Aspice Domine de sede

Claudin de Sermisy was a prominent composer of sacred and secular music in the French Renaissance. This motet, Aspice Domine de sede, is a powerful example of his sacred output. Scored for four voices in ATTB, the work is set in Latin. The text, taken from the Book of Lamentations, is a plea to God to look down upon the suffering and tribulation of His people. The composer's setting captures the profound earnestness of the prayer, with the four voices weaving together to create a moving expression of supplication. The motet is divided into two parts, with the first part asking God to consider the petitioners' plight and the second part imploring Him to look from His holy sanctuary.