Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri - Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short 

Imagine being a hardworking medieval farmer, entering the church and listening to this chant. Impossible not to think the angels are welcoming you in heaven.

Wow!!!! She hit the notes without a balloon 😳😳😳

Fact : Allegri’s ‘Miserere Mei, Deus’ was written in 1638 in the Vatican, as part of his work as a singer in the Sistine Chapel. It was regarded as so special that the Pope ordered that only 3 copies ever left the Vatican: one for the Padre Martini, one for the King of Portugal and one for the Holy Roman Emperor. Playing it on other places punishable by excommunication. Then Mozart when visiting rome happened to hear this masterpiece, went home and transcribed the piece from memory for the entire 15 minutes. At the time Mozart was 14.

The videographer(s) and sound engineers deserve some admiration here too. The production quality of this video is top notch

No one can sing like an angel. The woman on the left: "Hold my holy water"

When the building itself is a musical instrument....

How Mozart, the Vatican, and centuries of mistakes resulted in one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. In 1638, a singer in the Sistine Chapel Choir composed a setting of Psalm 51 to be sung there during Holy Week. That singer was Gregorio Allegri, and his setting, now commonly known as Miserere, is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. But not only is the version we sing today significantly different from Allegri’s original manuscript - if it weren’t for one particularly precocious 14-year-old, it may never have been heard outside the Vatican’s walls. Papal secrecy Allegri’s Miserere was the last and the most popular of twelve different settings of the same text written for the Vatican over 120 years. It was so good that, to preserve the sense of mystery around the music, the Pope forbade anyone from transcribing it, on pain of excommunication. Only three copies were made: one for the Holy Roman Emperor, one for the King of Portugal, and one for an eminent music scholar - but these versions were so simplified from the original that the King of Portugal actually complained. The Pope wanted to keep its genius a secret - and so it remained for over 100 years. Wolfgang’s trip to Rome What the Pope hadn’t planned for was Leopold Mozart’s trip to Rome in 1770; and, more specifically, the attendance of his 14-year-old son, Wolfgang Amadeus. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Mozarts popped into the Wednesday service at the Vatican, at which the Miserere was being performed. A couple of hours later, back at home, the young Wolfgang proceeded to transcribe the entire piece from memory. He went back on Friday to make a couple of corrections - and the Vatican’s secret was out. Later on in their travels, the Mozarts bumped into British music historian Dr Charles Burney. They passed on the manuscript to Dr Burney, who took it to London; and it was published there in 1771. Mendelssohn and the copying error But that wasn’t the end of the story. In 1831, Felix Mendelssohn decided to make his own transcription - and the version he heard happened to be sung higher than originally intended (a fourth higher, to be precise). Felix Mendelssohn This wouldn’t have been of much consequence had it not been for an innocent mistake made 50 years later. When the first edition of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians was being put together in 1880, a small section of Mendelssohn’s higher transcription was accidentally inserted into a passage of the Miserere being used to illustrate an article. This mistake was then reproduced in various editions over the next century, eventually becoming the accepted version. And the result is the most famous and probably the most moving passage of the piece - a beautiful top C sung by a treble soloist, pretty much the highest note found in the entire choral repertoire. So, whenever you hear Allegri’s Miserere today, remember how lucky you are - lucky that the Mozarts chose a good time to visit Rome, lucky that Mendelssohn transcribed it up a fourth, and lucky that one of Grove’s early editors had a momentary lapse of concentration.

I get chills every time she hits the note

She hit that note like it owed her money

Everyone seems to ignore the bass singers, those low notes are impressive

My father told me of his best memories growing up in Italy was going to church with his father and hearing the angelic voices of the choir. This reminds me of what he described. I know he is with me every day helping me within the love of God. He was born 1930.

I am a Muslim, and when I heard this wonderful music, it captured my heart and I felt like I was flying in the sky 🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Medieval Catholics definitely knew how to build a beautiful church.

I feel sorry for these people having to stand there singing for hours and hours as I replay this over and over.

Man..Catholicism has produced some mind boggling music

Who still listening to this banger in 2024 AD?

It’s unreal how anyone can ever compose this, any one human. It sounds like angels worshiping God. It sounds spiritual, unreal, not of this world

I'm not religious, but I would go to church every Sunday just to hear them sing..

I think this is so beautiful because it is sung in Latin. I dont think any other language can transport so much beauty.

I always come back. And I always cry. It hits my soul like a thunder

Christian or not, how can someone dislike this?

If you're looking for that high note 1:35 here you go and one more at 3:49

I’m Muslim but I like this music so much ❤❤❤

400 years after being composed still so eloquent!

Some fun history about this piece: It was (allegedly) originally performed exclusively in the Sistine Chapel, specifically during two services in Holy Week each year. The score was a closely held church secret, and transcribing it was forbidden. That is, until a 14 year old Mozart visited Rome and attended the first service of the week. He heard the song once and wrote it down that evening from memory. Then he attended the second service later in the week to correct any errors. The Pope's response to this was something along the lines of "bro that's awesome," and summoned Mozart back to the Vatican to give him an award. The restrictions on performing the piece were later lifted, giving us this masterpiece today. As with many things in history though, there’s not much hard evidence to support the story. So I can’t really say whether or not it happened this way, or if it happened at all. Regardless, it’s a fun story that highlights the genius that Mozart was even at a young age.

Thank you to the gentleman who used the balloon and captured me with this beauty and introduced me to this Masterpiece! The lady with the high note is beyond amazing!

Happy New Year to everyone listening to this masterpiece ❤

This HAS to be the best version of Miserere mei on RU-vid. The Absolute nostalgic atmosphere with kind of darkness, The abnormal quality of video, shots and angles. And not to forget the purity of the singers as all the notes are just PERFECT. Very well done!

if you want to follow the lyrics> 0:00 Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam 0:47 Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem mean 1:04 Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: (1:27) et a peccato meo munda me 1:53 Quoniam iniquitatem mean ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper 2:10 Tibi soli peccavi et malum, coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris 3:00 Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus : cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies 3:18 Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion : ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem 4:09 Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos U'r welcome

I cant believe people on medieval era had better music than us now

I am Muslim, and hearing this in 2024. This is beyond amazing, i shed tears for the amazing voice like its some love floading in me. This is very Big inspirational from us😢❤

If that hymn does not play at my funeral, I'm not attending.

Who else came here to see if it was possible for it to be sung without helium and was blown away by that woman's voice?

Some guy I've never heard of wrote this half a millennium ago in a language I don't understand and yet it brings a tear to my eye.

I'm a Hindu , But I still feel the presence of divinity in these musical notes.

This song, even at its surface level, is amazingly beautiful, but somehow gets more beautiful if you understand it’s about suffering and confession, and even more so when it’s typically performed during Holy Week.

she has an Angel´s Voice!!!

Angel voice 1:34 Such a pure and crystalline voice. So fragile, but so powerfull at the same time, it's hard to describe it. Beautiful !

Woah!! 😍😍😳😳🥹🥹😍😍 Heard this on Classic FM (The ONLY “mainstream” radio station I can tolerate.) in the car yesterday. And had to pull over to Shazam it AND to prevent myself from floating up and OUT of the car. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😳🤣😂🤣 Praise God for creating us with such perfection! 🙌🏻

This is like a great victory song. Like a knight coming back home after an epic battle, entering a cathedral, and the whole kingdom welcomes him. Very contemplative and celestial song.

I listen to this song every morning, praying my baby will be released from the NICU. He has tuberous sclerosis and he's only 6 days old today. I haven't been able to hold him since he was born. It's been absolutely torturous. I just want my son to be healed. Please pray for my son Levi Michael Gabriel 🙏 Update as of 1/15/2022: We got to take Levi home in late November. He has daily seizures, but he's still a happy go lucky baby that hardly cries. He has been a huge blessing to our family and he's incredibly attached to me. Levi does need brain surgery to remove tubers in his occipital lobe. The tumors I'm his heart have shrunk since he was born on October 11th. Thank you everyone that has prayed for my adorable baby boy. 👶

They sound like angels...

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard.

my favorite part is the lone guy standing in the rafters.

This is the first pirated song ever. Miserere was supposed to be played only in the Sistine Chapel during Easter, until a young Mozart went there when he was 14 years old, heard it, and transcribed it by memory back at home. (Please read Gino Madrid answer for more information)

Ангелы , спустились на землю и поют для простых смертных свою песню.

I am Hindu and i love this.

So mozart memorized this piece in one hearing only, mindblowing...

It was a secret for over a hundred years in the Vatican. Then Mozart heard it just once and wrote down the music from memory. It is about the misery you feel when confessing your sins.

Burst into tears at the point she went totally soprano on the rising note...absolutely incredible harmonies and musicianship from everyone! I'm in bits. Let's not forget the bass....

The most beautiful piece of classical music ever written.

I am laying in the Hospital with Cancer this song take my fear from the Dead away....

It is so hard to imagine how incredibly talented the early Church builders were to understand the dynamics to make this piece come alive!

This song is imbodyment of beauty as every classical music is....!

I lost my grandma last month..I will never recover from her loss😢my heart is at ease knowing she is in Lord’s hands and doesn’t suffer any more but my heart is shattered 😢💔😔enjoy your family while you still see their eyes and hear their laughter 🙏🏻

Psalm 51 Transliteration so you can actually follow along: Miserere mei, Deus Have mercy on me, God Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam According to your great kindness Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum And according to the multitude of your mercies, Dele iniquitatem meam Erase my iniquities Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea Wash me completely from my iniquities Et a peccato meo munda me And cleanse me of my sins Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco For I know my iniquities Et peccatum meum contra me est semper And my sins are always before me Tibi soli peccavi To you alone, I have sinned Et malum coram te feci And done evil before you Ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis That you may be fair in your speech Et vincas cum iudicaris And justified in your judgement Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum Behold, I was conceived in iniquity Et in peccatis concepit me mater mea And in sin did my mother conceived me Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti incerta Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts Et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi And you teach me wisdom in the hidden places Asparges me hysopo et mundabor Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean Lavabis me et super nivem dealbabor Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow Auditui meo dabis gaudium Let me hear your joy and gladness Et laetitiam exultabunt ossa humiliata And my humble bones will rejoice Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis Turn your face away from my sins Et omnes iniquitates meas dele And erase all of my iniquities Cor mundum crea in me Deus Create in me a pure heart, oh, God, Et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis And renew your right spirit within me Ne proicias me a facie tua Do not turn me away from your sight, Et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me And do not take your Holy Spirit from me Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui Return your gladness and salvation to me Et spiritu principali confirma me And uphold me with a willing spirit Docebo iniquos vias tuas I will teach sinners your way Et impii ad te convertentur And they will be converted unto you Libera me de sanguinibus Save me from blood, Deus, Deus salutis meae God, God of my salvation Exultabit lingua mea iustitiam tuam My tongue will praise of your righteousness Domine labia mea aperies Lord, open my lips Et os meum adnuntiabit laudem tuam And my mouth will sing your glory Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium dedissem utique Because you have not desired sacrifices Holocaustis non delectaberis For you don't delight in sacrifices, or I would do so Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus Nor do you desire burnt offerings Cor contritum et humiliatum The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit A broken and humble heart Deus non spernet God will not despise Benigne fac Domine in bona voluntate tua Sion Do well before the Lord in your good pleasure to Zion Et aedificentur muri Hierusalem And build the walls of Jerusalem Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae Then you accept the sacrifices of righteousness oblationes et holocausta In oblations and burnt offerings Tunc inponent super altare tuum vitulos. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

As close to perfection as perfection can be

Such a masterpiece bringing tears to my eyes. I am a sinner and pray that god forgives me for my sins, and hope i can go to heaven and listen to the angels singing

Ive got goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Its pure bliss

I like that part where she goes: Ah-aaa-aaah-aaah-ahhhh

Her voice is what I imagine sailors heard when they spoke about Sirens.

I wish I still did this kind of singing I remember back when I was part of a male quartet and a 2 female 2 male quartet we sang all kinds of music in English and in different languages GOD I MISS IT

Why do I cry when I listen to this. I am not christian but I am a hindu nor I can understand this language. But I cry 😭😭 whenever I listen to this.

My husband was run over & killed crossing the road. He never made it to Hospital...he died lying on the road with wonderful strangers around, trying to console him as they waited for the Ambulance & the Police. I couldn't sleep, I was so stressed, grieving, disbelief, empty, helpless...this music kept my Sanity - I played it on my Computer in a Loop at night to try & switch my brain off... & wonderful Tallis Choir helped me too - thank you 💖

To those of you curious this is a song about a sinner praying to God to give them forgiveness for all the sins they commited.

Gloria a ti mi señor... !!! Bendito y exaltado seas por siempre JESUS.

Psalm 51 is my favorite ❤🎉

The soprano's voice is crystalline pure. Stunning.

I am a Muslim and I shed tears of joy every day when I discovered such a masterpiece. The musical culture that emanates from Catholicism is absolutely incredible! It's inspiring, like so many things in my own religion! I am Muslim and I can feel God through these voices. We are much closer than we think. We have the same God after all ... Friendly, a Muslim.

Each one of those singers are a vocal perfection.

Starting at like 1:35 is like I got hit in the face and tears just begin rolling down my face. It's the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard in my 43 years on earth

I am autistic and this song is one of the few things that can calm me down during a crisis. I don't know why, but it works. Thank you so much from France!

Everyone is talking about the soprano, but no one is talking about the other people singing? *Especially the basses? Like bruh. They sound amazing!*

Œuvre sublime portée par des voix célestes et cristallines. Bravo à tous et merci ❤🙏

If heaven doesn't sound like this, then I'm not going, it is quite simply the most beautiful thing I have ever heard!! bravo!!!!

Miserere mei, Deus, Latin for "Have mercy on me, O God" is a setting of Psalm 51 by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri. It was composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for the exclusive use of the Sistine Chapel during the Tenebrae services of Holy Week, and its mystique was increased by unwritten performance traditions and ornamentation. It is written for two choirs, of five and four voices respectively, singing alternately and joining to sing the ending in 9-part polyphony.

Full body goosebumps. Im not a religious man, i've always been open minded about religion and respect everyone's views, but i would happily go to church everyday to hear this! That aside, this music is simply stunning. So beautiful, so powerful, makes me feel completely at peace yet at the same time strong. Sensational

All of this is so beautifully, pure enchantment , all of those singers are so great ! Thanks to you guys! You remind us that Christianism is our real root in this so chaotic world ….

It’s beautiful how the church amplifies their sound. I noticed how the tall singer was standing right beside the marble pillar, it made me wonder if you put your hand on the pillar, would you feel the vibrations from his voice? Beautifully done, wow.

The solo guy between the pillars is epic.

My quarantine is based on this

Klasse super Welsstimmen mein Respekt hat ihr.👍👍👍

Heard this at the liturgy of the passion yesterday live first time in my life. Teared up. And so many people and kids kept looking back at the choir in awe

I'm listening to this perfection instead of studying for the exam. No regrets

For the 45% of visitors who came here asking -- her name is Josephine Stephenson.

« Have mercy upon me, O God »

3:55 - дзяўчына, канешне, гэта самая пекная. Такая гучная й незвычайная як птушка. 🌹

A moment of silence for the people that couldn't find the song

I was born in Turkey. I am 59 years old now and have been disbeliever for many years. I imagine God as nature itself, in my world there are no prophets, no scriptures, instead I have conscience and mercy. These church choirs make me happy as I don't know why. I have no clue what they're saying and frankly I don't care, but I love it, I find peace. Pure human voice and church organ has a tremendous harmony. I respect those who have faith, as long as they approach me and like me as HUMAN. Stay healthy. From Turkey with love.

This is the best rendition of the song I have heard on YT

Faith, spirit, soul, tradition, art and culture. All in one. Our Europe!

The note that she hit in 1:38 is unimaginable, wonderful chant.

I started on instagram and ended up here ..what a beautiful turn of events I’m probably going to listen to this everyday just hear her high pitch voice 😭😭I feel so at peace

just amazing, absolutely beautiful…astounding. I am in awe

Magnifique impression comme un retour à l'éternité avant notre naissance, nous offrant la force, la pureté, la spiritualité, la conviction de l'existence de quelque chose qui nous dépasse encore mais plus pour longtemps.

If there are humans that can sound like this, how does heaven sound?

Hey- someone should tell that poor introverted guy up there, that he can come join the rest of the choir! He IS pretty good!

This was done at St Bartholomew the Great Church, W Smithfield, Barbican, London. It has a lovely, little entrance.

And He has touched all of us with His gifts. It is up to each to find them.