Music lovers often associate Monteverdi's sacred compositions solely with his famous Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary from 1610, although this represents only a portion of his sacred output. His career can be divided into two roughly equal periods: From 1590/91 to 1612, he served Vincenzo Gonzaga in Mantua, where he was appointed cantor in 1601. Whether Monteverdi was active as a church musician in Mantua remains unclear. His publications consisted primarily of madrigals and operas, and it is suggested that he may have composed sacred music for smaller chapels, even though no regular activity at the ducal chapel of Santa Barbara is documented.
It is likely that Monteverdi published his sacred works in 1610 to demonstrate his abilities as a church musician. The publication contained settings for Mass and Vespers in the late Renaissance tradition. These compositions combined traditional and modern stylistic elements of the 16th and 17th centuries. He even traveled to Rome to present his works to the Pope and made connections with influential cardinals. After Vincenzo Gonzaga's death, Monteverdi was dismissed in 1612, but the following year he received the prestigious position of cantor at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
In Venice, St. Mark's held a significant position as the Doge's chapel, since religious festivities were closely intertwined with the city's identity. In his role at St. Mark's, Monteverdi had a choir of about twenty men, boys' voices, and instrumentalists at his disposal. His works had to adhere to the liturgical regulations of St. Mark's, which differed from the Roman liturgy. The music at St. Mark's was characterized by spatial arrangement—different musical groups were positioned in various locations within the church to create an impressive sonic experience.
Monteverdi was frequently invited to conduct music at other Venetian churches, where different rules and liturgical practices prevailed. Regrettably, some of his sacred music composed for Venice has been lost, but numerous works survive in the collections "Selva morale e spirituale" and "Messa a quattro voci et salmi." These collections encompass a wide range of musical styles and demonstrate Monteverdi's experimental creativity well into old age.
Through his diverse sacred compositions, both for San Marco and other churches, Monteverdi proved his skill as a highly regarded composer during his time in Venice.