Christe Redemptor omnium, ex Patre

This sacred office hymn by Orlando di Lasso is set for SATTB voices in Latin. It opens with the direct address to Christ as the Redeemer, born of the Father, highlighting his unique and ineffable birth before time. The music reflects the solemnity and profound theological statements of the text, tracing Christ's divine origin and his eventual assumption of human form from the Virgin Mary. The polyphony would have been intended for liturgical use, likely as part of the Divine Office. The hymn emphasizes Christ as the author of salvation and the source of eternal hope, praising his arrival that encircles the globe, celebrated by heaven, earth, and sea. The final verses of the text, which this setting would likely encompass, express the renewed song of gratitude from humanity redeemed by his blood, offering a new hymn on the occasion of his birth.