This edition was prepared by Peter Rottländer — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dixit Dominus I
Staff Notation • Sacred, Motets
Preview
0
0
4 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Dixit Dominus I by Claudio Monteverdi — Lyrics
Psalmus David. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: sede a dextris meis, donec ponam inimicos tuos
scabellum pedum tuorum.
Virgam virtutis tuae emittet Dominus ex Sion: dominare in medio
inimicorum tuorum.
Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in splendoribus sanctorum:
ex utero, ante luciferum, genui te.
Read full lyrics
About Dixit Dominus I
Claudio Monteverdi’s Dixit Dominus I is a powerful setting of Psalm 109 for double choir (SSAATTBB). Composed in Latin, this sacred motet draws on the rich tradition of Renaissance and Baroque polyphony. The text, beginning with the powerful declaration "The Lord said unto my Lord", speaks of divine authority, kingship, and eternal priesthood, drawing from the imagery of King David and Melchizedek. Monteverdi’s setting, with its vibrant eight-part texture, would have been intended for significant liturgical occasions, showcasing the grandeur and dramatic potential of sacred music. The antiphonal writing and rich harmonies create a sense of awe and majesty appropriate to the psalm’s momentous pronouncements.
