Max Reger's Easter Motet was probably composed in October 1911 as a commission for the Chorbuch für die Kirchenchöre Sachsens [Choirbook for the Church Choirs of Saxony], which was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1912. Hence, the piece was composed around the time Reger took up his position as kapellmeister of the orchestra at the court of Meiningen, a position he had deeply desired. In this work, Reger sets a baroque text from the “Himmlische Lieder” [Celestial Songs] of 1641 by Johann Rist (1606–1667) to music for five-part choir a cappella. These lyrics were not found in the hymnbook of the regional church of Saxony, but in others, such as Hanover