In convertendo

Giovanni Bernardo Colombi's In convertendo is a sacred work for SATTB voices setting a Latin text. This motet draws from the Vesper Psalms, specifically Psalm 125 (126) in the Vulgate tradition, a text of hopeful anticipation and joyous return. The composer vividly portrays the transition from sorrow to exultation, as described in the opening lines: 'When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion, we became like them that are comforted.' The music mirrors the text's narrative, moving from the subdued reflection of hardship to the triumphant celebration of deliverance. Colombi's setting effectively captures the profound emotional arc of this significant liturgical psalm, offering a powerful and uplifting experience for both choir and listeners.