unknown 17th century vocal piece

[otterhouse]

Hello all,

this is a question forwarded from the Dutch Radio4 forum

What is this piece? Does anyone recognnize a composer? Where the text comes from?

http://download.omroep.nl/portal/radio4/blog/Track01.mp3


Thanks,
Rolf


Original message:
http://forum.radio4.nl/forum.php/list_messages/153

[Chrone]

Sounds like Bach, in an Italian translation.

[Père Malfait]

It's from a Latin cantata by Buxtehude; the text is at least partly from Psalm 41 ("sitivit anima mea Deum fortem viventem quando veniam et parebo ante faciem tuam"). Unfortunately, I'm at work and don't have any of my recordings or scores to hand to be able to exactly identify it. If I can remember (and that's a BIG if  ), I'll look it up this afternoon when I get home.

[otterhouse]

Thanks!

The work seems to be available on an Alpha cd...

Rolf

[Père Malfait]

No problem! Gives me an excuse to listen to my Buxtehude cantatas again! 

[Père Malfait]

OK, I identified it - Quaemadmodum desiderat cervus, BuxWV 92  - I now know what threw me off initially - it's normally sung in the treble clef by either a tenor or soprano. Don't know what prompted the transposed version recorded here. Anyway, mystery solved! 

[otterhouse]

Thanks again!!

Rolf

[Père Malfait]

You're very welcome! Glad I could be of assistance.