Adorna thalamum

Teodoro Riccio's Adorna thalamum is a substantial sacred motet for SATTB voices. The composer draws on a rich liturgical text, a Marian antiphon, that describes Zion adorning itself to receive Christ the King, embracing Mary as the gate of heaven. The text then recounts the presentation in the Temple, with Simeon foretelling Christ's role as Saviour. Riccio's setting, for eight voices, likely explores the grandeur of the imagery, perhaps with intricate polyphony and contrasts between the upper and lower vocal ranges. The devotional nature of the Latin text invites a performance that is both reverent and expressive, offering a significant contrapuntal challenge to a discerning choir.