Anonymous, David as a knight kneeling before God, Valencia, 1499
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions [Psalm 51:1].
Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes
Ash Wednesday
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3) The Concert Calendar
Gregorio Allegri
1582 - 1652
Gregorio Allegri, Miserere mei Deus, will be sung at Choral Eucharist on Ash Wednesday.
Click for the text and English translation of Miserere mei Deus.
Dave Lamson of Classical Net praises the performances of the Miserere by The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars and by the Ensemble A Sei Voci with its two versions, one with baroque ornamentation and the other the traditional simple version.
Performance by The Sixteen, Harry Christophers conducting. [listen]
Performances by The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, conducting:
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Performance, edited by Hugh Keyte, of the Taverner Consort, the Taverner Choir, Andrew Parrott conducting [listen]
Performance by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Roy Goodman, treble, Sir David Willcocks conducting (1963) [YouTube: Part 1, Part 2]
Performance, edited by John Rutter, by the Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge; Julius Foo; Peter Hicks; Thomas Mullock, treble; Leo Tomita, counter-tenor; Tristan Hambleton; Basil McDonald, bass; Andrew Nethsingha conducting [NML] (info)
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A lengthy discussion of how Allegri's Miserere Mei reached the public: Allegri's Miserere: A Quest for the Holy Grail? By Ben Byram-Wigfield. (Make sure that you adjust the size of your Adobe reader to 100% for comfortable reading.)
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Many composers have created settings for the Miserere Mei Deus. Click to go to compositions by other composers.
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Wilt Thou Forgive, words by John Donne, music by John Schiavone, is the Communion motet for Choral Eucharist on Ash Wednesday. Scroll down for a variety of versions by several composers.
John Donne (1572-1631)
Wilt thou forgive that sin, where I begun,
which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive those sins through which I run,
and do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou has done, thou has not done, for I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin, by which I won
others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
a year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When thou has done, thou hast not done, for I have more.
I have a sin of fear that when Ive spun
my last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore.
And having done, that thou hast done, I fear no more.
-John Donne (1573-1631)
which is my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive those sins through which I run,
and do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou has done, thou has not done, for I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin, by which I won
others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
a year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When thou has done, thou hast not done, for I have more.
I have a sin of fear that when Ive spun
my last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore.
And having done, that thou hast done, I fear no more.
-John Donne (1573-1631)
To follow the words while listening, first right-click, then left-click on "Open in New Window." Arrange windows.
Music by Mark Sirett, performance of the Canadian Chamber Choir [listen]
Music by John Hilton, performance of Connor Burrows, treble; David Miller, lute. [YouTube]
Music by Pelham Humprey, performance of Les Arts Florissants; Paul Agnew, tenor; Elizabeth Kenny, lute; Anne-Marie Lasla, viola da gamba; William Christie conducting. [listen]
Music by Pelham Humprey, performance of Alfred Deller, counter-tenor; Gustav Leonhardt, organ [NML] (info)
Music by Pelham Humprey, performance of Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano; David Miller, theorbo [NML] (info)
Music by John Ness Back, performance of the WELS Youth Chorale [YouTube]
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach, "So giebst du nun," sung at the Church of the Ascension, Chicago [YouTube]