Cor, arca legem

Francesco Deffenu’s Cor, arca legem is a sacred setting for two-part male voices, TB. The Latin text speaks of the Heart of Christ as an ark containing the new covenant, a sanctuary holier than the Old Testament temple. It describes how divine love pierced that Heart, and how Christ, the priest, offered both his suffering and mystical sacrifices on the cross. The text exalts this sacrifice and questions who would not love the redeemer, urging constant devotion to Christ. The music opens with a gentle melodic line in the tenor, soon joined by the bass. The voices engage in a flowing, imitative dialogue, creating a rich yet clear texture. The setting is devotional and contemplative, reflecting the sacred nature of the text.