THE MISERERE
PSALMS ARE COMMONLY identified by number or incipit (opening words). Although three psalms begin with the invocation, "Lord have mercy" ("Miserere mei, Deus"), the title alone usually refers to Psalm 51, the psalm King David presumably wrote after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. Italian composer, Greogorio Allegri's setting of this psalm in embellished plainchant is one of the most famous pieces of choral music. It was so highly valued by the Vatican in Rome that performance was limited to the Vatican and only during Holy Week (the week before Easter Sunday).
The penalty of excommunication was threatened on anyone who transcribed the music. However, the fourteen-year-old Mozart transcribed it from memory after hearing it only once (on Wednesday of Holy Week), though he returned on Good Friday to correct a few errors of his transcription.
Mozart was praised by the pope rather than excommunicated for his action. Thereafter the piece was widely published and is now regularly performed all over the world.
The Miserere can be heard complete in two parts: 1, 2.
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