WILLIAM BYRD, a composer of the Tudor period, set Psalm 150 (Laudibus in Sanctis) to music in his 1591  Cantiones Sacrae and his hymn gives us a sense, though shadowy and inadequate, of the saints in heaven and their choruses of praise to a good and just God. I hope you enjoy this beautiful performance by Stile Antico. A translation:

Celebrate the Lord most high in holy praises:
Let the firmament echo the glorious deeds of God.
Sing ye the glorious deeds of God, and with holy voice
Sound forth oft the power of his mighty hand.

Let the warlike trumpet sing the great name of the Lord:
Celebrate the Lord with Pierian lyre.
Let resounding timbrels ring to the praise of the most-
high God,
Lofty organs peal to the praise of the holy God.

Him let melodious psalteries sing with fine string,
Him let joyful dance praise with nimble foot.
Let hollow cymbals pour forth divine praises,
Sweet-sounding cymbals filled with the praise of God.
Let everything in the world that feeds upon the
air of heaven
Sing Alleluia to God for evermore.

Paraphrase of Psalm 150

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