Expert: Pat G - 1/9/2011

Question
QUESTION: I was watching a You Tube clip titled "It Happened over Lockerbiie..Part 2"  The last few minutes of this clip one can hear the most beautiful score.  I just cannot recognize the composer.  Any help with this would be appreciated.
Regards,
Gordon

ANSWER: Hello, Gordon,

Can you give me a link? Thanks!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUw6_VeO1Gk

ANSWER: Hello, Gordon,

I sure recognize the music! But I only heard the composer's name once. It is a gorgeous piece even as you say.

I will have to do some research. Think late Renaissance, Requiem or something similar, although the a capella 6 part harmony could put it in Baroque or Classical period, but I think not. It's a sacred piece. That very high boy soprano part is truly the mark of this music.

I can't guarantee I can find the information, but I'll try.

I'll get back to you one way or the other.


Gordon,

I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about this piece, and I'm not getting it. I also went through an extensive list of Renaissance composers, hoping that would trigger my memory. No luck. Given how hectic my life has been lately, I am going to have to give up. I will be asking to be removed as an expert in Classical Music because I just don't have the time to devote to watching YouTube videos and then researching. Although I have a tremendous audio memory of pieces, I don't have composers and names attached to nearly as many as I thought, and as a result, I'm not the best person to ask. Some of the videos I have been asked to watch are downright inane as well.

Here's what I suggest. I know that WCPE in North Carolina plays this piece sometimes, which is where I learned to know it. You can get their streaming audio anywhere in the world. Go to http://theclassicalstation.org/ and go to the "listen" tab. The best day to catch this particular piece is probably Sunday. They have sacred music in the morning from about 8 until 10, I think, Eastern Time (Greenwich -5), and they tend to play more of the same in the evening, in a more mixed program. Other than that, they are likely to play it just about any time. If you enjoy classical music in general and can't get it where you live, you should find that WCPE is a real delight. They play beautiful stuff about 99% of the time.

Let me know if this will work for you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I want to thank you for all of your hard work.  By chance I found the composer and the title of the song.  Gregorio Allegi-"Miserere Mei Deus".
Thanks again.
Gordon

Answer
Hi, Gordon,

Thanks for letting me know! And you're welcome. I assume you meant Gregorio Allegri. I see there is an article about the composition on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miserere_(Allegri)

Take care. I wish you all the best. As I have mentioned, I will no longer be volunteering in this category, and I hope you will always find your compositions. :)