Miserere nostri (Thomas Tallis)

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  • (Posted 2020-03-18)  CPDL #57572:       
Editor: Keith Harmel (submitted 2020-03-18).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 181 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: To allow for wider accessibility, the Soprano canon has been shifted down to the Soprano 2 and Alto, while the Alto line has been transposed up one octave and placed in the Soprano 1 line.vMusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
  • (Posted 2020-03-18)  CPDL #57571:       
Editor: Keith Harmel (submitted 2020-03-18).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 180 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: In the original key. MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
  • (Posted 2020-03-17)  CPDL #57570:       
Editor: Keith Harmel (submitted 2020-03-17).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 179 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Transposed up a major second to G. MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
  • (Posted 2020-03-17)  CPDL #57569:       
Editor: Keith Harmel (submitted 2020-03-17).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 181 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Transposed up a minor third to Ab. MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
  • CPDL #28214:         
Editor: Gerd Eichler (submitted 2013-02-04).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 60 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Mensural notation, original key and note values, musica ficta clearly marked, clefs modernized. MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
  • CPDL #06605:      (Finale 2002)
Editor: Paul R. Marchesano (submitted 2004-01-30).   Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 148 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Miserere nostri
Composer: Thomas Tallis

Number of voices: 7vv   Voicings: SSTTTBB or AATTBBB

Genre: SacredMotet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1575 in Cantiones quae ab argumento sacrae vocantur, no. 34

Description: Miserere nostri is an astoundingly ingenious canon. Most obvious is the canon between the two top voices (mentioned at the foot of page 1), which sing the same line throughout but half a bar apart. Meanwhile, however, a different and less audible canon is in progress between four of the five lower voices: all start singing the same melody at the same time but at four different speeds, two of them in inversion. By bar 6, the Second Bass has already sung the whole of the part assigned to the slowest singer, the First Bass. Amazingly, this fiendish process not only works but produces convincing harmonies which sound as if they are the very raison d’être of this understandably short piece. To enjoy them to the maximum, the music should be taken fairly slowly, so as not to skate over the passing dissonances.

(from the score of CPDL #6605): Original key: F major. Pitch in 16th century England was likely very high and this key is probably closer to the actual performance pitch. This likely earlier work was probably part of a full setting of the Psalm, but this section is all that remains of this setting. It demonstrates surprising rhythmic complexity. Note values and barring have been adjusted for modern notation. It is particularly important in this antiphon to sing through the barlines, allowing the rhythmic and natural accent of the text to guide phrasing.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Latin.png Latin text

Miserere nostri Domine, miserere nostri.

English.png English translation

Have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us.