Dixit Dominus Petrus

Francisco Guerrero’s Dixit Dominus is written for a rich choir of two alto parts, two tenor parts, and two bass parts, offering a striking range of colours. This sacred motet, in Latin, sets a passage from the Gospel of John describing the moment Jesus calls Peter to follow him. The music reflects the dramatic narrative: Jesus’s initial instruction to Peter, and Peter’s subsequent question about John’s destiny. The textural interplay between the five voice parts, from moments of declamatory solo lines to fuller ensemble passages, highlights the intimate yet profound exchange between Christ and his apostle.