Cum esset Stephanus

This powerful motet is ideal for occasions marking the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or for other celebrations of saints. Jacob Handl sets a Latin text describing Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looking up to heaven and witnessing the glory of God. The text recounts Stephen's vision of the heavens opening and seeing the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. The music is written for double choir (SATB.SATB), offering rich textural possibilities and a grand, resonant sound that perfectly captures the solemnity and spiritual intensity of the narrative. The contrapuntal writing and strong harmonic language characteristic of Handl's sacred music make this a compelling choice for choirs seeking substantial motets from the late Renaissance.