This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Be merciful unto me, Z 4
Staff Notation • Sacred, Verse anthems
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Be merciful unto me, Z 4 by Henry Purcell — Lyrics
In finem, pro populo qui a sanctis longe factus est. David in tituli inscriptionem,
cum tenuerunt eum Allophyli in Geth.
Miserere mei, Deus, quoniam conculcavit me homo; tota die impugnans, tribulavit me.
Conculcaverunt me inimici mei tota die, quoniam multi bellantes adversum me.
Ab altitudine
diei timebo: ego vero in te sperabo.
In Deo laudabo sermones meos; in Deo speravi: non timebo
quid faciat mihi caro.
Tota die verba mea execrabantur; adversum me omnes cogitationes eorum in malum.
Inhabitabunt, et abscondent; ipsi calcaneum meum observabunt. Sicut sustinuerunt animam meam,
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About Be merciful unto me, Z 4
This setting of Psalm 51 is a verse anthem by Henry Purcell, originally intended for liturgical use. The composer skillfully weaves together solo verses with full choral passages, a characteristic feature of the verse anthem form. The text, drawn from the Latin Vulgate, is a profound plea for divine mercy and forgiveness in times of intense suffering and persecution. Purcell's music mirrors the text's emotional weight, moving from moments of deep introspection and vulnerability in the solo sections to powerful declarations of faith and hope in the choral refrains. This work is a prime example of 17th-century English sacred music, offering a rich and moving experience for both performers and listeners.
