About the piece
The great penitential psalm (“Have mercy on me, O God”), sung in English in four voices. The edition, only 10 measures in 4/2, carries soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
How to prepare it
A short but serious piece of homophonic texture: the four voices sing the same text together, so the key is the tuning of the chords and unity of diction. The ranges are moderate (sopranos F♯4–E5 (a minor seventh), altos C♯4–A4 (a minor sixth), tenors A♭3–E4 (a minor sixth), basses A2–A3 (an octave)). Rehearse slowly, singing each chord without vibrato and listening for the purity of the thirds. A piece this brief allows deep work on sound quality.
When to use it
It is music proper to Lent, in particular Ash Wednesday and the penitential season.