This edition was prepared by Sabine Cassola — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Emendemus in melius
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
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Emendemus in melius by Marco Antonio Ingegneri — Lyrics
Emendemus in melius quae ignoranter peccavimus;
ne subito praeoccupati die mortis,
quaeramus spatium poenitentiae, et invenire non possimus.
Attende, Domine, et miserere; quia peccavimus tibi. (cf. Bar. 3:2)
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About Emendemus in melius
This motet opens with a striking polyphony, built on a repeated, urgent motif that reflects the gravity of the Latin text. The composer crafts a rich texture for the three SATB choirs, creating moments of immense power and delicate interplay. The text is a plea for repentance, urging the listener to amend their sins before the day of death. It quotes from Baruch, reminding us that we seek time for penitence in vain if death finds us unprepared. The verses powerfully reiterate the theme of sin and the need for divine help, invoking God's glory and our humble origins as dust.
