In diebus illis

Stefano Felis, a composer of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, wrote this sacred motet for SSATB voices. The text is taken from the Gospel of Luke, describing the encounter between Jesus and the sinful woman in the house of Simon the Pharisee. She anoints Jesus' feet with precious ointment and washes them with her tears, an act of profound devotion and repentance. Felis's setting captures the emotional weight of this biblical narrative, utilizing the rich textures of the five-part choir to convey the woman's heartfelt actions and Jesus's acceptance. The motet is a powerful example of sacred polyphony from its period, offering a moving musical interpretation of a key Gospel event.