Alma redemptoris mater

This grand motet for SSATTB voices sets a beautiful Latin Marian antiphon, traditionally sung at Vespers and Compline during Advent and Christmastide. The text, often attributed to Hermannus Contractus, addresses Mary as the "Soul of the Mother of the Redeemer," the "ever-open door of heaven," and the "star of the sea." It implores her aid for a people struggling to rise from falling, recalling her miraculous conception of God the Creator and her greeting from Gabriel: "Hail Mary." The composer, Lambert Pietkin, crafts a rich and resonant setting, drawing out the devotion and reverence inherent in these ancient words. This is a significant work for a large choir, offering a profound musical expression of Marian veneration.