Dum transisset sabbatum

Jan Tollius's Dum transisset sabbatum is a sacred motet for SATBB choir, sung in Latin. The text, drawn from the Gospels, recounts the discovery of the empty tomb by the women after the Sabbath. It opens with Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchasing spices to anoint Jesus, followed by their visit to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. The music, originally conceived in the rich polyphonic tradition of the late Renaissance, allows the expressive Latin text to unfold with devotional intensity. The composer's setting captures the solemnity of the scene and the dawning realization of the resurrection, culminating in a traditional Gloria Patri.