Like as the hart: Vocal score (New Horizons)

Only a brave composer publishes a setting of these words, so memorably set by Herbert Howells, but David Bednall succeeds by being true to himself and not influenced by Howells's distinctive harmonic language. The words are set with a heightened emotion, especially at the repeated 'yea, even for the living God' that leads into a slowly and dramatically proclaimed 'When, when shall I come to appear'. This becomes quieter and more inward for 'before the presence, the presence, the presence of ...' and, on the final word 'God', D minor changes to a pianissimo D major. It is a most effective setting. (James L. Montgomery, www.rscm.com, June 2017)

for SATB unaccompanied Like as the hart sets reflective yet fervent words from Psalm 42. The vocal writing is emotive and expressive, and the fluctuating metres perfectly complement the rhythm adopted by the psalmist when penning this devotion.