This edition was prepared by James Wetzel — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ab ortu solis
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets, Eucharistic songs
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5 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Ab ortu solis by William Byrd — Lyrics
Ab ortu solis usque ad occasum, magnum est nomen meum in gentibus.
Et in omni loco sacrificatur, et offertur nomini meo oblatio munda:
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About Ab ortu solis
William Byrd’s Ab ortu solis is a powerful motet for double choir, SATB and ATTB, sung in Latin. The music opens with a broad, homophonic declaration of God's great name among the nations, a theme drawn from scripture. The text then shifts, inviting believers to partake in the sacred meal. Byrd’s masterful writing here employs rich harmonies and contrapuntal interplay to convey the solemnity and grace of the Eucharistic offering. This motet exemplifies Byrd’s profound understanding of vocal colour and dramatic expression, making it a significant work of sacred Renaissance polyphony.
