Gaudete cum laetitia

Joyfully celebrate, for those who were in sorrow, that you may exult and be satisfied by the breasts of your consolation. These words of comfort and exultation are set in this motet by Estêvão Lopes Morago for SATB choir. The Latin text speaks of profound relief and spiritual nourishment, urging a release from sadness into a state of utter gladness. Morago’s setting likely reflects the rich polyphonic traditions of sacred music from the Iberian peninsula, where such texts were frequently explored. This motet offers a powerful opportunity for expressive choral singing, conveying a message of divine solace and enduring joy through its sacred polyphony.