Dixit Dominus primi toni

Giovanni Matteo Asola was a significant composer of sacred music in late 16th-century Venice. This setting of Psalm 109 (Dixit Dominus) is a powerful motet for double choir (SATTB and other parts not specified here) in Latin. The text, taken from the Vespers Psalms, is a Messianic psalm proclaiming God's promise to his Anointed. Asola's music reflects the grandeur of the text, with the rich five-part texture providing opportunities for dramatic contrasts and sonorous harmonies. The psalm's declaration of divine authority and eternal priesthood is vividly portrayed through the composer's skillful handling of the vocal forces, making it a stirring addition to a liturgical service or concert program.