Exultet omnium turba fidelium

Giovanni Andrea Dragoni's Exultet omnium turba fidelium is a motet for SATTB choir, setting a Latin text in praise of Saint Benedict. The lyrics call for all the faithful, and especially monastic communities, to rejoice in celebration of his feast day on earth, a saint whose fellowship the holy enjoy in heaven. Dragoni's setting, likely from the late 16th or early 17th century, is a rich example of sacred polyphony from the late Renaissance or early Baroque periods. The five-part texture allows for varied choral effects, balancing moments of grand exultation with devotional intimacy, reflecting the sacred character of the text and the occasion it commemorates.