Miserere Mei Deus

Gregorio Allegri's famous piece (think Pachelbel's Canon). First time we heard it was on Civilization IV, although we've had a compilation CD that actually had a version of it much much earlier!

It's an a cappella piece with two choir teams singing with the tenor singing every alternate paragraph. What makes this piece rocks? You could check up Wikipedia for the full story. Highlights include how Mozart, at age 14, heard the piece once and later on transcribed it from memory; how this piece is some 10 minutes long (it could be longer); or that it's performed annually at the Sistine Chapel; or that it's played on Civilization IV (whoops, said that already).

However.

Civilization IV's version doesn't enthrall. "Wahhh!" factor is at 3 exclaimation marks, a good clean full version but unfortunately the parts (SSATB/SSAB) do not stand out in terms of clarity.

Another version we have, courtesy of a classical compilation called 'The Best Classical Album Of The Millennium...Ever!' (yes yes stop laughing already) featured a recording by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Cleobury. This one has a "Wahhh!" factor of 4 exclaimation marks (no half, half an exclaimation mark is what? A period?) as it is slightly slower, and the clarity is profound where you can make out each individual part. However, this version was cut short. Wikipedia states that the most famous recording is by the same choir but conducted by Sir David Willcocks. We'll listen out for it, hopefully it's the full version.

This is one piece we would definitely want to be part of, if given the chance.

Anyhoo, onwards to the Miserere. Translation? Loosely, read Psalm 51.

Miserere Mei, Deus.

Miserere mei, Deus,
secundum magnam misericordiam, misericordiam tuam

Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum:
dele iniquitatem meum

Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea:
et a peccato meo mundame.

Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco:
et peccatum meum contra me est semper

Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci
ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris

Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum:
et in peccatis concepit me mater mea

Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti:
incerta etocculta sapi entiae tua manifestasti mihi.

Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor:
lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor

Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam:
et exsultabunt ossa humiliata

Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis:

et omnes iniquitates meas dele.

Cormundum crea in me, Deus:
et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.

Ne projicias me a facie tua:
et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.

Redde mihi laetitium salutaris tui
et spiritu principali confirma me, confirma me.

Docebo iniquos vias tuas:
et impii ad te convertentur.

Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae:
et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.

Domine, labia mea aperies:
et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam

Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique:
holocaustis non delectaberis

Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus:
cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.

Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion:
ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem

Tunc acceptabis sacraficium justitiae, oblationes, et holocausta:
tubc imponent super altaretuum vitulos.