O ESCA VIATORUM

This Eucharistic motet was written for the Kapelle choir of Concordia University Chicago, conducted by Dr. Charles Brown. The origins of the original Latin text are not entirely clear. Although the authorship of the text is unknown, it first appeared in a Würzburg hymnal in either 1647 or 1649, with a German translation appearing in the Maintzisch Gesangbuch in 1661. Since then the motet has been set by many composers, including the Haydn brothers and Heinrich Isaac. The Latin text has been translated into a variety of languages and relished by many traditions in the Western Church for its timeless and poetic Eucharistic language and usefulness in the liturgy of Holy Communion.

Below is a live performance of the motet, performed by Kapelle on November 7th, 2026: