This edition was prepared by Brian Bartoldus — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
As pants the hart, HWV 251
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
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4 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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As pants the hart, HWV 251 by George Fredrick Handel — Lyrics
In finem. Intellectus filiis Core.
Quemadmodum desiderat cervus 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 lacrimae meae panis die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie: Ubi est Deus tuus?
Haec recordatus sum, et effudi in me animam meam, quoniam transibo in locum tabernaculi admirabilis, usque ad domum Dei, in voce exsultationis et confessionis sonus epulantis.
Quare tristis es, anima mea? et quare conturbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi, salutare vultus mei,
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About As pants the hart, HWV 251
This setting of Psalm 42, known as As pants the hart, is a sacred anthem by George Frideric Handel. The text, a vivid depiction of spiritual longing and distress, describes the soul thirsting for God like a deer for water. It speaks of tears as daily bread and the anguish of being asked, 'Where is thy God?' The music, originally composed in German and later translated to English, reflects these deep emotions through its dramatic and expressive writing. Handel masterfully captures the text's journey from despair to hopeful trust in God, making it a powerful choice for services and concerts. This anthem is suitable for a STB or SAB choir, offering rich harmonic and contrapuntal possibilities.
