Sonoma Bach
  • One Long River of Song
    • 2025-2026 Concerts >
      • The Rise of Polyphony
      • Music's Renaissance
      • A Three-Nation Celebration
      • Exploring the 18th Century
      • Partsong in the Romantic Era
      • Johannes Brahms and the Geometry of Hope
      • Music for Modern Times
    • Donate today!
  • Tickets
    • Tickets
    • Subscriptions
  • Who we are and What we do
    • Board of Directors and Staff
    • 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
      • 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
    • Choir Resources
  • Contact
  • Join our Mailing List!
  • One Long River of Song
    • 2025-2026 Concerts >
      • The Rise of Polyphony
      • Music's Renaissance
      • A Three-Nation Celebration
      • Exploring the 18th Century
      • Partsong in the Romantic Era
      • Johannes Brahms and the Geometry of Hope
      • Music for Modern Times
    • Donate today!
  • Tickets
    • Tickets
    • Subscriptions
  • Who we are and What we do
    • Board of Directors and Staff
    • 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
      • 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
    • Choir Resources
  • Contact
  • Join our Mailing List!
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
Sonoma Bach  | P.O. Box 656 |  Cotati |  CA  |  94931
​707-347-9491 | [email protected]

Sonoma Bach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization