Ascendit Deus

Jacob Handl's Ascendit Deus is a powerful setting of a Latin text drawn from the Psalms. The music opens with a majestic fanfare in the upper voices, soon joined by the lower parts to create a rich, resonant texture. The composer skilfully portrays the exultant text, depicting God's ascent in jubilation and the sound of the trumpet. The work unfolds with a sense of grand processional, conveying the divine power and the preparation of God's heavenly throne. Scored for eight voices, divided between TTTBB and ATTBB, this piece offers a substantial challenge and reward for a confident choir. It is an offering of profound devotional expression, suitable for significant liturgical moments.