Who's behind the notes? Discover Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Master of Renaissance Polyphony
Sicut cervus is a sacred motet composed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina around 1584. It sets to music the text of Psalm 42: "As the deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for you, O God." This polyphonic masterpiece is considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance sacred music, characterized by its serene, flowing counterpoint and devotional expression. It remains one of Palestrina's most frequently performed works.