Sicut Cervus | Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina | Video 2 of 4 from the SCMC Chamber Choir
Description
"Sicut Cervus" composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Sung at the 18th Annual Choral Festival 2025 of Shenandoah Christian Music Camp (VA). Conducted by Wendell Nisly.
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The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion
Sicut Cervus
Words by Psalm 42:1 (Vulgate Psalm 41:2)Music by Giovanni Pierluigi da PalestrinaWritten published 1604
Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,
ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.
Story Behind the Song
Sicut cervus is a Latin motet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina setting the Vulgate text of Psalm 41:2, corresponding to Psalm 42:1 in most English Bibles. The text, 'As the deer longs for the water springs, so my soul longs for you, O God,' was used liturgically in connection with the Easter Vigil and baptismal imagery. The motet was published posthumously in 1604 and has become one of Palestrina's best-known examples of Renaissance sacred polyphony.
Scripture
Found In
Motettorum quatuor vocibus, liber secundus, Choral Public Domain Library, IMSLP