Illumina faciem tuam

Carlo Gesualdo's motet Illumina faciem tuam is written for SATTB voices in Latin. Belonging to the tradition of sacred motets, it is particularly suited as a communion hymn. The text, drawn from scripture, includes the plea 'Illumina faciem tuam super servum tuum' (Let your face shine upon your servant), followed by 'salvum me fac in misericordia tua' (save me in your mercy) and 'Domine, non confundar, quoniam invocavi te' (Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called on you). Gesualdo's setting of this devotional text offers a rich harmonic and contrapuntal experience for a choir of six voices.