Benedictus

Jacob Handl was a prolific composer of sacred music in the late Renaissance. His motets often draw on plainchant melodies, but he frequently elaborates them with complex polyphony and rich harmonies, typical of the Franco-Flemish tradition. This setting of the Benedictus, for three female voices (SSA), is a prime example of his expressive sacred writing. The Latin text, taken from the Sanctus liturgy, speaks of praise to the one who comes in the name of the Lord, with exclamations of Hosanna in the highest. Handl's music captures the jubilation and solemnity of this important liturgical moment, offering directors a rewarding opportunity to explore the textures and expressive capabilities of this voicings.