JUSTORUM ANIMAE IN MANU is a 5 voice motet by William Byrd for the November 1 church observance of All Saints Day. This Beautiful Music is sung by the New York City based group, Voices of Ascension. You can see the complete text below, in Latin, and translated into English. You can also hear my conversation from a few years ago with Voices of Ascension’s Artistic Director and Conductor, Dennis Keene.
Justorum animæ in manu Dei sunt, et non tanget illos tormentum mortis. Visi sunt oculi insipientium mori: Illi autem sunt in pace.
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; but they are in peace.
Suzanne’s conversation with Dr. Dennis Keene.