Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
VOCES8 sings the 'Gloria' from Missa Bell’ Amfitrit’ altera by Orlando de Lassus at the VOCES8 Centre in London.
The work is a brilliant example of Renaissance polyphonic writing at its most expansive and joyful. Composed around 1583 as part of an eight-voice Mass for two choirs, it combines the grandeur of the Venetian polychoral style with Lassus’s unmatched contrapuntal skill.
Rather than relying on simple antiphonal exchanges, Lassus creates a rich tapestry of dialogue and interplay between the voices, producing music of remarkable energy, colour and sophistication.
The Mass is based on a secular model, probably an unidentified madrigal, and survives in a Munich court manuscript from the final decade of the composer’s life. The 'Gloria' radiates celebration, moving effortlessly between moments of intimate detail and full double-choir splendour, demonstrating why Lassus is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance.
TEXT
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus; tu solus Dominus; tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
TRANSLATION
Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill
towards men. We praise thee; we bless thee; we worship thee; we glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the
sins of the world, have mercy upon us; thou that takest
away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; thou that
sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy
upon us.
For thou only art Holy; thou only art the Lord; thou
only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High in
the glory of God the Father. Amen.
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
VOCES8 sings the 'Gloria' from Missa Bell’ Amfitrit’ altera by Orlando de Lassus at the VOCES8 Centre in London.
The work is a brilliant example of Renaissance polyphonic writing at its most expansive and joyful. Composed around 1583 as part of an eight-voice Mass for two choirs, it combines the grandeur of the Venetian polychoral style with Lassus’s unmatched contrapuntal skill.
Rather than relying on simple antiphonal exchanges, Lassus creates a rich tapestry of dialogue and interplay between the voices, producing music of remarkable energy, colour and sophistication.
The Mass is based on a secular model, probably an unidentified madrigal, and survives in a Munich court manuscript from the final decade of the composer’s life. The 'Gloria' radiates celebration, moving effortlessly between moments of intimate detail and full double-choir splendour, demonstrating why Lassus is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance.
TEXT
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus; tu solus Dominus; tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
TRANSLATION
Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill
towards men. We praise thee; we bless thee; we worship thee; we glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the
sins of the world, have mercy upon us; thou that takest
away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; thou that
sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy
upon us.
For thou only art Holy; thou only art the Lord; thou
only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High in
the glory of God the Father. Amen.
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
