Da pacem

Leonardus Barré's Da pacem is a sacred motet for four-part choir (STTB). The setting opens with a pleading quality, the voices weaving together in close imitation before opening out. The Latin text is a prayer for peace, asking God to grant peace in our days, for there is no other who can fight for us but our God. The music reflects the earnestness of the plea, with moments of both unified homophony and contrapuntal interplay. This motet would be a thoughtful and poignant addition to a service or concert programme, offering a moment of reflection on the desire for peace.