Hyperion Records

A companion piece to the Laudate Dominum, RV606 (recorded in volume 6), Laetatus sum is set by Vivaldi almost after the strophic fashion of a hymn. Verses 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9 are given, respectively, exactly the same musical material. The Doxology (verses 10/11) becomes a modified and extended fourth strophe. Otherwise, RV607 is a typically unpretentious pieno setting dominated by its instrumental ‘riff’ on violins. Such concise settings should not be likened to pieces belonging to ‘short’ services in the Anglican rite. They were performed at Vespers alongside more elaborate settings of other psalms, the brevity of the first compensating for the length of the second so as to keep the duration of the service within reasonable bounds. In other words, they were the necessary complement of settings in several movements.

from notes by Michael Talbot © 2001