Ecce tu pulcher es

In Advent or Christmastide, this exquisite motet by Palestrina conjures the intimate beauty of the Song of Songs. The composer’s SATTB setting of this Latin text is one of his most celebrated. It opens with the words of the beloved, admiring their love and their richly furnished home. The music’s flowing lines and rich harmonies perfectly capture the sensuous imagery of the text, as the lover describes their 'bed of flowers' and fragrant dwelling. The response, spoken as if by the beloved, is a simple yet profound declaration of beauty, 'I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.' Palestrina's mastery ensures this motet is both a devotional offering and a profound artistic statement.