Gregorio Allegri, Miserere mei, Deus Listen here Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652) spent his whole life in the church (what a great way to spend your life!). From a young age, he sang in church choirs. As a boy he sang in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome (click on the link to explore some of the artwork), and then as an adult, he became a priest, and sang in the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Vatican (click the link for a free virtual tour). He wrote church music of such quality that the Pope brought him into the Papal choir in 1629 until his death.
Miserere mei, Deus ‘Miserere mei, Deus’ is from Psalm 51 and is Latin for ‘Have mercy on me, O God’. It is a text used in Holy Week (this week) to help us think about our own sin, as well as Jesus’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before his death, and for us all upon the cross. The text begins: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Allegri composed a sublime setting of these words in Latin. He alternates groups of singers reciting (chanting) a simple line leading to a cadence. Allegri also uses an emotional ‘big’ choir sound, using suspensions and block chords. In fact, Allegri’s piece was thought to be the music of the angels. It was so special that no copies of it were allowed to be taken out of the Sistine Chapel. (In truth, no music in the Sistine Chapel could be copied without the permission of the Pope.)
Mozart hears Allegri Mozart travelled across Europe from a young age because he was so good at music. When Mozart was 14, he heard the piece in the Sistine Chapel. The story goes that he heard it twice, and had such a good musical ear and a fine memory that he was able to write it down. It was only after Mozart’s visit that other places around Europe started to sing this glorious music. Who knows whether Mozart is actually responsible for lifting the lid on this great musical secret?!
Tasks 1. Listen to this piece of music. As you listen, write down 3 words to describe the music. Try to follow some of the lines on the digital score and sing along. 2. Click the Sistine Chapel link. Explore the chapel and find a piece of art that you like. 3. Listen again to Miserere mei, Deus. This time as you listen, draw the Sistine Chapel, or copy your favourite piece of art. 4. Imagine you are Mozart travelling across Europe. Write a letter to the Pope asking for permission to visit the Sistine Chapel to hear the music of the angels.
Figure 1 San Luigi dei Francesi Figure 2 An 18th century score Figure 3 St Peter’s Square, The Vatican