Tota pulchra

Composer：Pietro Ferrario

Words from composer

Tota pulchra is a marian motet written between 2017 and 2019. The primary idea was to pay homage to Duruflé by composing four sacred pieces with the same title of the 4 motets op.10 of the French composer, but with my own style and themes: I completed this project in 2021. Tota pulchra is the second work in this group: it starts with a solo phrase that resembles to Gregorian chant. Then, the entire choir has an expressive ascending melodic line supported by the slow and processional movement of the other voices, which leads to a first climax. The music becomes more and more articulated with imitations between voices, until it leads to the majestic and massive section of the “tu gloria Jerusalem, tu laetitia Israel”, after which sweet chords bring back to the varied reprise of the first part.