Et omnes angeli

Nicolas Merques's setting of Et omnes angeli is for two voices, AT. The text is a Marian antiphon, depicting the vision of the four living creatures and the elders falling down before the throne of God. The music opens with a sense of solemnity, the two voices entering in imitation, creating a rich texture that effectively conveys the awe and devotion of the text. The composer uses the duet format to explore the relationship between the two parts, at times moving in close harmony and at others in wider, more expansive intervals. The setting is devotional in character, fitting for use within a liturgical context, and the clarity of its two-part writing makes it accessible for choirs.