Most people know Pablo Casals as one of history’s greatest cellists. But he was also a conductor, educator, and composer. In 1942, when Casals was 66, Pablo Casals (1876–1973) wrote “Nigra Sum,” one of his best-known choral works and one of the most beautiful choral works ever written. This beautiful choral composition was written for the Choir School at Montserrat, near Barcelona.

Nigra sum sets in a collection of biblical verses. Casals’s work uses verses I:4–5 and II: 10–11 from the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon is part of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant Bible.

Duration: 5’15”

This is a digital version of the piece that you can download as a PDF and print.