Antequam comedam suspiro

Jakob Reiner's motet Antequam comedam suspiro is written for SSATTB choir. The Latin text is drawn from the Book of Job, expressing profound distress and anxiety. The opening lines translate to 'Before I eat, I sigh, and my roaring is like the pouring of water; for the terror I feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.' The composer captures the deep introspection and sorrow of the text, moving from a sense of bewildered questioning ('Did I not dissemble? Was I not silent? Was I not quiet?') to the final, crushing inevitability of divine judgment. This is a powerful motet for experienced choirs, offering a dramatic exploration of spiritual tribulation.