Allegri's Miserere

[Paul Gulliver]

1750 GTV. Read the thread top to bottom , not the other way around. If all you  other rat bags want to "wake in fright". That's fine,  some of the later picks  form great selection list. I'm with Sheldon, gently gently in the morning thanks.

[1750GT]

Err OK sorry I woke you up or rubbed you up the wrong way. So much for an alternate opinion.

Signing off

1750GT

[1750GTV]

Anyway, like I said, trying to find the best version of it, hope to get some opinion here.

Sheldon

Try the Astreé Auvidis recording by A Sei Voci (Six Voices), catalogue number E8524. The Miserere mei, Deus is sung twice on this CD - the first is ornamented as it may have been during 'prerelease' Papal times and the second is the more standard 'bootlegged' Burney version. No one knows for sure what it sounded like originally and each performance (twice each year during Easter week in the Sistine Chapel and sung by castrati) was subtly different. Mozart apparently noticed differences during his two 'sittings'. Unfortunately, his copies were either lost or destroyed shortly after he wrote them, probably to protect both himself and his family.

The text of the piece is the 51st Psalm (Miserere mei, Deus - Have mercy on me, O God) and the haunting quality of any rendition depends heavily on the acoustics of the building where it is sung or recorded.

Mozart (and others) did the right thing despite the threat of eternal damnation. It is, and was, far too beautiful to be locked away.

Regards,
Chris

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Thanks Chris, much appreciated.  I'll have a look for it.

[1750GTV]

Sheldon,

I should add that the information I posted was courtesy of a friend of mine who is a concert pianist. His wife is a violinist and his eldest daughter is at the Conservatory studying classical music. He has a copy of the CD and I listened to it after I read your original post - it is very good.

Whilst my musical tastes are eclectic and include the time honoured classics, I'm probably more at home listening to more modern 'classics' - Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin etc.

Chris

[Gary Pearce]

Hey Paul, I guess it all depends on what Sheldon gets up to in the morning. How about The Flight of the Valkyries?
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRJNiBgWovo