Dufay and Binchois Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
St. Sebastian was considered, among other things, the patron saint of those stricken with plague - legend has it that he was tied to a tree and shot with arrows during Diocletian’s persecution of the early church, but miraculously could not be killed (until he was clubbed to death some time after). The arrow wounds being suggestive of the buboes of those suffering from plague, devotion to St. Sebastian increased dramatically at the time of the Black Death.
'Beatus es et bene' is a motet for the Feast of St Sebastian (20 January) by the Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero. Guerrero had an adventurous life, having twice been kidnapped by pirates. Unfortunately his devotion to St.Sebastian could not stop the plague from taking his life in 1599.
Dufay's is a motet in honour of St. Sebastian, but this time it is set for two pairs of voices - here performed by two soprano parts and two sackbuts. The first verse is a canon between the soprani, before the sackbuts provide a counterpoint to the two prayers sung simultaneously.
Recorded 29 August 2019 in Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul
Producer/ Sound engineer: David Houston
