Super Flumina Babylonis
SSAATTBB a cappella
The flowing rivers of Babylon are represented by aleatoric sections, contrasting with the weeping of the exiles and the harsh words of their captors.
Duration: 4:30 Difficulty: 5 (advanced)
Unpublished: contact me to request a perusal score
Text: Psalm 137:1–4
Super flumina Babylonis
Super flumina Babylonis illic sedimus et flevimus, dum recordaremur Sion.
In salicibus in medio ejus suspendimus organa nostra:
quia illic interrogaverunt nos, qui captivos duxerunt nos, verba cantionum; et qui abduxerunt nos: Hymnum cantate nobis de canticis Sion.
Quomodo cantabimus canticum Domini in terra aliena?
Translation
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
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