Aeterne rex altissime

This setting of the hymn Aeterne rex altissime is by John Sheppard. The Latin text is a prayer to Jesus, extolling his divine power and eternal glory. It speaks of his ascension to the right hand of the Father, the triumph of grace over death, and asks that he be our joy and reward, now and for ever. The five-part choir sings in homophonic textures, with the men's voices providing a rich foundation for the trebles. The music is grand and majestic, reflecting the triumphal and devotional nature of the text.