Angelus ad pastores ait

This motet for double choir (SATB.ATTB) sets a Latin text recounting the Annunciation to the Shepherds. The composer, Philipp Dulichius, was a significant figure in German sacred music of the late Renaissance and early Baroque. The music opens with a clear, homophonic declaration of the angel's message: 'An angel said to the shepherds: I announce to you a great joy, for today a Saviour is born to you in the world.' This is followed by the jubilant cry of 'Alleluia'. The second section brings a more intimate focus on the newborn child, described as 'a little son is born to us today, and he will be called God the mighty.' The music reflects the solemnity and wonder of the biblical narrative, with the double choir allowing for rich contrapuntal textures and antiphonal effects.