c. 1562Reputable sourceWell documented
Palestrina and the Music of the Counter-Reformation
On the timeline · around c. 1562 · The Renaissance
What happened
As the Catholic Church, reacting to the Reformation, worried that elaborate polyphony made sacred words impossible to understand, the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina answered with music of serene clarity. His Pope Marcellus Mass (Missa Papae Marcelli) showed that intricate counterpoint and clear, audible text could coexist.
Why it matters
Palestrina became the model of pure church polyphony for centuries, and legend credited his music with 'saving' polyphony from being banned by the Council of Trent. His style set the standard for Catholic sacred music.