The words of St. John’s 1st letter resound tenderly, devoutly and intimately: God is love; and he who abides in love, abides in God and God in him. The organ accompaniment initially supports and underlines the chorus parts, ultimately celebrating the eponymous words “Deus caritas est” in fast, flowing movements. Becoming quieter – the organ recedes and lets the choral parts sound partly a cappella – at the end only a whisper can be heard.
Recording: LaCappella nuova (conducted by Veronika Bauer), Susanne Rohn (organ)