The Polyphonic Motets of Lassus

"he returned refreshed to his monograph upon the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus" [BRUC]

Perhaps you recall Watson mentioning in the midst of "The Bruce-Partington Plans" that Sherlock Holmes took his mind off of things while waiting for crucial information by losing himself "in a monograph which he had undertaken upon the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus."

Perhaps you've wondered who Lassus was. That would be Orlande de Lassus (or Orlando di Lasso), a Renaissance composer, who along with Palestrina, was one of the most influential musicians of the late 16th century.

But what did a "polyphonic motet" sound like? And what were these motets composed for? And why should Sherlock Holmes have an interest in them?

We have the answer to all of these questions and more from Ann Margaret Lewis, herself a Sherlockian and a soprano who performs liturgical music. Ann joins us to get us hooked on phonics, to explain the relevance of this beautiful music, and to identify a clip from the Jeremy Brett Granada series.

Also, tune in for the latest Canonical Couplet. We have another opportunity for you to win a prize in this episode.

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Links

• This episode: ihose.co/ihose182
• Works of Orlande de Lassus (Hyperion)
• Orlande de Lassus (Wikipedia)
• Ann's other books:
• • The Watson Chronicles
  • Murder in the Vatican
  • Warrior of the Kizan

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