Beata viscera is a single-voice conductus attributed to the medieval French composer Pérotin (fl. c.1200), who is also known as Perotinus (which means "Little Peter"). He was one of the most famed composers of the type of polyphony known as organum. This is his only attributed monophonic work. Beata viscera (Blessed Offspring) is a Marian piece intended for the Communion section of the Mass. The words are by Philippe the Chancellor (d. 1236), the most highly regarded writer of Latin lyric poetry of the time. The conductus was a musical form gaining popularity during Pérotin's lifetime. They could be either polyphonic or monophonic, but their distinguishing characteristic was that their melodies were newly composed rather than being linked to a piece of chant. In theme, they ranged from secular and topical, to celebratory (as for coronations), to moral and religious. Sometimes they became unofficial additions to the Mass, as in this case. ~ David Cashman, Rovi
