Composer

:

Suzanne van Soldt Manuscript Anonymous

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Publication Date

:

1599

Average_duration

:

2:34

'Als een Hert gejaecht (Psalm 42)' is a Dutch choral work composed by Suzanne van Soldt Manuscript Anonymous. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is believed to have been written in the late 16th or early 17th century. The piece is a setting of Psalm 42, which is a lament for the absence of God's presence. The work is written for four voices, with the melody carried by the soprano line. It is a relatively simple piece, with a homophonic texture and a slow, mournful tempo. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which corresponds to a different section of the psalm. The first movement begins with the soprano line singing the opening phrase of the psalm, "As the deer longs for streams of water." The other voices then enter, repeating the same phrase in harmony. The movement continues in this manner, with the voices alternating between singing the psalm text and harmonizing it. The second movement is more introspective, with the voices singing in a softer, more subdued manner. The text of this section of the psalm speaks of the psalmist's longing for God's presence, and the music reflects this with its gentle, plaintive melody. The final movement is more upbeat, with the voices singing in a more lively tempo. The text of this section of the psalm speaks of the psalmist's hope in God's salvation, and the music reflects this with its more joyful melody. Overall, 'Als een Hert gejaecht (Psalm 42)' is a simple but effective setting of a well-known psalm. Its homophonic texture and slow tempo give it a mournful, introspective quality, while its final movement provides a sense of hope and joy.

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