Ego sum panis vitae

Carl Bonaventura Witzka composed this sacred motet for SATB choir. The Latin text draws directly from the Gospel of John, presenting Jesus's declaration, 'I am the bread of life.' It contrasts the manna eaten by the Israelites in the desert, which did not prevent death, with the divine bread of heaven that offers eternal life. The composer sets this profound theological statement with the expressive power of a four-part choir, exploring the themes of sustenance and everlasting life through the solemnity of the Latin liturgy. The text culminates in a joyous Alleluia, suggesting a musical setting that moves from contemplation to exultation.