Cum Rex gloriae Christus

This powerful Latin motet by Jacob Handl for double SATB choir depicts the triumphant entry of Christ into Hell to conquer death. The text vividly contrasts the darkness of captivity with the joyous arrival of Christ, the long-awaited hope. The choir sings of desperate sighs and lamentations, yearning for his intervention. The second part celebrates the Son of God's victory over his enemy, rising from death and erasing Eve's sin. It recounts Christ leading the repentant thief to paradise and comforting his disciples. Handl’s setting effectively conveys the dramatic narrative and profound spiritual significance of the Easter event.