In me transierunt irae tuae

Orlando di Lasso, a giant of Renaissance polyphony, composed this motet for SATTB voices. Set in Latin, it draws on a text expressing profound personal anguish and spiritual desolation. The words describe overwhelming anger and terror, a troubled heart, lost strength, and constant sorrow. The plea to God, 'Lord, my God, do not forsake me, do not depart from me,' forms the emotional core of this sacred work. Lasso's masterful setting, with its intricate vocal interplay, vividly portrays the text's profound sense of vulnerability and supplication, offering a powerful exploration of spiritual distress and dependence.