Deus misereatur nostri

Giovanni Valentini, a composer of considerable repute in the early Baroque, was active at the Habsburg court in Vienna. His motets often draw on rich contrapuntal traditions, and Deus misereatur nostri is no exception. Scored for two voices (soprano and bass), this sacred work sets a prayer for God's mercy and guidance. The text, taken from the Psalms, pleads for divine light and favour, asking that God's way may be known upon earth and His saving health among all nations. Valentini's setting, in the Latin tongue, offers a moving reflection on these themes, suitable for a variety of liturgical or concert settings where a compact, expressive sacred work for two voices is desired.