In 1681 Giovanni Legrenzi was given the post of substitute Chapel Master in St. Mark’s and in 1685 he took over the primary role, which he kept until his own death, on 27th May 1690. The religious environments of his career explain his sacred output, written during his last 35 years; an output that - if we do not consider the solo motets Op. 17, published posthumously in 1692 by Legrenzi’s nephew ended in 1689 with the Sacri concerti musicali a due e tre voci; the lost Responsori per la settimana santa, mentioned in the administrative books of St. Mark’s; and the Missa quinque vocibus, also know as Missa lauretana because it is dedicated to the Virgin of Loreto. This Mass has come down to us as a single manuscript source, dated 1689 and kept in the Archive of the Holy House Shrine in Loreto.
Its dimensions in folio are those of the ancient music codes to be placed on a lectern, so that choristers could easily read their parts, which un derlines its liturgical purpose. It is a fine volume, with gold decorations on the binding and richly historiated initials in red, made by Francesco Sarti, a bass and copyist in St. Mark’s Chapel.The manuscript is archaic not only in looks but also in content, disposition of the parts, and notation. It is difficult not to think of this Missa as a devout testament offered by Legrenzi to the Virgin of Loreto.