Dulces exuviae

These words, from Virgil's Aeneid, paint a scene of profound sorrow and resignation as Dido faces her death. The text speaks of a life lived to its fullest, now ending with the haunting question of what might have been had certain events not transpired. The music sets this dramatic Latin text for a rich SATTB choir. The composer Derrick Gerarde crafts a secular setting that captures the poignant and tragic sentiment of Dido's final moments, with the polyphonic voices weaving together to express her powerful emotions as she embraces her fate. It is a potent and moving reflection on love, loss, and destiny.