palestrina....
, Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli
Orazio Benevoli or Benevolo , was an Italian composer of large scaled polychoral sacred choral works; one work featured 48 vocal and instrumental lines....
, Domenico Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti
Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti was an Italian composer who spent much of his life in the service of the Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He is classified as a Baroque composer chronologically, although his music was influential in the development of the Classical style...
, Niccolò Jommelli
Niccolò Jommelli
Niccolò Jommelli was an Italian composer. He was born in Aversa and died in Naples. Along with other composers mainly in the Holy Roman Empire and France, he made important changes to opera and reduced the importance of star singers.-Early life:Jommelli was born to Francesco Antonio Jommelli and...
, Pietro Raimondi
Pietro Raimondi
Pietro Raimondi was an Italian composer, transitional between the Classical and Romantic eras...
, Salvatore Meluzzi, and Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli was an Italian composer, chiefly of opera.-Early career:Zingarelli was born in Naples, where he studied at the Santa Maria di Loreto Conservatory under Fenaroli and Speranza....
.
The Chapel was disbanded in 1980 and replaced temporarily by a choir directed by the Spanish Monsignor Pablo Colino Paulis (Magister ad nutum) to continue to perform the key functions of the previous choir. This new choir was called the Musical Chapel of the Sacrosanct Patriarchal Vatican Basilica, and unlike the previous capella, the voices of the boy singers were replaced by female voices, when they sang on major holidays (Easter, Christmas, and Saints Peter and Paul). In 2006 the choir was again reorganized, retaining the addition of women's voices, under the current choir master, the Canadian Rev. Pierre Paul, O.M.V.
Oblates Of The Virgin Mary
The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a religious order founded by the Venerable Bruno Lanteri, who was born on 12 May 1759 in Northern Italy and died 5 August 1830....
In May 2008 a new title was conferred upon the choir, the Reverend Musical Chapel of the Sacrosanct Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, because at that time the major basilicas, formerly designated as "patriarchal basilicas," were renamed "papal basilicas
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
."