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  • Bach's World
    • 2022-2023 Concerts >
      • Travels with Sebastian
      • The Old Bach Archive
      • Christmas with Bach
      • The Little Organ Book
      • Bachapella
      • Arnstadt & Mülhausen
      • Bach Through the Years
    • 2022-23 Educational Events >
      • BachTalks
      • Saturday Sings!
    • 2022-23 Virtual Offerings >
      • The Choir Loft >
        • Feb. 5 - Winter's Chill - Dianna Morgan
        • Feb. 12 - The Heirs of Bach: Charles Ives - Steve Osborn
        • March 12 - The Heirs of Bach: Hugo Distler - Steve Osborn
      • Repertoire Exploration Projects
    • Tickets
    • Donate today!
  • Who we are and What we do
    • Mission Statement
  • Our Ensembles
    • Sonoma Bach Choir
    • Circa 1600
    • Green Mountain Consort
    • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Sponsor a Singer!
    • Escrip & Amazon Smile
  • Resources
    • Virtual Offerings - Archive >
      • The Choir Loft
      • Virtual BachTalk
      • Adventures in Sightsinging
      • Parliamo Italiano! Language Workshop
      • Madrigal Mondays
      • Chorale Wednesdays
      • Motet Fridays
      • Virtual Recording Projects
      • Virtual Concerts >
        • Live Oak Baroque Orchestra
        • Music for these Distracted Times - Barefoot All-Stars
        • Agave Baroque American Originals
        • Bach's Long Walk to Lübeck - Anne Laver, organ
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Adesto Dolor Meo by Giaches de Wert
You might recall that I've based several of our projects upon works by Giaches de Wert (1535-1596), Monteverdi's senior colleague in Mantova in the last years of the 16th-century. Most of these have been madrigals; but Wert wrote many motets and some masses as well, and this sacred music is by no means of lesser quality than his secular works.

A case in point is this week's Friday Motet, 'Adesto dolor meo'. Based upon two brief verses from the Book of Job, the motet is one of anguish and grief and mourning, and Wert digs deep into his expressive quiver for arrows which go straight to the heart in this brief but powerful motet.

You'll find a score and a text-translation sheet attached to this message; the recording is available at this link. You'll marvel at Wert's architecture within the six-part voicing, at his chromatic lines and dramatic harmonic shifts, at the moving lines on the words 'And my singing' and the repeated, hopeless descents on the weeping which closes the piece.

Here's something different: Try watching this music video, which features 'Adesto dolor meo' in a dramatic story seen  through the eyes of a young girl. Whether you like it or not, you'll have to admit that this is a creative idea for making this magnificent piece of early music relevant to a different type of audience. And it's an excellent performance as well.
Click here to download learning materials
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