In exitu Israel RV 604

Coro SATB, 2 Vl, Va, Bc

One of a total of 13 psalms, the present work based on psalm 113 was probably composed for the Easter Sunday in 1739. In In exitu Israel Vivaldi treats the voices homophonically (in block chords), accompanied by a string orchestra and basso continuo. Although it is rather a short piece the text of psalm 113 is over twice the length of any of the other psalms set by Vivaldi but even set as a single continuous movement it still keeps the composer’s acute sensitivity regarding the emotional content of the text.