Caecus quidam

Hubert Waelrant's motet Caecus quidam sets a passage from the Gospel of Luke concerning the healing of a blind beggar. The text describes the man crying out to Jesus, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me," and Jesus' subsequent question, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man's plea to see is answered with "Your faith has healed you." This setting for SAATTB voices unfolds the narrative with expressive detail, capturing the drama of the encounter. Waelrant, a composer of the Franco-Flemish school, was active in the latter half of the 16th century, and this work reflects the rich polyphonic tradition of sacred music from that era.