Aichinger: Lacrumae Divae Virginis et Joannis (1604)

The Lacrumae Divae Virginis et Joannis in Christum a cruce depositum (Tears of the Blessed Virgin and John at the Deposition of Christ from the Cross) is a cycle of eight motets composed by Gregor Aichinger (1564–1628) and published at Augsburg in 1604. Setting the Latin poetry of the Augsburg patrician and humanist Marcus Welser, Aichinger composed these dialogues between Mary and John the Evangelist in the expressive language of the late Renaissance motet for an ensemble of five and six voices. The cycle is remarkable for its connection to a bronze sculptural group depicting Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross, executed by Hans Reichle and erected in the Benedictine basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra—where Aichinger served as organist—in 1605, creating an aural-visual complex that encouraged viewers and listeners to meditate on the mysteries of the Crucifixion.