Fili, quid fecisti

This setting of a passage from the Gospel of Luke features four-part male choir (STTB). The composer Tielman Susato presents the dialogue between Jesus and his parents with a musical energy that reflects the intensity of the moment. The upper voices often engage in lively imitation, while the lower voices provide a resonant foundation. The Latin text, concerning the young Jesus found in the Temple, is treated with a directness that allows the drama to unfold effectively through the interplay of the voices. This motet is a fine example of sacred Renaissance part-music, suitable for a choir seeking a contrapuntally engaging yet textually direct work.