Spem in Alium

Composed circa 1570, this motet is constructed of 40 different vocal parts. It is normally sung by 8 choirs of 5 voices. Every voice sings its own individual part. Text Latin The original Latin text of the motet is from a response (at Matins, for the 3rd Lesson, during the V week of September), in the Sarum Rite, adapted from the Book of Judith. Today the response appears in the Divine Office of the Latin rite in the Office of Readings (formerly called Matins) following the first lesson on Tuesday of the 29th Week of the Year. Spem in alium nunquam habui praeter in te Deus Israel qui irasceris et propitius eris et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis Domine Deus Creator coeli et terrae respice humilitatem nostram There is no early manuscript source giving the underlay for the Latin text: the 1610 copies give the underlay for the English contrafactum "Sing and glorify", with the Latin words given at the bottom. English translation I have never put my hope in any other but in You, O God of Israel who can show both anger and graciousness, and who absolves all the sins of suffering man Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth be mindful of our lowliness Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.