Exultate Deo

Let us rejoice to God our helper, sing aloud to God Jacob! The text, drawn from the Psalms, calls for jubilant praise, a festive summons to 'take up the psalm, and bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute.' It urges us to 'blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the solemn day of your feast.' Ottavio Vernizzi composed this motet for double SATB choir, a grand setting that amplifies the exultant and ceremonial nature of the words. The antiphonal possibilities of the two choirs allow for a powerful and resonant declamation of this psalm-derived text, creating a rich sonic experience appropriate for its sacred subject.