Thursday 18 March 2010

What beauty sounds like...

The many times that I have heard the beautiful and absolutely astounding "Miserere Mei Deus" by Gregorio Allegri, it would take forever. It is absolutely beautiful, majestic and enchanting. It sends to me shivers. That beautiful High C, and the beautiful hymn all in itself! It is sorrowful sounding, but joyful also. I much love it when sang by the hauntingly beautiful Westminster Boys Choir, and Kings College. "Miserere Mei, Deus" was written by Gregorio Allegri, a priest and one of the churches greatest composers of choral music! It was originally meant for singing during Holy Week in the Sistine Chapel, and was forbidden to be played at any other time, and at any other place. It was considered to be too sacred. It was also forbidden to be transcribed for others to play, punishment being Excommunication; until Mozart, our little genius wrote the entire song down, by mere memory. It was then published. When the Holy Father had found out what had happened, he summoned the little Mozart to the Vatican. Mozart was freightened that he might be excommunicated, but instead the Pope praised him for his musical genius, and after that, the ban was lifted. It is really something to hear it. Beautiful, haunting, astounding, brilliant, enchanting.
The first video is of the Westminster Boys Choir, the second being Kings College Boys Choir.


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