Beatus ille qui procul negotiis

Orlando di Lasso sets a section of Horace's Odes in this Latin motet for SATTB choir. The text paints an idyllic picture of a life far removed from the cares and stresses of urban existence, celebrating the simple pleasures of rural living. The poet describes the satisfaction of working one's own land, of tending to trees and flocks, and of enjoying the natural world's bounty. Lasso's setting matches the pastoral serenity of the ode, using the five-part texture to create rich harmonies and a flowing melodic line that perfectly captures the spirit of contented withdrawal from worldly affairs.