''Laetatus sum'' (I am glad), , is a musical setting of

Psalm 122 Psalm 122 is the 122nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I was glad" and in Latin entitled Laetatus sum. It is attributed to King David and one of the fifteen psalms described as A song of ascents ( ...

(Psalm 121 in the

Vulgate The Vulgate (; also called (Bible in common tongue), ) is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. The Vulgate is largely the work of Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels u ...

) in

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

Jules Van Nuffel Jules Van Nuffel (21 March 1883 – 25 June 1953) was a Belgian priest, musicologist, composer, and a renowned expert on religious music. Biography Born on 21 March 1883 in Hemiksem, Belgium, Van Nuffel studied at the Grand Seminary of Mechele ...

, composed in 1935 for

mixed choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

and

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

History

Van Nuffel set many Latin texts to music, including ten psalms, for the

liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...

and also concert at the Sint Rombouts Kathedraal in

Mechelen Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...

, where he served as cantor, while

Flor Peeters Franciscus Florentinus Peeters, Baron Peeters (4 July 1903 – 4 July 1986) was a Belgian composer, organist and academic teacher. He was director of the Conservatorium in Antwerp, Belgium, and organist at Mechelen Cathedral from 1923 to his deat ...

was organist. In the Latin Psalters the psalms are numbered differently. Psalm 121 there is

in the

King James Bible The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...

. Van Nuffel set the psalm in April 1935 for a mixed four-part choir and organ. The psalm was published by the Schwann Verlag (now part of Edition Peters), which published also other works of the composer.

Words and music

The psalm () in nine verses is one of 15 Songs of Ascents. It deals with the expectation to go to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem together with other pilgrims, expanding what Jerusalem means to them. The last four verses invite to prayer for the peace, security and prosperity for Jerusalem. Van Nuffel set the Latin text in one movement of different moods: The music in F minor and time is marked ''Con moto'' (with movement), initially marked mezzo-forte (). Soprano and alto begin "Laetatus sum" together with an ascending

motif Motif may refer to: General concepts * Motif (chess composition), an element of a move in the consideration of its purpose * Motif (folkloristics), a recurring element that creates recognizable patterns in folklore and folk-art traditions * Moti ...

, which tenor and bass pick up the following measure in the opposite direction, and intensified by the organ in the third measure. "Illuc enim ascenderunt" begins slightly slower (''poco allargando'') in the basses, again with ascending motifs. The other voices join in vivid movement. The last psalm verse, "Propter bonum", prepared by a strong crescendo and ritardando, is rendered in calmer, majestic singing, accented by rising chords in the organ. The psalm is concluded by a repeat of the first verse, ending extremely softly () on a repeated "Jerusalem".

Recordings

''Laetatus sum'' is the title of a recording of thirteen choral works by Van Nuffel (which also contains '' In convertendo Dominus''), performed by three choirs, two from Mechelen and one from Antwerp, conducted by Bob Peeraer and Urbain Van Asch, with organists Willy Climan and Laurent Van Den Bergh, and the brass ensemble of . Another recording of this psalm appears on ''Psalms – Te Deum at the Sint-Rombouts Cathedral, Malines'', a René Gailly CD (87 059), performed by the choir of the Sint Rombouts Cathedral and two other choirs, conducted by Johan Van Bouwelen, with organist Peter Pieters and the brass ensemble "The Art of Brass".

References

External links

*
Parallel Latin/English Psaltern / Psalmus 121 (122)
medievalist.net {{italic title Choral compositions Psalm settings 1935 compositions