Sacrae symphoniae, book ii. magnificat 14 vocum by giovanni gabrieli the composer giovanni gabrieli was born in approximately 1554 in venice. he would study with his uncle, the composer andrea gabrieli, who was an organist at st mark’s basilica, a position he was given in 1566 and would hold until his death in 1585. giovanni would then spend some time at the court of duke albert v of munich from the early 1570’s until 1579. while at court giovanni would study with the franco-flemish composer orlando de lassus, influencing gabrieli’s future work. in 1584 giovanni would be awarded the position of principal organist at st mark’s basilica, joining his uncle. the following year when andrea gabrieli passed away, giovanni would take over his uncle's role as principal composer for st mark’s. giovanni would hold this role, as well as an additional position of organist at the scuola grande di san rocco (in venice) until his death in 1606. the majority of surviving compositions by gabrieli are sacred music for both choir and instrumental ensembles, however some secular compositions have also survived. during his lifetime gabrieli would publish three large compendiums of work, with two additional books being published in 1615, three years after his death. this piece is an extract from his second book of sacred symphonies, which contains 32 separate works for instruments and choir. the 32 sections of this book are: i. exultavit cor meum ii. congratulamini mihi iii. ego dixi domine iv. sancta et immaculata v. o jesu mi dulcissime vi. hodie completi sunt vii. o quam suavis viii. deus in nomine tuo ix. attendite popule meus x. cantate domino xi. benedictus es dominus xii. litania beatae mariae virginis xiii. deus deus meus xiv. vox domini xv. iubilate deo xvi. motet "surrexit christus" a 11, ch.66 xvii. exaudi deus xviii. o gloriosa virgo xix. misericordia tua domine xx. suscipe clementissime deus xxi. kyrie xxii. sanctus xxiii. magnificat 12 vocum xxiv. confitebor tibi domine xxv. motet "quem vidistis pastores" a 14 xxvi. motet "in ecclesiis" a 14 xxvii. magnificat 14 vocum xxviii. salvator noster xxix. o quam gloriosa xxx. exaudi me domine xxxi. magnificat 17 vocum xxxii. buccinate