Beati omnes

Giovanni Bernardino Nanino, a composer of the late Renaissance, wrote this motet for double choir (SATB.SATB). The Latin text is taken from Psalm 127, a psalm that praises the blessings of family life and the rewards for those who fear the Lord. It speaks of a righteous person who labours and eats, finding contentment, and whose household is blessed with a fruitful wife and children surrounding their table like olive shoots. The text further invokes God's blessing from Zion, wishing the recipient to see the prosperity of Jerusalem and the longevity of their descendants, culminating in peace for Israel. Nanino's setting reflects the richness and devotional character of the period's sacred music.