Benedetto Marcello was an Italian composer, writer, advocate, magistrate, and teacher. He was a member of a noble family and his compositions are frequently referred to as Patrizio Veneto. Although he was a music student of Antonio Lotti and Francesco Gasparini, his father wanted Benedetto to devote himself to law.

As a composer, Benedetto Marcello was best known in his lifetime and is now still best remembered for his massively influential eight-volume publication Estro poetico-armonico (Venice, 1724-1726), popularly known as the “Psalmi.” It is a collection of the first 50 Psalms (as paraphrased in Italian by his friend G. Giustiniani.) musical settings for for voices, figured bass (a continuo notation), and occasional soloist instruments.