Gregorio Allegri, a pivotal figure in the music of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods, was an Italian composer born in Rome around 1582. He is best known for his choral masterpiece, *Miserere mei, Deus* (often simply referred to as *Miserere*), a setting of Psalm 51 that has captivated audiences and performers for centuries with its ethereal beauty and intricate vocal lines. Allegri's career was significantly tied to the Roman Catholic Church; he sang in the choir of the Sistine Chapel starting in 1629, where he would eventually become one of its composers. This prestigious position allowed him to contribute significantly to the church's musical repertoire, with his works exemplifying the stile antico of polyphony while also embracing the expressive, emerging Baroque sensibilities.

Although *Miserere mei, Deus* remains his most famous composition, often overshadowed by this single piece, Allegri's oeuvre includes a wider range of sacred music, such as masses and motets, which showcase his skillful blend of traditional polyphony and the affective spirit of the early Baroque. His work, represented not only by his iconic *Miserere* but also by pieces like *Gloria from Missa In lectulo meo*, illustrates the transition in sacred music from the Renaissance purity of choral writing to a more ornate and expressive style. Despite the details of his life being less well-documented than those of some of his contemporaries, Allegri's legacy endures through his contributions to choral music, influencing not only his direct successors but also generations of musicians and composers who continue to be moved by the spiritual depth and beauty of his compositions.

Genres

Early Music

Italian Renaissance

Related Artists

Claudio Monteverdi

William Byrd

Thomas Tallis

Heinrich Schütz

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Josquin des Prez

Carlo Gesualdo

Tomás Luis de Victoria

Henry Purcell

John Dowland

Alessandro Scarlatti

Orlando Gibbons

Latest Release

Miserere mei Deus

Gregorio Allegri

Single - Released May 7, 2024