Beatus vir qui non abiit

This setting of Psalm 1, Beatus vir, from the Vulgate, would be appropriate for services during Ordinary Time or for a general devotional setting. The text offers a contrast between the righteous, whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and the wicked, who are likened to dust scattered by the wind. Orlando di Lasso, a prolific composer of sacred and secular music, crafts a rich sonic world for this text. The SSATTB voicing allows for a broad palette of choral colours, creating a powerful expression of the psalm’s message. The composer vividly portrays the steadfastness of the righteous, like a tree planted by water, and the transience of the ungodly, offering a profound musical meditation on divine justice and the rewards of righteousness.