Caritas Dei diffusa est – motet for SATB choir a capella
Durata: ca. 4 min.
Premiere: 11/22/2015, Audivi Vocem, Ann Arbor, MI
Listen below to Caritas Dei Diffusa Est sung by Audivi Vocem:
Text: From the Introit antiphon of Pentecost Vigil/Day – Rom 5: 5; cf. 8: 11, (English and Latin)
The love of God has been poured into our hearts
through the Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts, alleluia!
Cáritas Dei diffúsa est in córdibus nostris,
per inhabitántem Spíritum eius in nobis, allelúia!
Program Notes: This is one of the two motets I chose to compose in a contemporary response to Zarlino’s treatise Le Istitutioni Harmoniche (1558). Caritas Dei diffusa est takes a more historical approach whereas Blessed are Those Who Mourn engages a more modern interpretation.
The words (in Latin and English) are taken from the Introit antiphon from the Pentecost Vigil/Day Liturgies, but given the subject matter, this motet may be sung throughout the year.
–DJK