6-29-08 Gregorio Allegri – Miserere
Posted by gavortnik on June 29, 2008
Well, as usual, I put off posting until the last minute and then some today. So I was casting around for something quick to write, and I happened to notice that Delfwaren, a French CGI artist (or at least a CGI artist with a French e-mail address) left a comment about a post that I did in March about Renedevous with Rama. See, he did a computer-generated fly-though of Arthur C. Clarke’s Rama cylinder, to the tune of Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere.
That’s why Miserere is your neat thing today. MIserere – also Miserere mei, Deus - is a chroal adaptation of Psalm 51 (fully-leaded description from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia here and text here). Now, as a red-blooded American and gnostic, I have a slight problem with the cringing I-am-not-worthy obsequiousness of this psalm. But it sounds nice and - if you ignore the writhing-in-the-dustness of the lyrics that make you want to scream “‘TIS BETTER TO REIGN IN HELL, MOTHAFUCKA!” – it’s very soothing and gets you in a spiritual mood very nicely.
This version of Miserere is courtesy of margotlorena and, because YouTube doesn’t like people uploading whole episodes of Lost and Those Who Hunt Elves, had to be broken into two parts. But it’s worth it.
And it comes with the lyrics, too! But it’s not English; they’re singing it in this, like, language. I think it’s Dutch. Or maybe Japanese. (On second thought, no, not Japanese. Not enough neko-chans)
shanoah said
Could it be… LATIN?
Delfwaren said
Hi.
Just to set a point: I’m not the creator of the Rama video. It has been done by Eric Brunet. I has just shared this on Youtube. All greatings go to this great guy
Thanks.
gavortnik said
My mistake, Delfwaren. I believe I mentioned that in the original post, but I must have forgotten. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Robin said
Hello! I happened to read your post in searching for more information on Miserere by Gregorio Allegri. You are correct in that Psalm 51 is very difficult to read because of the repentance filling the verses, but when looking at the reason for the Psalm one can understand its meaning. It is a repentance written by King David after he was confronted with his affair with Bathsheeba. (I was curious, do you really mean that you are a Gnostic, or do you mean that you are an Agnostic? Either one would explain your point of view, but not many “red blooded americans” are gnostics.)
Anyway, the guilt felt by David due to his actions is beautifully illustrated in this Psalm (not only did he have an affair, but he murdered Bathsheeba’s hubsand to cover it up).
And I am sure the language is latin, because latin was the official language of all Catholic masses at the time of the writing of this Psalm.
Not trying to be a smart ass, just thought you may want to know a little more.
gavortnik said
Hi Robin. It means I oughta do more research into these things and not stick my foot in my mouth so much. Oh, and to stick to things that I know about, like Twinkies. Mmmm, Twinkies…
I’m Gnostic (my own brand, kind of complicated), and when I say “red-blooded American”, I was being a little facetious. (I grew up in New Jersey, and sarcasm is practically the national sport there) I don’t mean the twitchy, scared-of-his-own-shadow-and-rights brand of “patriot” that this country is churning out lately. I mean a guy who actually takes words like “freedom”, “democracy” and “rights” seriously and respects them… which, as I understand Gnosticism, is something that a Gnostic should do.
And I was joking about the language. I knew it was Latin. Just trying to make a little joke (operative word being “little”).