Penitential Psalms
Encyclopedia
The Penitential Psalms or Psalms of Confession, so named in Cassiodorus
's commentary of the 6th century AD, are the Psalms
6
, 32
, 38
, 51
, 102
, 130
, and 143
(6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 in the Septuagint numbering). These are specially expressive of sorrow for sin. Four were known as 'penitential psalms' by St. Augustine of Hippo in the early 5th century. The fifty-first Psalm (Miserere) was recited at the close of daily morning service in the primitive Church.
Translations of the penitential psalms were undertaken by some of the greatest poets in Renaissance England, including Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
, and Sir Philip Sidney
.
Prior to the suppression of the minor orders
and tonsure
in 1972 by Paul VI, the seven penitential psalms were assigned to new clerics after having been tonsured.
, with his Psalmi Davidis poenitentiales of 1584. There are also fine settings by Andrea Gabrieli
and by Giovanni Croce
. The Croce pieces are unique in being settings of Italian sonnet-form translations of the Psalms by Francesco Bembo. These were widely distributed; they were translated into English and published in London as Musica Sacra; and were even translated (back) into Latin and published in Nürnberg as Septem Psalmi poenitentiales. William Byrd set all seven Psalms in English versions for three voices in his Songs of Sundrie Natures (1589).
Settings of individual penitential psalms have been written by many composers. Well-known settings of the Miserere
(Psalm 51
) include those by Gregorio Allegri
and Josquin des Prez
. Settings of the De profundis
(Psalm 130) include two in the Renaissance
by Josquin.
Cassiodorus
Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator , commonly known as Cassiodorus, was a Roman statesman and writer, serving in the administration of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Senator was part of his surname, not his rank.- Life :Cassiodorus was born at Scylletium, near Catanzaro in...
's commentary of the 6th century AD, are the Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
6
Psalm 6
Psalm 6 is the 6th psalm from the Book of Psalms. Its authorship is traditionally assigned to King David. David's supposed intention in writing the psalm was that it would be for anyone suffering from sickness or distress or for the state of Israel while suffering through oppression.In the psalm,...
, 32
Psalm 32
-Judaism:*Is recited on Yom Kippur in some traditions.*Verse 8 is found in the Foundation of Repentance recited on the eve of Rosh Hashanah....
, 38
Psalm 38
-Music:Johann Sebastian Bach set Psalm 38:4 in the opening chorus of his cantata Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25....
, 51
Psalm 51
Psalm 51 , traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin incipit, is one of the Penitential Psalms. It begins: Have mercy on me, O God....
, 102
Psalm 102
-The Form of the psalm 102:Psalm 102 is complicated to understand, with many questions. Most of it makes it an individual lament, but the petitions for 'Zion' are inclined to sound a communal lament, and then the identity of the author of this psalm, who he was. And it assumes the destruction of...
, 130
Psalm 130
Psalm 130 , traditionally De profundis from its Latin incipit, is one of the Penitential psalms.-Commentary:...
, and 143
Psalm 143
Psalm 143 is the 143rd psalm of the Book of Psalms. One of the Penitential Psalms....
(6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 in the Septuagint numbering). These are specially expressive of sorrow for sin. Four were known as 'penitential psalms' by St. Augustine of Hippo in the early 5th century. The fifty-first Psalm (Miserere) was recited at the close of daily morning service in the primitive Church.
Translations of the penitential psalms were undertaken by some of the greatest poets in Renaissance England, including Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Henry Howard, KG, , known as The Earl of Surrey although he never was a peer, was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry.-Life:...
, and Sir Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
.
Prior to the suppression of the minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
and tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
in 1972 by Paul VI, the seven penitential psalms were assigned to new clerics after having been tonsured.
Musical settings
Perhaps the most famous musical setting of all seven is by Orlande de LassusOrlande de Lassus
Orlande de Lassus was a Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance...
, with his Psalmi Davidis poenitentiales of 1584. There are also fine settings by Andrea Gabrieli
Andrea Gabrieli
Andrea Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist of the late Renaissance. The uncle of the somewhat more famous Giovanni Gabrieli, he was the first internationally renowned member of the Venetian School of composers, and was extremely influential in spreading the Venetian style in Italy as...
and by Giovanni Croce
Giovanni Croce
Giovanni Croce was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance, of the Venetian School...
. The Croce pieces are unique in being settings of Italian sonnet-form translations of the Psalms by Francesco Bembo. These were widely distributed; they were translated into English and published in London as Musica Sacra; and were even translated (back) into Latin and published in Nürnberg as Septem Psalmi poenitentiales. William Byrd set all seven Psalms in English versions for three voices in his Songs of Sundrie Natures (1589).
Settings of individual penitential psalms have been written by many composers. Well-known settings of the Miserere
Miserere
Miserere may refer to:* Psalm 51, and its musical settings:** Miserere ** Miserere ** Miserere * Miserere by Zucchero* Plaza Miserere, a plaza in Buenos Aires...
(Psalm 51
Psalm 51
Psalm 51 , traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin incipit, is one of the Penitential Psalms. It begins: Have mercy on me, O God....
) include those by Gregorio Allegri
Gregorio Allegri
Gregorio Allegri was an Italian composer of the Roman School and brother of Domenico Allegri; he was also a priest and a singer. He lived mainly in Rome, where he would later die.-Life:...
and Josquin des Prez
Josquin Des Prez
Josquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
. Settings of the De profundis
Psalm 130
Psalm 130 , traditionally De profundis from its Latin incipit, is one of the Penitential psalms.-Commentary:...
(Psalm 130) include two in the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
by Josquin.
External links
- Examples of the Seven Penitential Psalms http://biblescripture.net/Psalms.html