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Anton Bruckner’s “Locus Iste” is a sacred motet for unaccompanied SATB choir, composed in 1869 for the dedication of the Votivkapelle in Linz, Austria. The Latin text, drawn from the Gradual for church dedications, translates to “This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof.”
The piece is concise (around 2-3 minutes) and showcases Bruckner’s signature style: rich, warm harmonies, smooth polyphonic textures, and a sense of reverent grandeur. It unfolds in a serene, flowing manner, with dynamic swells and subtle chromatic shifts that create a mystical, uplifting atmosphere. The motet’s structure is simple yet profound, reflecting the text’s theme of a sacred, inviolable space. It’s a staple in choral repertoire for its emotional depth and spiritual resonance, much like Rheinberger’s Abendlied.
Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est.
This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof.
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
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