Domine, ne longe facias

Gregor Lange composed this sacred motet for SATTB voices, sung in Latin. Belonging to the tradition of entrance songs, it draws its text from Psalm 21. The composer crafts a powerful plea for divine assistance, asking God not to withhold His help and to look upon the singer’s defence. The lyrics express a deep-seated need for liberation from peril, invoking imagery of a lion’s mouth and the horns of unicorns as symbols of formidable threats. Lange's setting for double choir would have been intended for liturgical use, perhaps to open a service, with the rich vocal texture underscoring the solemnity and earnestness of the prayer.