[6][1] They begin in low register, rising and reaching a passage of unison of the four parts, before returning to silence, marked by a final sound of a bell.

[1] De profundis was first recorded in 1990 sung by the Hilliard Ensemble as part of a CD Arbos of sacred music by Pärt.

It appears on a 1996 CD titled De Profundis, performed by the choir Theatre of Voices conducted by Paul Hillier.

[6] A reviewer wrote: "De Profundis (1980) is an impassioned and yet simple vocal setting ... where the voices climb out of the very depths of despair, with a funereal drum beat.

[4] The piece closes a 2013 recording, again titled De profundis, sung by Orphei Drängar, and conducted by Cecilia Rydinger Alin.