Performances of Allegri’s Miserere (polyphonic vv. 1-4 only) arranged for male voices (TTBB) by A. T. Davison and published in the “Harvard University Glee Club Collection of Part Songs for Men’s Voices, Vol. 1” (1922) by the E. C. Schirmer Music Company.
Presently the earliest known recording of any version of Allegri’s Miserere. Also the earliest recording identified of the edition for male voices published as part of the Harvard University Glee Club Collection by E. C. Schirmer Music Co in 1922.
“Chansons and Motets” – an album jointly released with the ladies of Radcliffe Choral Society – is the first known published recording of the Miserere by the Harvard Glee Club – America’s oldest collegiate glee club. Early recordings by the Harvard Glee Club are important, as they form a reference for Glee Club performance practice given the edition of the Miserere set for male voices by A. T. Davison, and published as part of the “Harvard University Glee Club Collection” by E C Schirmer Music Co in 1922.
A second album of choral music released by the University of the South Choir (the first having been released in 1951). Includes “ten religious numbers, many of them sung acapella, including the music of Bach, Jan Smit, Flors Peeters, Jacob Handl and Vittoria” (from the Sewanee Alumni News, 1955).
Fordham Glee Club on Record – For the first time in its 33-year history, the Fordham University Glee Club has made a professional recording of Fordham songs, hymns, and other selections. (The Tablet, Brooklyn, New York, 26th May 1956)
Selections presented at the 17th Annual “Home Concert” and including contributions from the combined Glee Clubs and the “Collegians” (Dance Orchestra). The Davison arrangement of Allegri’s Miserere is sensitively presented.
A limited edition presented by the Harvard Glee Club, G. Wallace Woodworth, conducting, of the Centennial Concert recorded at Sanders Theatre June 9, 1958 (from the album cover).
Very little is know about the circumstances of this recording by the Georgetown University Glee Club, and nothing can be gleaned from recordings that precede or follow it. We have assumed that the recording was made in the Gaston Hall at Georgetown University.
An excellent rendition of A. T. Davison’s arrangement of Allegri’s Miserere for male voices performed by the Caltech Glee Club, as part of their double-LP recorded in 1959. Published on distinctive translucent red vinyl, this extensive and varied collection is well performed and a delight to hear after over 60 years.
The first recorded performance of the Davison TTBB setting of the Miserere by an American collegiate choir in a purely sacred context. As to be expected from the choir of a religious seminary, the singing is of a higher standard, but interestingly the performance matches many of the glee club performances in style, tempo and use of dynamics.
The Davison (TTBB) arrangement of the Miserere is a poor second to Josquin’s ‘Missa Mater Patris et Filia’ included on Side One of this album, but the Miserere is unique in that it is presently the only know recording of the work made in The Philippines.