Ecce nunc benedicite

Antonio Nola’s Ecce nunc benedicite opens with a majestic declamation of the opening words, building into a grand four-part texture for SATB voices. The composer vividly captures the solemnity and power of the Latin text, drawn from Psalm 134, the final of the gradual psalms. The music moves with purpose, urging the servants of the Lord to bless Him, especially those who stand in His house. The phrases often unfold in syllabic settings, allowing the sacred words to ring out with clarity. The anthem moves towards a powerful conclusion, invoking God’s blessing upon His people, creator of heaven and earth, offering a fittingly uplifting conclusion to a setting of vesper psalms.