This edition was prepared by Willem Verkaik — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Beatus vir (1629)
Staff Notation • Sacred, Vesper Psalms
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Beatus vir (1629) by Antonio Cifra — Lyrics
Alleluia. Reversionis Aggei et Zacchariae. Beatus vir qui timet Dominum: in mandatis ejus volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen ejus; generatio rectorum benedicetur.
Gloria et divitiae in domo ejus: et justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.
Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: misericors, et miserator, et justus.
Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat; disponet sermones suos in judicio:
quia in aeternum non commovebitur.
In memoria aeterna erit justus;
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About Beatus vir (1629)
Antonio Cifra's setting of Beatus vir, dating from 1629, is a substantial sacred work for double choir (SATB.SATB). The text, taken from Psalm 111, is a Vesper Psalm that praises the righteous man who fears the Lord and meditates on his commandments. Cifra's music imbues this devotional text with grandeur and power, befitting its liturgical purpose. The double choir writing allows for rich polyphonic textures and antiphonal effects, creating a dynamic and resonant soundscape. This Latin motet offers a profound reflection on virtue, divine favour, and eternal reward, making it a significant example of early 17th-century Italian sacred polyphony.
