The new disc How Fair thou Art features 12 of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s beautiful polyphonic choral settings of the Canticum Canticorum. They are probably better known as "Song of Songs" or "Canticles", a collection of poetry in the Hebrew Bible on the theme of the joy and ecstasy of human love. These settings are framed by four of Palestrina’s Marian motets, works in honour of the Virgin Mary that he composed throughout his life.
Alma redemptoris mater Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui Pulchrae sunt genae tuae Tota pulchra es anima mea Nigra sum, sed formosa Regina coeli Trahe me, post te Veni, veni dilecte mi Surge, propera amica mea Descendi in hortum meum Ave regina coelorum Sicut lilium inter spinas Osculetur me Ecce tu pulcher es Salve Regina
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