Alma redemptoris mater

Giovanni Croce's Alma Redemptoris mater is a grand setting for SSAATTBB voices, designed for occasions in the liturgical calendar when this Marian antiphon is sung. The text, a familiar prayer to the Mother of the Redeemer, praises her as the gateway to heaven and star of the sea, imploring her help for a fallen people. It recalls the miraculous conception by Mary, who remained a virgin before and after conceiving her holy Creator, and quotes the angelic greeting, Ave. Croce's powerful vocal writing aims to convey the text's profound theological meaning and its heartfelt plea for mercy on sinners. This substantial work is ideal for a choir wishing to explore rich Renaissance polyphony in a sacred context.