The Hexachord mass of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

This paper consists of a vertical, intervalic analysis of Palestrina's "Hexachord Mass." It explains the dissonances used by Palestrina, who flourished at the end of the musical Renaissance in Italy, and demonstrates the consistency of Palestrina's style. The origin of the hexachord is detailed, and a few examples of the tones of the hexachord as a cantus firmus are mentioned. The intervalic analysis of figured bass-like numbers clearly indicates the consistent stepwise motion of Palestrina's lines. A perusal of the score of the Mass which is included in the thesis will indicate Palestrina's consistent filling in of the melodic skins which occur in the melodic lines.