Naar U gaat mijn verlangen = My Desire Goes Out To You, 1967 - 1983

In the early years of writing with Huub Oosterhuis, Bernard developed a liturgical style which he referred to as the ‘frame’ song. This was effectively one text which he broke into three sections, as a gathering, an intrmezzo between Word and Table, and a closing song. He also pioneered many different ways of singing the response to the form, extending the pattern developed by his French colleague, Joseph Gelineau. He wpould often write an antiphon fro choir, from which one or more phrases would be extracted as for the assembly throughout the psalm. His pioneering style rarely engaged fellow composers. The first section of Psalm 25 for an Advent gathering ritual, is All My Longing Goes Out To You. This, the second section, is a song of trust in an imminent God, which Huijbers designated as the Intermezzo. The final. closing setting is Hold Me In Life. In the intermezzo, a refrain is sung by the choir then repeated by assembly. After each verse,