Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758)

Ps: 128 "Beati omnes" / Psalm 128 "Beati omnes" [composed by Johann Gottlieb Janitsch, previously erroneously attributed to Roman]

HRV 400

Print

[1. Chorus] Beati omnes (choir)
[2. Aria] Labores manuum (soprano)
[3. Aria] Uxor tua (alto)
[4. Aria] Filii tui (tenor)
[5. Chorus] Ecce sic benedicetur (choir)
[6. Aria] Benedicat tibi (bass)
[7. Duet] Et videas filios (soprano, alto)
[8a. Chorus] Gloria patri (choir)
[8b. Chorus] Sicut erat (choir)

  • Year of composition: 1751
  • Work category: Mixed choir with solo voice(s) and orchestra
  • Text author: Book of Psalms no. 128 (Old Testament)
  • First performed: Performed by the Hovkapellet [i.e., the the orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera], with additional musicians, under the baton of Roman at the coronation of King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika in the Storkyrkan, Stockholm, on 26 November, 1751.
  • Duration: Approx. 10-15 min
  • Detailed duration: Duration uncertain

Instrumentation

2.2.0.0 / 0.0.0.0 / cont, (org) / str

Solo voices/choir

soloists: soprano, alto, tenor, bass
choir: S.A.T.B.

Location for score and part material

Manuscript (score and [incomplete] parts material) can be found at the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket (Ro:70a, Ro:70b), as well as complete parts material (in Janitsch’s hand).

  • Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket

Literature

Holm, Anna Lena: Tematisk förteckning över J.H. Romans vokalverk. Musikaliska akademiens bibliotek (1994)

Helenius-Öberg, Eva: "Handstil 128 i Romansamlingen och gåtan om den Berlinska musiken till 1751 års kröning". In:STM 80 (1998), s. 25-51. 

Bengtsson, Britta: 1751 års män. Anteckningar om amatörer och hovkapellister vid "Kongl. Begrafnings och Kongl. Krönings Musiquerne år 1751". Musik i Sverige 12. Stockholm 2001.

Description of work

[1. Chorus] Vivace D major - B minor 4/4 (C)
[2. Aria] Arioso A major 3/4
[3. Aria] Andante F sharp minor 4/4 (C)
[4. Aria] Larghetto B minor 3/4
[5. Chorus] Poco Largo G major 4/4 (C)
[6. Aria] Vivace ma non tanto E minor 3/4
[7. Duet] Allegretto G major 2/4
[8a. Chorus] Grave D major - A major 4/4 (C)
[8b. Chorus] Allabreve [sic] D major alla breve

Links

Ro:70a
Ro:70b


Work comment

Dubious work (according to Holm)

It has later been established by Eva Helenius that the work was commissioned by Louisa Ulrika for the coronation in 1751. It was composed by Johann Gottlieb Janitsch (1708-1763), who was active at the royal court in Berlin.


Libretto/text

[1. Chours] Beati omnes qui timent Dominum

[2. Aria] Labores manuum tuarum (soprano)

[3. Aria] Uxor tua sicut vitis abundans (alto)

[4. Aria] Filii tui sicut novelle olivarum (tenor)

[5. Chorus] Ecce Ecce sic benedicetur homo qui timet (choir)

[6. Aria] Benedicat tibi Dominus ex Sion (bass)

[7. Duet] Et videas filios filiorum tuorum (soprano, alto)

[8a. Chorus] Gloria patri et filio et Spiritui sancto (choir)
[8b. Chorus] Sicut erat in principio et nunc et Semper (choir)