Ecce radix Jesse

Leonhard Paminger was a composer of the German Renaissance. His responsory Ecce radix Jesse is set for SATB voices in Latin. The text, a Marian antiphon, speaks of the root of Jesse rising for the salvation of peoples, whom the nations will implore, and whose name shall be glorious. The antiphon is followed by a verse taken from Psalm 88, 'God comes from Libanus and the Holy One from mount shady and dense', which echoes the first part of the antiphon. Paminger's setting unfolds the text's message with clear, imitative polyphony, building to moments of homophonic declaration. It is a significant example of sacred polyphony from the 16th century, suitable for liturgical or concert use.