The Concerti sacri, a set of ten motets, is the only volume of Alessandro Scarlatti's sacred music to be published during his lifetime. The purpose of this document was to prepare a modern performance edition of two of the most attractive motets in the set, and to discuss the performance of these works from both historical and analytical points of view.

Chapter I deals with the Concerti sacri in historical perspective, including a discussion of Scarlatti's total output of motets, and of evidence dating the source. Chapter II consists of a structural analysis of both "Rorate coeli" and "Properate fideles." Chapter III suggests general and specific performance considerations for the two motets while Chapters IV and V contain the prepared full-score editions of both works. Critical notes are included after each edition. Criteria for the editing of these works was drawn from Thurston Dart's The Interpretation of Music, Robert Donington's A Performer's Guide to Baroque Music, and the Style Guide published by A-R Editions. A selected bibliography of primary and secondary sources and an appendix listing all known Scarlatti motets constitute the final sections of this study.

Alessandro Scarlatti has been described as the key figure of the late Italian Baroque. He was best known for his vocal music, both secular and sacred. Scarlatti produced more than 120 operas, chiefly for Rome and Naples. He also wrote more than 600 chamber cantatas, both with and without orchestra. His sacred vocal music includes fourteen oratorios, seventeen masses, and seventy-two motets.