Mikhail Johnson

Misereatur

for Unaccompanied Choir SATB (with divisi)

The choral work was written for and dedicated to the members of the Northern Caribbean University Chamber Choir and its then director Dr. Andrew Marshall. For the composer, it was a solemn introspective work that formed a figurative compositional bridge closing the chapters of the old year (2013) and turning a new page for the new year (2014). The work was inspired by a scene of from HBO’s television series The Tudors in which the Pope began to pronounce a blessing on his onlookers with the following Latin text:

Misereatur vestris Omnipotens Deus,
Et dimissis peccatis vestris omnibus,
Perducat vos Jesus Christus
Ad vitam aeternam. Amen.

Intrigued by its text, further research of the origin and possible authenticity ensued, and it was discovered that the text came from a collection of Apostolic blessings called “Ubis et Orbis” that is indeed used by the pope before he addresses the people in his annual appearance on the balcony of Vatican City.

The text is translated as follows:

May the Omnipotent God have mercy on you,
And forgive you of all your sins,
And may through Jesus Christ
Lead you to life eternal. Amen.