Elegerunt Apostoli

Peter Philips's motet Elegerunt Apostoli opens with a sense of measured gravitas, the voices of the SSATB choir weaving together to create a rich, imitative texture. The Latin text recounts the selection of Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, who was stoned by the Jews while praying. The music vividly portrays the unfolding narrative, building towards Stephen's moving plea to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. The composer's masterful handling of the five parts allows for moments of both intricate polyphony and broader, unified declamation, enhancing the solemnity and emotional weight of the sacred subject matter. This motet offers a profound setting of a pivotal moment from the Acts of the Apostles.