Guillaume Dufay - Nuper rosarum flores (Best version)

Nuper Rosarum Flores (“Recently Flowers of Roses/The Rose Blossoms Recently“), is a motet composed by Guillaume Dufay for the 25 March 1436 consecration of the Florence cathedral, on the occasion of the completion of the dome built under the instructions of Filippo Brunelleschi. The two homographic tenors, which define the overall structural plan of the piece, are both based on a Gregorian cantus firmus melody taken from the introit for the consecration of churches, Terribilis est locus iste (’Awesome is this place’, Genesis 28:17), a fifth apart and with different, interlocking rhythmic configurations. The title of the piece stems from the name of the cathedral itself: Santa Maria del Fiore, or St. Mary of the Flower. The opening lines of Dufay’s text refers to Pope Eugene IV’s gift to the cathedral, and to the city of Florence, of a golden rose to decorate the high altar—a gift made the week before the dedication. Read more at: Nuper rosarum flores Ex dono pontificis Hieme licet horrida Tibi, virgo coelica, Pie et sancte deditum Grandis templum machinae Condecorarunt perpetim. Hodie vicarius Jesu Christi et Petri Successor Eugenius Hoc idem amplissimum Sacris templum manibus Sanctisque liquoribus Consecrare dignatus est. Igitur, alma parens Nati tui et filia Virgo decus virginum, Tuus te Florentiae Devotus orat populus, Ut qui mente et corpore Mundo quicquam exorarit Oratione tua Cruciatus et meritis Tui secundum carnem Nati Domini sui Grata beneficia Veniamque reatum Accipere mereatur. Amen. (Cantus firmus: Terribilis est locus iste) I do not own the rights of this audio. It’s free to download at the following link.