This edition was prepared by Aaron Giles — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
As the Hart Panteth
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Robert Bolyard
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As the Hart Panteth by William Billings — 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 the Hart Panteth
William Billings, a self-taught American composer of the late 18th century, wrote this SATB anthem drawing from biblical texts. The work is sung in both Latin and English, reflecting the spiritual nature of the psalms and scripture. The text expresses a deep spiritual longing for God, likening the soul's thirst to a hart's panting for water. It recounts a period of sorrow and doubt, where tears were a constant companion, and the question 'Where is thy God?' was frequently posed. Yet, the piece resolves with a powerful affirmation of hope and a commitment to praise, anticipating a return to God's presence and the joy of worship. The anthem is a moving exploration of faith, despair, and ultimate trust.
