Sicut Cervus / Sitivit Anima Mea by Palestrina

Lute song duo Mignarda recording at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sicut Cervus and its secunda pars Sitivit Anima Mea are a setting of Psalm 42, by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1526 -- 1594). In this historically sensitive arrangement for solo voice of the four--part motet, the lute is playing the bottom three parts.

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,
ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.
Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum:
quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?
Fuerunt mihi lacrymae meae panes die ac nocte,
dum dicitur mihi quotidie:
Ubi est Deus tuus?

As the hart longs for the water springs,
So longs my soul for thee, O God.
My soul has thirsted for the living God:
When shall I come and appear before the face of my God?
My tears have been my bread by day and by night,
While it is said to me daily:
Where is your God?

Filled with longing and hope, this is the Tract sung for the procession to the baptismal font during the Holy Saturday vigil. The 16th century faithful would have also associated this text with the Requiem or the All Souls' Mass.

From the forthcoming CD, Harmonia Caelestis.

More information at http://www.mignarda.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sicut cervus
• Sitivit anima mea
• palestrina
• lute
• lute song
• lutesong
• Mignarda
• Ron Andrico
• Donna Stewart
• Latin
• motet
• polyphony

[variasveces]

I remember a long time ago, when my college choir was rehearsing something by Bach, my totally eccentric choir director said something along the lines of how "you can't kill a good tune", and he started playing the piece by Bach as a pop song . . .. This video of yours goes to show you how very right he was!

[lutesongs]

@variasveces Thanks for your comment. Palestrina's music has all the hallmarks of popular style from a different age. Generally, early music performers tend to filter interpretations through received ideas that are largely academic and not particularly derived from insights into performance through broader study of context.

We base our interpretation on the well-known fact that Palestrina used the lute to work out ideas, and this motet responds well to the treatment. Thanks again.

[organjon]

So delighted to come across this video while looking for recordings of Sicut cervus! Keep up the great work, Donna and Ron!

-Jon R.

[lutesongs]

@organjon

Thanks so much, Jon! Hope Temple is treating you well!

[looterish]

Exquisite!!!

[lutesongs]

@looterish - thanks!

[orion777temp]

so beautiful, thanks for all your posting.