Dixit Dominus a 7

Composed by Giovanni Rovetta, this grand setting of Psalm 8 (Dixit Dominus) is written for a large choir of SSATTBB voices. It is a significant work intended for Vespers, a traditional service of evening prayer in the Roman Catholic Church. The Latin text, taken from Psalm 8, is a powerful declaration of divine authority and the messianic kingship of Christ. Rovetta’s music would have been heard in a liturgical setting, perhaps during a major feast day. The elaborate voicing for seven parts suggests a desire for rich, resonant sound, suitable for the splendor of sacred ceremony. This psalm setting is a testament to the Baroque tradition of dramatic and sonorous sacred music.