Palestrina’s impressive double-choir antiphonal motet, Surge, illuminare Jerusalem, was published in 1575, a few years after he began his second tenure as maestro of the Cappella Giulia, the Choir of St. Peter’s Basilica – a position he held until his death.  Palestrina embodies“Surge” (“Arise!”) with ascending scales, instantly creating a mood of excited anticipation. Differentiating double-choir music from eight-voice polyphony,Palestrina uses blocks of sound to seamlessly blend strict polyphony (as at the onset of the piece) with homophony (at the words “et gloria Domini”).Palestrina’s skill with which he uses this seamless flow is perfectly exemplified at the text “et gloria eius,” which he first sets in alternating choirs, then all eight voices melding into a final contrapuntal flourish.

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