Cum audisset David

Giulio Ciccarelli, a composer of the late Renaissance, wrote this motet for SATTB voices. The Latin text is drawn from the Old Testament, recounting King David's profound grief upon hearing of his son Absalom's death. The music reflects the sorrow and lament of the narrative, with the somber text prompting a deeply expressive setting. Ciccarelli's motet is a powerful example of sacred polyphony from its era, effectively conveying the emotional weight of the scriptural passage through its rich vocal textures and careful attention to the meaning of the words. The extended vocal lines and harmonic language are characteristic of the period's sacred vocal music.