Hans Leo Hassler’s bold 3-choir piece “Benedicam dominum à12” in which the top and bottom choirs seem to be intended for instruments, with the middle choir labelled capella.
This impressive three-choir motet, a setting of Psalm 33 (34 Protestant) comes from
Reliquae Sacrorum Concentuum diversorum Excellentissimorum Authorum, (Nürnberg, Paul Kaufman, 1615).
Each choir has a distinct tessitura, with the middle choir (confusingly called Chorus III) marked capella: this suggests that the high and low choirs were intended for solo voices with instruments.
The distribution of text requires at least one part in the outer choirs to be sung, though there is of course no obstacle to a purely instrumental performance.
I am indebted to Clifford Bartlett for the following translation of the text:
I will bless the Lord at all time; his praise will always be
in my mouth. In the Lord my soul shall be praised: the
meek shall hear and rejoice. Magnify the Lord with me
and let us exalt his name in it. I sought the Lord and he
heard me, and he snatched me from all my troubles.
Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not
be disconcerted.
(Bernard Thomas 1995)
