bijouxgraphics_page31miserere

Gregorio Allegri ( 1582 - 1652 ), ' Miséréré Mei.'
Allegri was at first attached to the cathedral of Fermo and in 1629 became one of the
papal singers. He composed a quantity of church music. A nine-part Miserere, sung
only in holy week at the Sistine Chapel was greatly prized, although its effect was due more to the method of performance than to the music. The solo quartet was traditionally sung away from the choir. Mozart went to a service where it was being performed and allegedly noted it down; From then on it gained widespread popularity.
The treble part of the solo quartet is performed here by Hiero, a former head boy of
The Chapel Royal Choir, St James's Palace.
sound©01/04/03HTdavies. Recorded live @ bijoux graphics.
miserere: L, imper. sing. of misereri; have pity, have mercy, a) Psalm 51 (50 in the Vulgate), beginning Miserere mei Deus 'Have mercy upon me, O God', one of the penitential psalms.
b) A musical setting of this psalm. L18. A cry for mercy; a prayer in which mercy is sought. E17.
Image = The right hand panel of a triptych entitled:
" Dance Out of Time " ©06/04/03davies@bijouxgraphics.co.uk
The complete triptych is displayed on > page 32 " dance."