In te Domine speravi

A motet for four voices, ATTB, this sacred work by Claudin de Sermisy sets a Latin text from Psalm 31. The composer, a leading figure of the Parisian school in the first half of the sixteenth century, crafts a prayer for divine protection. The opening words, "In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion," establish a theme of faith and reliance on God’s justice. The music would suit a service during Septuagesima or Lent, or any occasion where penitence and a plea for deliverance are appropriate. The clarity of the four-part texture reflects the elegant polyphonic style of the French Renaissance.