Expurgate vetus fermentum

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was the most important composer of the Roman School, and his work represents a high point of Renaissance polyphony. This motet, sung in Latin by double SATB choir, is a powerful example of his contrapuntal mastery. The text is drawn from 1 Corinthians 5, speaking of casting out the old leaven of malice and wickedness to celebrate the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, for Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. Palestrina’s setting vividly conveys the solemnity and urgency of the message, creating a rich and sonorous texture ideal for liturgical occasions.