Miserere mei (Gregorio Allegri)

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Original SATTB version

  • (Posted 2023-11-25)  CPDL #77567:         
Editor: Gerd Eichler (submitted 2023-11-25).   Score information: A4, 11 pages, 713 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Transcribed from original manuscript. Using tonus peregrinus for plain chant.
  • (Posted 2018-01-13)  CPDL #48405:   
Editor: Ben Maloney (submitted 2018-01-13).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 337 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Original falsobordone setting from Sistine Codex of 1661. Corrections made March 2020.

SSATB version

  • (Posted 2023-03-29)  CPDL #73234:         
Editor: Rémi Studer (submitted 2023-03-29).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 158 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes:
  • (Posted 2023-01-26)  CPDL #72394:         
Editor: Wim Looyestijn (submitted 2023-01-26).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 421 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Manuscript copy from the Sistine chapel, c. 1797, showing the first verse "as in the original" and an ornamented version "as it should be performed".
  • (Posted 2020-09-08)  CPDL #60492:     
Editor: Éric Leroy (submitted 2020-09-08).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 506 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:
  • (Posted 2020-09-08)  CPDL #60491:     
Editor: Éric Leroy (submitted 2020-09-08).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 506 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: variante basse des terminaisons 3, 7, 11, 15, 19

'Top C' version

  • (Posted 2024-08-13)  CPDL #81607:     
Editor: Joseph Walker (submitted 2024-08-13).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 176 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Using Psalm Tone II for plainchant verses.
  • (Posted 2023-03-29)  CPDL #73235:         
Editor: Rémi Studer (submitted 2023-03-29).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 159 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes:
  • (Posted 2008-11-10)  CPDL #18241:  Network.png
Editor: Rod Mather (submitted 2008-11-10).   Score information: A4, 19 pages, 159 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: 2 editions - Latin and English, both have rehearsal accompaniment, and alternative where resources can avoid the high C.
  • (Posted 2008-02-17)  CPDL #16055:         
Editor: Brian Russell (submitted 2008-02-17).   Score information: A4, 19 pages, 130 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: No keyboard reduction. NoteWorthy Composer file may be viewed and printed with NoteWorthy Composer Viewer.
  • (Posted 2005-12-30)  CPDL #10530:      (Sibelius 3)
Editor: Philip Legge (submitted 2005-12-30).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 104 kB   Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.5 Australia
Edition notes: Latin. Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. Revised on 8 April 2006 to fix incorrect display of fi ligatures.
  • (Posted 2002-03-05)  CPDL #03308:   
Editor: Christopher Moore (submitted 2002-03-05).   Score information: A4, 17 pages, 440 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Latin. Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score.
  • (Posted 2001-08-15)  CPDL #02947:         
Editor: Denis Mason (submitted 2001-08-15).   Score information: A4, 14 pages, 376 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. English version, original Latin version also available (ID # 2690).
  • (Posted 2001-08-15)  CPDL #02690:         
Editor: Denis Mason (submitted 2001-08-15).   Score information: A4, 13 pages, 407 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score. Latin version, English version also available (ID # 2947).

Other versions

  • (Posted 2017-06-19)  CPDL #45032:  Network.png
Contributor: Paolo Pandolfo (submitted 2017-06-19).  Score information: A4, 8 pages, 2.27 MB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Burney edition; scanned score.
  • (Posted 2016-11-23)  CPDL #42015:     
Editor: Nikolaus Hold (submitted 2016-11-23).   Score information: A4, 8 pages, 114 kB   Copyright: CC BY NC
Edition notes: Latin. This version was sung by the Regensburger Domspatzen under Theobald Schrems.

General Information

Title: Miserere mei, Deus
Composer: Gregorio Allegri

Number of voices: 9(5+4)vv   Voicings: SSAT.SATTB or SSAT.SSATB, or SSATB with SSAT semichoir or soloists
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1771 London: Robert Bremner
    2nd published: 1775 London: Welcker
    3rd published: 1795 Milan: Giovanni Battista Giussani
    4th published: 1809 Leipzig: C.F. Peters
    5th published: 1817 Vienna: Anton Strauss, 1817
    6th published: 1820 Paris: Alexandre-Étienne Choron
    7th published: 1843 in Recueil des morceaux de musique ancienne, Volume 2, no. 9
    8th published: 1899 New York: G. Schirmer
    9th published: 1907 in Sammlung ausgezeichneter Kompositionen für die Kirche, no. 3.11
Description: Falsobordone setting of Psalm 50 from the Latin Vulgate (Psalm 51 in the Hebrew numbering), originally composed c. 1638. It is written for two choirs of five and four voices, respectively. The odd verses are sung alternately by the two choirs, interspersed with plainchant verses. At the end of the piece, the two choirs unite in a nine-part polyphonic conclusion of the final verse ("…tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.").

The piece has undergone significant alterations in the recent centuries. The famous 'top C' version, perhaps the version best known today, is the result of a 19th century transcription error by W. S. Rockstro. There is some evidence the even verses were recited recto tono though many editions opt for Psalm Tone II, ignoring Allegri's use of the Tonus peregrinus.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Psalm 51.  

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