Spes in Domino - Sacred Music

Byrd was a great Catholic composer in Elizabethan England. His "Ave Verum Corpus" celebrates the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Blog version: https://spesindomino.org/2021/02/08/ave-verum-corpus-william-byrd-composer/

“Nunc Dimittis” is the Latin name for the prayer the old man Simeon says when he picks up the Christ Child in the temple. It has been a part of Compline, the liturgical Night  Prayer of the Church, for many centuries.  Gustav Holst's setting is heavily influenced by sixteenth century masters of polyphony William Byrd and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Blog Post: https://spesindomino.org/2021/02/01/music-for-the-presentation-of-our-lord-holsts-nunc-dimittis/

Ave Verum Corpus (“Hail, True Body”) is a brief chant composed in the 13th century as a meditation on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist (I’ve posted the words, In both Latin and English, here). It has traditionally been sung during the elevation of the Host at Mass. Numerous composers have set it to music, including Liszt, Saint-Saëns, and a host of others. One of the most beautiful settings, and certainly the best known, was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  The Northampton Philharmonic Choir from St. Michael's Church in Northampton, England, sings in this recording. Please take the time to open the clip below of Mozart’s reverent and moving Ave Verum Corpus. Blog Post: https://spesindomino.org/2021/01/27/ave-verum-corpus-w-a-mozart/

Vivaldi's "Laudamus Te" sung by sopranos Bredow Thompson and Amanda Hart Bassett (with just a little bit of commentary at the beginning). Blog  Post: https://spesindomino.org/2021/01/25/laudamus-te-by-antonio-vivaldi/