Sulpitia Cesis

Sulpitia Lodovica Cesis (15 May 1577 in Modena, Italy – ?), was an Italian composer as well as a well-regarded lutenist. Her father was Count Annibale Cesis and he gave 300 pieces of gold for her dowry when she entered the Augustinian convent in Modena in 1593. She was a nun at the convent of Saint Geminiano in Modena, although some sources report it as Saint Agostino. Her only known work is a volume of Motetti Spirituali, which she wrote in 1619. Aspects of Motetti Spirituali It is composed of 23 motets for 2–12 voices. Although most of the motets are written in Latin, four are written in Italian. Some scholars believe that the piece was composed earlier than 1619 because of its style. Unlike her contemporaries, her work contains indications for instruments such as cornetts, trombones, violones, and archviolones. Her 12-voice works are also especially different from the 2-3 voiced works popular in the 17th century Example of Sulpitia Cesis’s work “Mary Magdalena et altera Maria” This song was not intended as a congregational hymn and is an excerpt from Matthew 28:1-7 Translation: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary/ went to the palace of the sepulcher. It is Jesus whom you seek./ He