“Miserere”.
Composed By: Allegri.
Sung By: The Tallis Scholars.
Director of Music: Peter Phillips.
In February 1994, Peter Phillips and The Tallis Scholars performed on the 400th Anniversary of the death of Palestrina, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, where Palestrina had trained as a Choirboy and later worked as Maestro di Cappella.
The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia.
“Miserere” (full title: “Miserere mei, Deus”; Latin for “Have mercy on me, O God”) is a Setting of Psalm 51 (Editor: Psalm 50 (Latin Vulgate)) by Italian Composer Gregorio Allegri.
It was composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for the exclusive use of The Sistine Chapel during the Tenebræ Services of Holy Week, and its mystique was increased by unwritten performance traditions and ornamentation.
It is written for two Choirs, of five and four voices, respectively, singing alternately and joining to sing the ending in nine-part polyphony.
I am sure that Zephyrinus knows the account recorded in the earliest biographies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—that this piece, the Miserere by Allegri was not allowed to be published or played anywhere except in the papal Sistine Chapel.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the biographers, in 1770, the 14-year-old Mozart visited Rome and the Sistine with his father and heard the piece one time, returned home to his lodgings, and wrote out the entire 5-part masterpiece from memory.
If it was anyone else but Mozart, the story might not be believable.
Dear Dante Peregrinus. Again, Thank You for your erudite Comment and contribution.
DeleteIndeed, I know of the saga of Mozart visiting the Sistine Chapel and hearing the Miserere. Then, going home he transcribed it in full after one hearing.
Thank God for Mozart's wonderful gift of musician-ship and Thank God for Allegri's superb composition. It makes "Kum-Ba-Yah, My Lord" sound very tame, indeed, in comparison.