Beati omnes (a 6)

Giovanni Gastoldi, a master of the *canzonetta*, here offers a rich setting of Psalm 127 (128) for six voices (SSATTB). The text, a prayer for domestic happiness and divine blessing, speaks of the joys of family life, comparing a wife to a fruitful vine and children to olive shoots. Gastoldi's music undoubtedly reflects this sense of serene prosperity. The Latin text, part of the Gradual Psalms, offers a prayer for blessing upon those who fear the Lord, envisioning a long and happy life for the individual, their spouse, and their descendants. This motet is a testament to the composer's skill in creating sonorous and expressive sacred music.