ORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, while directing a small church choir, I adapted some chords from the MISERERE MEI falsobordone of Fr. Allegri, a Catholic priest who studied with Giovanni Bernardino Nanino. 1 This little adaptation has met with tremendous success over the years. Indeed, I’ve been astonished to find xerox copies in the most unexpected places!
The score, for anyone who wants it:
* * AGNUS DEI • adapted from Rev’d Gregorio Allegri (d. 1652)
Rehearsal videos, to assist volunteer choirs:
REHEARSAL VIDEOS :
Were I to create such an adaptation today, I would probably do things differently—but I suppose that’s always how it goes, right?
NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:
1 He was the brother of Giovanni Maria Nanino, one of my favorite composers.
