Jesu salvator saeculi, verbum Patris

John Sheppard’s Jesu salvator saeculi is a substantial setting of a Latin text used in the Office. The composer’s characteristic flowing lines and rich harmonic language are evident throughout this impressive work for SATTBB or SATTBarB voices. The polyphony builds and recedes, creating a sense of grandeur and devotion. The text, a hymn to Christ as Saviour and Word of God, speaks of God's power in creation and his protection of the faithful. It progresses through petitions for rest, for the vigilance of the mind over the body, and for deliverance from evil, culminating in a prayer for protection during the Paschal season and a final Gloria. This is a profound and moving piece suitable for a dedicated choir.