Free Downloads • Works by Cardinal Bartolucci (Part 1)

HAVE POSTED about Aurelio Porfiri’s blog and Colin Mawby in the past. I would like to bring your attention to this blog, Castaway, again. I recently discovered the FREE DOWNLOADS section of the blog:

    * *  Free Downloads

There are a good number of pieces, among other composers, by the late Domenico Cardinal Bartolucci (1917-2013).

Cardinal Bartolucci was the Director Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel Choir. He held the position from 1956 to 1997. Before that, he had also served at St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. He was appointed by Pope Pius XII after the dead of his predecessor, Msgr. Lorenzo Perosi. Bartolucci is known for defending the Church’s musical traditions during and after Vatican II. He is the reason why we can still hear Gregorian Chant in St. Peter’s Basilica nowadays. He was a very active composer and he often composed based on Gregorian Chant and the style of Palestrina.

He was created a cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, recognising him for his service to the Church in the area of Sacred Music. He was 93 when he was elevated into the College of Cardinal and was excused from the requirement that a cardinal be or become a bishop. His motto on his coat of arm is “Psallam Deo Meo“, I will sing to my God. He died in 2013 and at his funeral, Pope Francis described him as:

“A dear and esteemed priest, illustrious composer, and musician, who exercised his long ministry particularly through sacred music, which is born of faith and expresses faith.”

In the download section of the blog, there are some shorter pieces like a few Gospel Acclamation, but there are also some longer motets like his setting of O Sacrum Convivium, which is based on the original chant: