Description
Beatus Vir (Blessed is the Man) is a setting of the famous text from Psalm 112. The full text is included in the pdf preview file. This setting for Alto - Tenor - Bass voices can be performed by MALE or MIXED 3 part chorus and Organ accompaniment for concerts or used during Church services, especially during Advent - Christmas and Epiphany seasons. It is a Baroque composition with unusual time changes between double (imperfect) and triple (perfect) time and with a new vocal treatment for sacred music that reflects the bel canto style. The harmonic changes are quite modern, unusual and even abrupt. The composer, Giovanni Giacomo Arrigoni,(also spelled Arigoni) was a famous organist who worked in Mantova (among other places) together with Claudio Monteverdi. This work is from "Opera IX": Psalms for 3 voices with various instrumental accompaniments to be performed ad libitum, and includes a Magnificat for 5 voices and two violins from 1663. The selection "Beatus Vir" was dedicated to Carlo, Duke of Mantova, brother of the Empress Eleonora, wife to Ferdinando III.
I find the melodies almost recognizable and easy to memorize, the music is quick to learn. This Alto-Tenor-Bass version is the original setting. I am including on my site another version for children's or female voices (SMA). It is written to be accompanied by Organ, with the figured bass included, but since the accompanying part is written on 2 lines, a piano can also be used.