Sunday, February 17, 2008

Canti corali

One of my passions, other than people, science, and cooking, is music. I recently started going back to sing in a wonderful choir here in Berkeley. It's the choir that sings at the 9.30 Mass at 'Newman Catholic Center'. I'm absolutely amazed by how good this choir is. Some people study music, but most don't, and yet, they can just read a song altogether, and something usually good just comes out. After a few practices, we can sing wonderful pieces. This morning, we sang a song that's amazingly touching... I want to share it, as it's so beautiful. It's 'Sicut Cervus' by Palestrina. I found a video of it on You Tube:

I love how all the voices melt together, coming in at different times, like a wave that moves you towards something higher. The words are in latin, from Psalm 42, v.1, and it's really just a simple sentence: 'Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontem aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.' ('As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.')
We'll also sing another wonderful song for Easter, 'Haec Dies', by Byrd. I found this too on YouTube:

This is very happy and a lot of fun to sing (it's for Easter, the day of the Resurrection for Christians). This too is just one simple sentence: 'Haec dies quam fecit Dominus: exultemus et laetemur in eia. Alleluia.' (Psalm 118, 'This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.'). I'm really excited thinking about when we'll be able to sing it as well as this choir!

6 comments:

Amanda said...

Beautiful pieces, both. I like the first one better, though. It somehow seems more... emotional.

At least it effected me that way.

FH said...

Hi Marta, just to let you know that I sent a e mail to you with my Orange entry!

http://aromahope.blogspot.com/2008/02/
potato-apple-arugula-soup-and-fruit.html

Beautiful music. My son has taken the Guitar major in middle school!:)

chemcookit said...

Mrs. W - I agree with you, the first is more touching. The second is really really beautiful, but I feel the first touches some inner special strings.

Asha - thanks for commenting about it. I'm not sure why I didn't receive it at all! Did you use the email address chemcookitATgmailDOTcom? I'm going to check your entry tonight :)
Glad to know you like this music too! And I also love guitar.

Simona Carini said...

Very nice Marta. Not having any music training is the big regret of my life. If you enjoy listening to choral music, you should go to a concert by the SF Bach choir. There is one coming up in mid-March. They are really good. And then, of course, Chanticleer, though they travel a lot so it is not easy to catch them.

Mansi said...

oh! this isa great Marat! I used to sing too, albeit indian music, but had to leave it after college:( It's so great that you get to pursue a passion again! good luck!

Amit said...

Wow Marta, you have so many wonderful talents!! :)