The Sixteen - [G. Allegri] Miserere

Miserere, full name "Miserere mei, Deus" (Latin: "Have mercy on me, O God") by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri, is a setting of Psalm 51 (50) composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins, as part of the exclusive Tenebrae service on Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week. The service would start usually around 3AM, and during the ritual, candles would be extinguished, one by one, until one remained alight and hidden. Allegri composed his setting of the Miserere for the final act within the first lesson of the Tenebrae service.
More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miserere_(Allegri)
http://www.ancientgroove.co.uk/essays/sources.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• the sixteen
• allegri
• miserere
• psalm 51

[Arcadiangrove]

One of the really great pieces of music ,a timeless classic.This is almost certainly the nearest to the original.Far and away the best recording of this masterpiece.Harry Christophers and the Sixteen are to be congratulated.

[numpyist]

If I belived in heaven and angels then this would be how they would sound in heaven.

[SirPenguin75]

Here's what's actually quite cool. While this piece sounds angelic and heavenly-sounding, in the 12th century it was only sung once a year because they believed that the Devil became present when this piece was sung.

[01KUBE]

Lovely peaceful and inspiring for the soul.

[robbiew8n]

@Arcadiangrove i love your pomposity... "are to be congratulated" wishing you a happy journey, robbie

[robbiew8n]

@numpyist oh - i hope not! - not all night and day long 24/7/365 for all eternity. please throw in some house, bit of garage and a splash of shirley bassey,. even total ecstasy might get boring after a couple thousand years - even though it is amazing and beautiful. with respect, robbie

[Olllieh]

A sharp top C? Impressive.

No Soprano will ever match the sound of a treble singing that solo though.

[Olllieh]

@flossie5432 you have obviously been subject to some pretty poor choirboys if you think that was effortless. Try listening to the recording by St Pauls Cathedral choir with 'Jeremy Budd' as the treble soloist.

[jenfroe8806]

@erroneousbatch I agree with you about that other recording. The soprano's flip from the G to the C was less of a break or flip and more of a "glide" as my old chorus master would have put it.

[erroneousbatch]

@jenfroe8806 Did you spot the delioberate flaw in my post? oops, here is the link: ...... Oh dear, apparently I'm not allowed to post links. Try putting 'The Sixteen Miserere Mei Deus' in the search bar.

[erroneousbatch]

@jenfroe8806 The 'disconnection' apparent in this recording is, I concede, a mite disconcerting. Try this

recording/reproduction where that particular flaw becomes a most beautifully fluid transition. IMO of course. :o)