Two of the great composers of the Romantic era, Mendelssohn and Brahms, brought their great melodic gifts and deeply felt expression to the motet form. The clarity and meaning of the sacred texts was of primary importance to both composers, and their study of Palestrina and Bach strongly influenced the style of these superb works. This recording features the rarely performed motet Aus tiefer Noth by Mendelssohn, and three Brahms motets written as chamber music for voices, yet rich and varied in expression.