In illo tempore, loquente Jesu

Nicolas Gombert's In illo tempore is a sacred motet for SATTBB choir, setting a passage from the Gospel of Luke. The composer's intricate contrapuntal writing is immediately apparent, with imitative entries and rich harmonic textures. The text recounts a woman's exclamation of praise for Jesus' mother, to which Jesus responds by saying that those who hear and keep God's word are truly blessed. Gombert's music expertly navigates the expressive potential of this dialogue, with the upper voices often carrying the woman's enthusiastic cry while the lower voices provide a more grounded response to Jesus' words. The motet is a fine example of Renaissance polyphony, demanding skilled ensemble singing.