Musica Dei donum

Settings by composers

• Jacobus Clemens non Papa SATB
• Jacob Handl STTTB
• Jean de Castro SATB
• Orlando di Lasso
  • a 4 SATB (first line only)
  • a 6 SSATBarB or AATTBarB
• Nicolas Rogier SATTB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Jean Lecocq — Musica Dei donum optimi
• Jean Louys — Musica Dei donum optimi
• Jacobus Vaet — Musica Dei donum optimi

Text and translations

Latin text Musica Dei donum optimi trahit homines, trahit deos: Musica truces mollit animos tristesque mentes erigit. Musica vel ipsas arbores et horridas movet feras cunctisque solatia prestans.

English translation Music, the gift of the supreme God, draws men, draws gods; music makes savage souls gentle and uplifts sad minds; music moves the trees themselves and wild beasts, affording solace to all. Translation by Edward Tambling