Beatus vir (1650)
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Beatus vir (1650) by Claudio Monteverdi — Lyrics
About Beatus vir (1650)
This motet by Claudio Monteverdi would be appropriate for a service on a feast day or for general use within the liturgy. The Latin text, drawn from Psalm 112, describes the blessedness of the righteous man who fears the Lord, whose descendants will be mighty, and whose house will be filled with riches and justice. It speaks of light arising in darkness for the upright, and of the man who is merciful and lends. The justice of the righteous man endures forever, and his horn will be exalted. Monteverdi sets this text for a large choir of seven parts: three sopranos, alto, tenor, and two basses. This rich voicing allows for a wide range of sonority and dramatic contrast within the sacred idiom.