Magnificat

To celebrate the launch of their latest CD, Magnificat brings to life compositions inspired by Girolamo Savonarola, the 15th-century Dominican friar who preached passionately for political, social and spiritual reform in Florence.

Savonarola’s followers stoked the famous Bonfires of the Vanities burning art, books and other worldly items.

His outspoken criticisms of Pope Alexander VI ultimately led to Savonarola’s excommunication, imprisonment, admission of heresy under torture, and execution.

Amongst the vanities, Savonarola decried was over-elaborate sacred music, yet Savonarola had a long-lasting, if inadvertent, musical influence after his death.

His writings inspired some of the greatest compositions of the 16th century, including Josquin’s exquisite Miserere mei, Deus and Byrd’s masterpiece Infelix ego.