The beautiful words of Psalm 42 (“As the deer longs for streams of flowing water…”) have been the source for countless composers - Palestrina (Sicut servus), Campra (Quemadmodum desiderat cervus), Goudimel (Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire), and many others - but this week I came across Sweelinck’s beautiful setting!
Sweelinck Hodie
I first learned this piece in college and was reminded of it for a concert earlier this month. Sweelinck was an incredible composer and organist from The Netherlands, and now I'm on a quest to sing more of his music!
Sweelinck's Theme and Variations
Theme and variations = my favorite musical form. How else can composers show off their skill and give the audience an ear worm at the same time? Case in point: this fantastic one by Sweelinck, plus helpful analysis by Early Music Sources!
Sweelinck's Hexachord Fantasia
Scales are fine for practicing, but what would a composer do with one? Early Music Sources steps us through the brilliant Hexachord Fantasia of Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck!