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  • The Flowering of the Spirit
    • 2021-2022 Concerts >
      • Clothed Head to Foot in Song
      • World of Wonder
      • Early Music Christmas: Lo How a Rose
      • Sacred Realms: Très Riches Heures
      • Never to Forget
      • Season Finale: Born of the Sun
      • Organ Recital: The Incomparable Herr Buxtehude
    • 2021-22 Educational Events
    • 2021-22 Virtual Offerings >
      • Virtual BachTalks
      • The Choir Loft >
        • June 5th - How Brightly Shines the Morning Star
        • June 12th - Sacred Works by Valentin Silvestrov - Steve Osborn
        • June 26th - Some Music by Palestrina - Comfort in Perfection - Dan Solter
        • July 3rd - William Byrd: Motets and Masses Part One
      • Repertoire Exploration Projects
    • Tickets
    • Donate today!
    • COVID-19 Audience Safety
  • 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
    • 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
    • Concert Programs
    • Scores & Parts
    • Rehearsal Recordings
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Mater Floreat by Pierre Moulu
I'm excited to send out this week's wonderful motet. It's called 'Mater floreat'; the composer is Pierre Moulu, not exactly a household name, but after you hear the piece, you may think he should be. It's a self-reflective piece of music: Music About Music. Circa 1600 did a concert in Spring 2017 on this theme which included today's motet. When I first heard it (in the recording attached, by the Brabant Ensemble) I nearly fell on the ground with elation.
It is so declarative and extroverted and joyful!

The text is an ode to music and to musicians, and (as you'll see and hear) includes a veritable who's who list of Renaissance musicians. All of these are still known--some more famous than others, of course. Over the years we've done pieces by many of these composers, and we owe a great debt--and a rousing song of praise--to them for the happiness and solace and fascination and emotional support their music has provided us. This is that song of praise!

I can't send midi files for this piece, but the parts are pretty straightforward and clearly audible on the attached recording. In addition, of course, you'll find a score. Click here for the program from our 2017 concert set, which includes a few notes on 'Mater floreat' plus the text and translation (page 12). We used part of a poem by Stephen Spender as an introduction to the piece (and to the second half); I'm copying the entire poem (which I love) below. To me the poem expresses some of the same lyrical veneration for the 'truly great' as is so evident in Moulu's motet.
Download Score
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