Palestrina - Sicut Cervus, arr. Lucyanne Gordon for Women's SSAA Chorus
Palestrina - Sicut Cervus, arr. Lucyanne Gordon for Women's SSAA Chorus
Palestrina's Most Beloved Motet — For Treble and Women's Chorus
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525–1594) stands as the supreme master of Renaissance polyphony, and Sicut Cervus — setting Psalm 42, "As the deer pants for streams of water" — is among the most beloved sacred motets ever written. Its flowing, interwoven vocal lines create a timeless expression of spiritual longing that has graced liturgical services and choral festivals for centuries.
This edition presents Sicut Cervus in an arrangement by Lucyanne Gordon for treble and women's chorus, bringing Palestrina's luminous polyphony within reach of high school, collegiate, and community women's choruses. Gordon's adaptation preserves the modal beauty and expressive depth of the original while lying idiomatically in the treble voice.
Performance Highlights
- One of the most treasured Renaissance motets in the choral repertoire
- Setting of Psalm 42 — a timeless expression of spiritual longing
- Arranged by Lucyanne Gordon specifically for treble and women's chorus
- Ideal for liturgical services, sacred concerts, and choral festivals
- Digital PDF download — print-ready score included
🎵 Listen Before You Buy
About the Arranger
Lucyanne Gordon holds a BM in Music Education from SUNY College at Fredonia, a Masters in Choral Conducting with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctorate of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado with secondaries in Vocal Performance and Theory/Composition. She served as Interim Director of Choral Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado in 2008–9, teaching choral methods and conducting, and directing the UNC Madrigal Singers and the 100-voice Women's Choir. Currently, she teaches voice and choir at Nardin Academy High School in Buffalo, NY, where the Nardin Academy Choir — composed of students in grades 9–12 — has earned a Gold with Distinction award at the highest NYSSMA difficulty level for three consecutive years. Her arrangements and compositions arise from a desire to expand the quality repertoire available for treble choirs.