Psalm 42 has inspired some of choral music’s best moments (“like as the hart”, “as the deer”, “sicut cervus”), but this setting, sung by The Advent Choir a few weeks ago, is probably my favorite of all time.
Psalm 42 has inspired some of choral music’s best moments (“like as the hart”, “as the deer”, “sicut cervus”), but this setting, sung by The Advent Choir a few weeks ago, is probably my favorite of all time.
Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire -- Claude Goudimel (c1510-1572)/ The Advent Choir / Jeremy Bruns, conductor / Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire, pourchassant le frais des eaux: ainsi mon cœur qui souspire Seigneur, après tes ruisseaux, va, tousjours criant, suivant le grand, le grand Dieu vivant. Helas! donques, quand serace que verray de Dieu la face? Jour et nuits pour ma viande de pleurs me vai soustenant, quand je voy qu’on me demande: où est ton Dieu maintenant? Je fond en me souvenant, qu’en troupe j’alloy menant, priant, chantant, grosse bande faire au temple son offrande. As a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul, how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. [Metrical paraphrase of Psalm 42:1-4 by Théodore de Bèze, (1519-1605) & RSV]