Musica Dei donum

General information

Elegy for Josquin des Prez.

Settings by composers

• Orlando di Lasso
  • a 4 SATB (first line only)
  • a 6 SSATBarB or AATTBarB
• Nicolas Rogier SATTB

Texts 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 1. 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. tr. Edward Tambling