Ave mundi spes/Gotes namen fahren wir a 8

This motet for eight voices, setting both Latin and German texts, would be suitable for a large liturgical occasion. The Latin text, a Marian antiphon, addresses Mary as the world's hope and empress of angels, imploring her to comfort the sinner. This plea is complemented by the German text, which speaks of God's name being invoked in all our doings. The composer is unknown, but the substantial eight-part texture suggests a composer familiar with the grand polyphonic traditions of the late Renaissance or early Baroque. The contrasting languages and the devotional subject matter offer rich interpretative possibilities for a choir seeking substantial sacred repertoire.