Abjice spinam Animae

This short motet for two sopranos by Daniel Friderici opens with imitative entries, creating a rich texture from minimal forces. The vocal lines weave together, sometimes in unison, sometimes in close harmony, reflecting the spiritual counsel of the Latin text. The words urge the soul to cast away the thorn of sin and gather the seed of doctrine, contrasting the deadly nature of the former with the noble path offered by the latter. Friderici’s setting is concise and artful, making this a suitable and engaging work for choirs looking for a sacred Latin motet of moderate difficulty.