motet notes - Josquin des Prez

The Franco-Flemish composer Josquin des Prez is often regarded as the greatest polyphonic master of the Renaissance, second only to J. S. Bach in the art of counterpoint. "Tu pauperum refugium" is one of the few works of Josquin that is more chordal than polyphonic, thus evoking a more hymn-like quality. However, there a numerous compositional moments of wonder that transcent the simple polyphony with which our motet begins. Listen for when the sopranos and altos almost seem lost when they sing “via errantium – the road or the way of the erring people,” immediately followed by the strict imitation between the tenors and basses on the text “veritas et vita – truth and life,” or at the end when the text implores that our souls not be left to death, and all the voice parts descend to their lowest pitch levels.

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