Crux fidelis

This sacred motet is scored for SATB choir and sets a Latin text in praise of the True Cross. The music opens with an imitative texture where the voices enter successively, creating a sense of unfolding devotion. The composer, attributed to John IV of Portugal, crafts a flowing and expressive setting that mirrors the devotional quality of the text. The lyrics, beginning with "Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis," extol the unique nobility of the cross, describing it as a tree unlike any other in its foliage, flower, and fruit, and acknowledging the sweet weight it bore. The motet is a fine example of sacred polyphony, suited for liturgical settings or concert performance.