Acts 12: 11Psalm 139: 1-2a) [Latin] – 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Original Latin:

Nunc scio vere, quia misit Dominus angelum suum : et eripuit me de manu Herodis, et de omni exspectatione plebis Iudaeorum.
Domine, probasti me, et cognovisti me : tu cognovisti sessionem meam, et resurrectionem meam.
Gloria Patri…
The Liberation of St. Peter by Antonio de Bellis (c. 1616 – c. 1656)
The Liberation of St. Peter by Antonio de Bellis (c. 1616 – c. 1656)

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“Nunc scio vere,” 6-voice sacred motet composed by William Byrd (1539/1540-1623) for Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29). First published in Gradualia II, no. 38 1607.

Byrd: Nunc scio vere a 6, T. 156

Sung by The Cardinall’s Musick, directed by Andrew Carwood

Free sheet music at Choral Public Domain Library

Acts 1: 11; Psalm 47: 1 [Latin] – 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same [Jesus] which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

Original Latin:

Viri Galilaei, quid admiramini aspicientes in caelum? Alleluia.
Quemadmodum vidistis eum ascendentem in caelum, ita veniet, Alleluia.

Omnes gentes plaudite manibus: jubilate Deo in voce exultationis.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.

The Ascension [of Jesus], by Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo (1481–1559)
The Ascension [of Jesus], by Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo (1481–1559)

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“Viri Galilaei,” 5-voice motet composed by William Byrd (1539/1540-1623) and first published in Gradualia II, no. 25 (1607).

Byrd Viri Galilaei (from the Mass Propers for Ascensiontide, from Gradualia II)

Sung by New Cambridge Singers

Free sheet music at Choral Public Domain Library

Genesis 3: 19b [Latin] – [Remember O Man] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Original Latin:

Memento homo, quod cinis es, et in cinerem reverteris.

Ashes imposed on the forehead of a Christian on Ash Wednesday
Ashes imposed on the forehead of a Christian on Ash Wednesday

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“Memento homo,” a 6-voice, sacred motet composed by William Byrd (1539-1623), and first published in Cantiones quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur, no. 18 (1575)

Performed by Alamire, directed by David Skinner

Free sheet music at Choral Public Domain Library

Psalm 95:1-2 [Latin] – O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Original Latin:
Venite, exsultemus Domino; jubilemus Deo salutari nostro; praeoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei:

Detail of an 18th-century posthumous engraving of William Byrd by Gerard Vandergucht, after Niccolò Haym.
Detail of an 18th-century posthumous engraving of William Byrd by Gerard Vandergucht, after Niccolò Haym. 

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“Venite exultemus Domino,” a sacred, 6-voice motet that originally appeared in Gradualia II (1607), composed by William Byrd (1539/1540-1623)

Venite exultemus Domino, by William Byrd (ca.1540-1623)

Performed here by Quire Cleveland

Free sheet music at Choral Public Domain Library