Dignare me laudare te

Nicolas Gombert's Dignare me laudare te is a sacred motet for four-part choir (ATTB). The text is in Latin and translates to 'Deign me to praise you, O Jesus Christ, O sacred Virgin; grant me strength against your enemies.' Gombert expands on this plea with a verse addressed to the Virgin Mary, 'O Queen of heaven, most welcome mother of a child, do not reject me, I commend myself to you alone.' This prayerful expansion on the original text makes for a deeply personal and devotional motet. The imitative polyphony characteristic of Gombert's style provides a rich texture for this heartfelt expression of faith and supplication.