Ascendens Christus in altum

Domenico Maria Ferrabosco's motet Ascendens Christus in altum is written for SSATB choir and sung in Latin. It belongs to the rich tradition of sacred motets from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The text, drawn from the Mass for the Ascension and Psalm 68, speaks of Christ's triumphant ascent into heaven. He "led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men," a powerful image of victory and divine generosity, celebrated with the joyous exclamation of Alleluia. Ferrabosco's setting, with its five-part texture, would have offered opportunities for expressive word-painting and a rich, resonant sound to convey the theological weight and exultation of the Ascension narrative.