Miserere op. 14 (2001)
- for four soloists (countertenor, 2 tenor, bass)
Miserere was written for a composers’ competition published by the world-famous Hilliard Ensemble. The contest had no specific text either, only the range of the four outstanding soloists had to be taken into consideration. Because the working period coincided with Lent that year, the composer decided on a setting of the test Miserere. The work consists of a simple three-line excerpt from Miserere which the composer holds to be the full confession of the soul:
Miserere Mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam Tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Performing the work is a special challenge for the singers; the prayers, peaceful meditations are interrupted by passionate cries calling for ever changing modes of singing. A large number of glissandi make the performance difficult, especially since all the parts are simultaneously involved glissandi.
First performance: Hungarian Radio, Studio 6, in May 2004 (Voces Aequales)
Duration: 19 minutes
Publisher: Hangvarázs Bt. - No. 15 (hangvarazsbt@gmail.com)