Composer

:

Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

6:38

Laetatus Sum is a sacred choral work composed by Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, a Polish Baroque composer, in the late 17th century. The piece is a setting of Psalm 122, which is traditionally sung during the celebration of the Eucharist. Laetatus Sum was likely composed in the early 1690s, during Gorczycki's tenure as Kapellmeister at the Wawel Cathedral in Krakow. The work is scored for four-part choir, with a basso continuo accompaniment. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement is a joyful and celebratory setting of the opening verses of Psalm 122, "Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi" ("I rejoiced when they said to me"). The music is characterized by lively rhythms, bright harmonies, and frequent use of imitation between the vocal parts. The second movement is a more contemplative setting of the middle verses of the psalm, "Jerusalem, quae aedificatur ut civitas" ("Jerusalem, built as a city"). The music is slower and more introspective, with a more complex harmonic language and a greater use of dissonance. The final movement returns to the joyful mood of the opening, with a setting of the closing verses of the psalm, "Fiat pax in virtute tua" ("May peace be within your walls"). The music is characterized by a lively triple meter and a sense of forward momentum, building to a triumphant conclusion. Overall, Laetatus Sum is a prime example of Gorczycki's skill as a composer of sacred choral music. The piece showcases his ability to create music that is both joyful and contemplative, with a sophisticated harmonic language and a mastery of counterpoint. It remains a beloved work in the repertoire of Polish Baroque music.

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