Ecce beatam lucem

This grand motet is a jubilant celebration of divine light and eternal goodness, sung in Latin. The text extols Jehovah and his son, comparing their splendor to the sun, moon, and stars, and describing the blessedness of a heavenly dwelling. It invokes patriarchs, prophets, and King David, all singing praises. Alessandro Striggio's setting for ten choirs of SATB voices creates a monumental soundscape, perfect for a major feast day or a significant sacred occasion. The sheer scale of the forces required suggests a performance of immense power and resonance, filling a large sacred space with its intricate polyphony and resplendent sonorities.