Palestrina’s appointment as a singer in the Sistine Chapel Choir in 1555 was considered irregular, as married men were not normally admitted to the Pope’s choir. Pope Julius III died a few months later, and was succeeded by Marcellus II. When Marcellus’ died after a reign of only three weeks, the third pope for that year, Paul IV, upheld the ban on married singers. Palestrina was dismissed from the Sistine Chapel choir late in September 1555 and offered a small pension.
Why was Palestrina so unhappy in October 1555?
