Historic Allegri's 'Miserere' to Form Part of Sunday Service at Presbyterian Chapel in Croton Falls

The remarkable choral piece, Allegri’s Miserere, will be played at the March 8th Sunday Lenten service of the Presbyterian chapel on Route 22 in Croton Falls.

Composed in 1555 by Allegri, the Miserere is the musical form in Latin of Psalm 51, the most penitential of the Bible’s psalms. It is sung in a recording by the Tallis Scholars in the Merton College Chapel, Oxford.

The English text of the psalm will be read, along with a history of the choral work, once so treasured by the Roman Church that no copy was allowed outside the Sistine Chapel. The monopoly was said to have been broken when Mozart heard the work, and wrote it afterwards from memory.

Following the choral rendering, Pastor Hans Hallundbaek will talk about what repentance and penitence have come to mean in the 21st Century. Hallundbaek is known for his work counseling prisoners in New York State prisons. After his sermon, he will lead a ‘talk-back’ discussion, a feature of the Sunday service at Croton Falls Presbyterian Church.

The service commences at 10:30 a.m. Driving directions: Exit 8 on I- 684. Turn left at end of ramp. Church on right hand side within one quarter mile. For information write hans@hudrivpres.org or call 914-263-2165.