Ecce mulier chananea

Manuel Cardoso was a leading Portuguese composer of sacred polyphony in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Ecce mulier chananea is a motet for SATB choir, setting a passage from the Gospel of Matthew in Latin. The text recounts the story of the Canaanite woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter. She implores him with great humility, acknowledging his divine power and her own unworthiness, yet demonstrating remarkable faith. Cardoso's setting masterfully captures the supplication and faith expressed in the text, creating a moving musical prayer appropriate for liturgical use or concert performance.