ALLEGRI'S "MISERERE."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12479, 16 April 1906, Page 9

ALLEGRI'S "MISERERE."

TO THK EDITOR OF "THIS MUESS." Sir, —Tlie rofoitiice to Allegri's "Mist'tere, ,, whioti api>eared iv "The Prcte" brings to my rnijid t'ha fact tihait 1 heard it sung ia tJie ch»i>el of St. Mary's College, Osoott, in 1847 cr 1848. At that tinie the College President was Bishop Wiseman, shoruy afterwards w> well known as CarxJiii>ai Ar<3h,bishop of Westminster. He was a great favourite of Pcpe Pius IX., -who, no doubt, allowed him, ae> a special privilege, to use the- composition at the co&ge. It was sung by <sght- male \;ocoes, unaocomeac'li voice liaving a diftinct' part. I"t6 character is weJl described by the writer whom "The Pre.*" quoted. Tiie clioir of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, could do the campoa.ition justice, mo doubt, but with them it would 'lose soinicthi.ing of ite weiixlhfss, unl'ivss fiiirg under tho same conditiions a,s it was ac Oacott, a.ucl is ia tho SLsrine Cliapcl ait Rome. It occurs at the clode of one of tlho most inipressive servioas of the Catholic Church—the officL , of Tenebrae—a.nd is sung after tihxj liglirs have been gradually extinguished, and while tho chapel is iv total darkness, etc., J. P.