Sicut Cervus DVCProHD H264 2

O. Dan Smith — November 19, 2009
The criteria for this project were simple, yet challenging: create and produce a music video of about five minutes in length, including acquiring permission for all performance rights for the music. This seemed like a problem at first, since I was not familiar with any local bands, even though I knew many local musicians. One other serious problem that I have noticed with many home videos is the quality of audio, a concern since this was something that would be a major factor in my production. After some consideration, I decided to produce my music video using a less conventional form of music than one would see on MTV. I selected Sicut Cervus by the Renaissance composer Palestrina, performed by the Union Avenue Christian Church Chancel Choir, under the direction of Scott Schoonover.

Sicut Cervus is a very special piece to me. I have sung it since my childhood in many different settings, under many different directors, and with many different choirs. This work, in my opinion, represents one of the finest works produced in the Renaissance period. This performance by the Chancel Choir is a fine example of the strong yet delicate weavings of both harmony and vocal lines in an a cappella piece that is practically the definition of simply elegant beauty. The music soars and transcends the mundane realm when it is performed well, as I believe is clearly the case here.

The text of Sicut Cervus comes from the 42nd Psalm, traditionally attributed to King David. He sings of the thirst of the deer for fresh running streams, but the words have been understood to be a metaphorical reference to his souls desire for the living God. Water is a strong and recurring theme throughout many faiths, but it holds a special symbolic meaning in the Christian tradition. In Palestrina's day, Sicut Cervus was sung as a tract preceding the proclamation of the Gospel, notably during the Requiem Mass for the dead, where it suggests the journey of the soul from earth to its Promised Land. Psalm 42 continues to have a place in Catholic liturgies today, for instance in the Easter Vigil, where the psalm's water imagery anticipates the baptisms that will be celebrated during the service.

The video represents a wide variety of symbolism, such as dark and light, good and evil, earthly existence and ascension to Heaven. I chose to use the beautiful fountains of water found throughout St. Louis as the visual basis for water in this video. It begins with the dark and shadows of evil, transcends through dawn, and concludes in ascension to Heaven. These interpretations may seem abstract in many respects, yet I believe they convey some sense of my deep affection for this masterpiece by Palestrina.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• O. Dan Smith
• UACC
• STLCC-Forest Park
• STLCC
• Union Avenue Christian Church
• Scott Schoonover
• Sicut Cervus
• Palestrina