Antonio Vivaldi composed three settings of theDixit Dominus (The Lord said [unto my Lord]), the Latin version ofPsalm 110. They include a setting in tenmovements for five soloists, double choir and orchestra,RV 594, another setting in eleven movements for five voices, five-part choir and orchestra, RV 595, and a recently discovered setting in eleven movements for five soloists, choir and orchestra, RV 807, which had been attributed toBaldassare Galuppi.Dixit Dominus, RV 594, has been regarded as one of Vivaldi's "most significant sacred works".^[1]

There are three recorded compositions of Dixit Dominus – Psalm 110 in Latin (or Psalm 109 in the Vulgate) – by Vivaldi. Each is an extended setting of thevespers psalm for five soloists, choir and orchestra; one only having been identified as his work in 2005.^[2][3]

Psalm 110 is regularly included in vespers services, usually as the opening psalm. Dixit Dominus has been said to be one of his "most significant sacred works".^[2]

Vivaldi's best-known setting, catalogued asRV 594, is structured in tenmovements, eight psalm verses and two movements for thedoxology.^[1] Set inD major, it is scored for twosopranos,alto,tenor andbass soloists, twoSATB choirs and orchestras.^[4] The first choir (Coro I) is accompanied by twooboes, twotrumpets (withtimpani), twoviolins,viola,organ andbasso continuo, while the second choir (Coro II) is accompanied by strings, organ and continuo.^[1] The duration is given as 25 minutes.^[4]

Carus-Verlag published a critical edition in 2005.^[4]

The ten movements are:^[1]

1. Dixit Dominus,Allegro, D major, common time, double choirs, orchestras with two organ soloists
2. Donec ponam inimicos tuos,Allegro, B minor, common time, double choirs, strings
3. Virgam virtutis tuae,Andante – Allegro molto, G major, common time, two sopranos, strings
4. Tecum principium,Andante, E minor, 3/4, alto, strings
5. Juravit Dominus,Presto, C major, common time, double choir, strings
6. Dominus a dextris tuis,Allegro, C major, common time, tenor and bass, strings
7. Judicabit in nationibus,Largo, D major, common time, double choir and orchestras
8. De torrente,Andante, E minor, common time, soprano, strings
9. Gloria Patri,Allegro, D major, common time, double choirs, orchestras with two organ soloists
10. Sicut erat in principio,Allegro D major, common time, double choirs, orchestras

The first and ninth movement, one beginning the psalm, the other the doxology, rely on the samemusical themes in the same key, for a frame of "festive splendour".^[1] The second movement depicts the fall of God's enemies in descending lines. The third movement, a duet, featuresecho effects. In movement 7, regarded as a climax, Vivaldi made use of the two choirs in the tradition ofVenetian polychoral style combined with elements from his operatic writing. The final movement is a masterful complex piece inpolyphony based on six themes.^[1]

The setting discovered next was catalogued as RV 595. Also in D major, it is structured in eleven movements, eight psalm verses and three movements for the doxology. It is scored for twosopranos,alto,tenor andbass soloists, a choir which also calls for divided soprano in some movements, and an orchestra comprising strings, two oboes, trumpet, and continuo bass.^[2]

The eleven movements are:^[2]

1. Dixit Dominus Domino meo, D major, common time, choir, strings, oboes and trumpet, continuo bass
2. Donec ponam inimicos tuos, B minor, 3/4, choir and orchestra
3. Virgam virtutis tuae, G major, common time, soprano solo, strings, continuo bass
4. Tecum principium, A minor, 3/8, two soprano solos, two cellos, continuo bass
5. Juravit Dominus, E minor/G major, 3/2, choir, strings, continuo bass
6. Dominus a dextris tuis, B minor, common time, soprano solo, strings, continuo bass
7. Judicabit in nationibus, D major, common time, choir, strings, trumpet, continuo bass
8. De torrente in via bibet, E minor, common time, alto solo, strings
9. Gloria Patri, et Filio, D major, 3/8, alto, tenor and bass solos, continuo bass
10. Sicut erat in principio, D major, common time, choir, strings, oboes and trumpet, continuo bass
11. Et in saecula saeculorum, D major, 3/4, choir, strings, oboes, continuo bass

Dixit Dominus
Dixit Dominus RV 807, Dresden's transcript
Key	D major
Catalogue	RV 807
Scoring	five soloists SSATT choirs↑ orchestra

The Vivaldi setting catalogued as RV 807 was identified as his work only in 2005, having been thought to have been written byBaldassare Galuppi.^[3] A handwritten copy held by theSaxon State and University Library Dresden (Sächsische Staatsbibliothek) in Dresden is titled "Dixit a 4: con strumenti / del Sig: Baldasar Galuppi, detto Buranello / Fatto per l'Ospedale delli Mendicanti / 1745".^[5] Set in D major, it is scored for twosopranos,alto and twotenor soloists, choir and an orchestra of two bassoons, trumpet, strings and continuo.^[5] A reviewer of its first recording described it as a masterpiece with "bold, intensely coloured rhetoric".^[3]

• Vivaldi: Dixit Dominus, RV 594,Carus-Verlag 2005

• Free scores by Dixit Dominus, RV 594 (Antonio Vivaldi) in theChoral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Free scores by Dixit Dominus, RV 595 (Antonio Vivaldi) in theChoral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Dixit Dominus, RV594 Hyperion Records

• Compositions by Antonio Vivaldi
• Psalm settings

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• Articles with International Music Score Library Project links
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from March 2024
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