"Miserere Mei, Deus (Have Mercy On Me, O
God)" composed by Gregorio Allegri, is probably one of the most
remarkable musical compositions to come out of the Italian Renaissance.
It was written around 1630 during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, for the exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel
during matins, as part of the Tenebrae services on Wednesday and Friday
of Holy Week. The Tenebrae (Latin for shadows or darkness), which
started at 3 a.m., consisted mainly of Gregorian Chant, and this went on
for hours on end. One can just imagine how numbing this must have been
to the ears and minds of the worshipers in the Sistine Chapel. Well, an acoustical
respite was in store for them during the last part of the service which
usually occurred around 7 p.m. First they would hear a G minor triad,
the most lovely of all minor chords being sung, then the polyphony that
followed all of the monophonic chanting of the day and early evening
would melt away, and this ethereal music would resound from the walls of
the Sistine Chapel. The contrast between the Gregorian Chants and the
"Miserere Mei Deus" was so drastic, that it caused the listeners to be
spellbound. It is no wonder that the Pope ordered the Sistine Chapel's
choir master to protect the score of the "Miserere Mei, Deus" and it was reserved exclusively for the
Vatican's use. During the rest of the year the score to "Miserere Mei,
Deus" was kept under lock and key in the Vatican Archives secured under
the Papal Seal. Adding to the mystery surrounding "Miserere Mei, Deus",
transcribing it, or performing it elsewhere was punishable by
excommunication from the Catholic Church. But, as with most forbidden
things, the score of "Miserere Mei, Deus" did not remain a secret. The
fourteen-year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was visiting Rome, when he
first heard the piece during the Wednesday Holy Week service in the
Sistine Chapel. Later that day, he wrote it down entirely from memory
which is a remarkable feat, as the music is incredibly complex. He
returned to the Sistine Chapel that Friday to make minor corrections. Some
time during Mozart's travels, he met the British historian Dr. Charles
Burney, who obtained the transcription from Mozart, and Burney took
it to London where it was published in 1771. Once the "Miserere Mei,
Deus" was published and in the hands of the general music establishment,
the Papal ban was lifted. Mozart was summoned to Rome by the Pope
because of this, but instead of excommunicating the boy, the Pope
showered praises on him for his feat of musical genius. In this edition
of Angel Watchers I am featuring an incredible
performance of the "Miserere Mei, Deus" by the Boys Air Choir. Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.
