About the piece
A plea for mercy in Latin (“Have mercy on me, O Lord”), proper to the penitential season. The edition, 40 measures in 4/2, carries soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
How to prepare it
This is an intermediate piece. Each voice has its own line and the entrances imitate one another, so what is essential is independence and listening. The ranges are manageable (sopranos D4–E5 (a major ninth), altos G3–A4 (a major ninth), tenors E3–E4 (an octave), basses G2–A3 (a major ninth)). Rehearse the entrances alone first, counting the rests, then the text: the Latin should flow with clear vowels and without stressing every syllable.
When to use it
It can be sung in Lent and as an offertory chant, or in a penitential celebration.