Deus tu convertens

This powerful anthem for SATB choir sets a Latin text drawn from Psalm 84. It would be suitable for use as an offertory or at other points in a service where a plea for divine mercy and reassurance is appropriate. The composer, Henry Thomas Smart, was an English organist and composer of considerable output, including many hymn tunes that remain popular today. Deus tu convertens is a fine example of his sacred choral writing. The text begins with a plea for renewal and continues with a prayer for God's mercy and salvation, offering opportunities for the choir to convey both penitence and hope through their performance.