Domine Deus qui conteris bella

Severin Cornet’s motet Domine Deus qui conteris bella is a powerful setting for STTTB voices. The work opens with a dramatic unfolding of the text, its musical lines weaving together to create a sense of urgent supplication. The Latin text is a prayer asking God to break the wars that have raged from the beginning and to raise His arm against those who plot evil against His servants. It continues by affirming that salvation lies in God’s hand and implores His mercy so that His people may serve Him in security. The five-part texture is employed with great skill, allowing for both rich homophonic passages and moments of imitative counterpoint, all contributing to the profound devotional character of the music.