VOCES8: 'Faire is the Heaven' by William Harris - VOCES8, Apollo5, directed by Barnaby Smith
Ойын-сауық
VOCES8 and Apollo5 are joined by special guests to sing William Harris' 'Faire is the Heaven' in Keble College Chapel, Oxford. The performance is directed by Barnaby Smith and forms part of the album 'Renewal?' by Paul Smith.
‘Renewal?’ is a concept album, which combines new commissions by Paul Smith and Donna McKevitt with three musical pillars from the 20th Century, by William Walton, John Cage and William Henry Harris.
Multifaceted texts by Lal Ded, Edmund Spenser, W.H. Auden, Lord Byron, Pablo Neruda, Maya Angelou and Edna St Vincent Millay offer space to consider our world, past and present, and meditate on a response to build a better future.
Find out more at www.voces8.foundation
Filmed at Keble College, Oxford, July, 2021 as part of LIVE From London, Summer 2021
Director: Barnaby Smith
Singers: VOCES8, Apollo5 and guests
Organ: Peter Holder
Audio Producer: Adrian Peacock
Engineer: Dave Hinitt
VOCES8 Studios team: Tim Vaughan and Aytan Buyukoglu
Vido and Audio Editing: Barnaby Smith
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Text:
Faire is the Heaven - by Edmund Spenser
Faire is the heav'n, where happy souls have place,
In full enjoyment of felicitie,
Whence they doe still behold the glorious face
Of the divine, eternall Majestie…
Yet farre more faire be those bright Cherubins
Which all with golden wings are overdight,
And those eternall burning Seraphins,
Which from their faces dart out fierie light;
Yer fairer than they both, and much more bright,
Be th' Angels and Archangels which attend
On God's owne person, without rest or end.
These then is faire each other farre excelling
As to the Highest they approach more neare,
Yet is that Highest farre beyond all telling
Fairer than all the rest which there appeare,
Though all their beauties joynd together were:
How then can mortall tongue hope to expresse
The image of such endlesse perfectnesse?
Пікірлер: 127
The world especially needs this beauty today. Thank you.
@UkeOne
Жыл бұрын
So very true, my friend...
We’re born in such a depressing time, where nothing makes sense. Voices like these and compositions of these piece truly elevate us as normal humans to the supreme. Thanks for all of your passion!
@jean-yvesPrax
2 жыл бұрын
I'm tired of these "spoiled children" who complain about the world or the time in which we are now. Reread a little the biographies of JS Bach, Purcell, Dowland, and so many other musicians, and you will see in which times without pity, harsh, terrible, they lived. And yet they were able to compose music full of light, joy, hope. If you know how to appreciate the beauty of this music, then know how to see the beauty of a tiny insect on a flower, the evening light on a landscape, the beauty of the face of a sleeping child, the laughter of your friends. It is up to you alone to enchant your days.
@susankuhn9426
2 жыл бұрын
@@jean-yvesPrax The music was their salvation. It was never mere "entertainment." I believe people are gravitating toward it as part of their journey, even if many can't yet put the whole story into words. Reading history helps. It's shocking, after we have had such peace and prosperity, to get back to the human "normal," as in fact the world (as we knew it) is falling apart...but as they know and we are learning, life does go on.
@josuecezar
Жыл бұрын
Have you ever read the book "The Great Controversy", by Ellen G White? It explains the times we're at, highly recommend!
This is undoubtedly one of the best vocal ensembles in the entire world. Every single video is this same stunning quality, and half the time they are singing from memory to boot. Simply transcendent.
Heavenly is the word for such beauty. Thank you all for sharing your art.
Seamless blend, perfect venue, etraordinary interpretation..."How then shall mortall tongue hope to expresse The image of such endlesse perfectnesse?" Nailed it!! Bless you all! 💖
I regret I have but one 'like' to bestow on this. For each of the 250 times I've listened to it.
I watched this on the LFL series when it was released and I thought - now THERE's the "Dream Team" - there's even two of the King's Singers in there! SO GLAD you excerpted it for your KZread channel. We could all use a glimpse into heaven today. Thank you for such "endlesse perfectnesse".
@hrolnir
2 жыл бұрын
Right? You know your choir is ridiculous when there are King's Singers just hanging out. "Happy to be here, guys!"
@robertfraser485
Жыл бұрын
Revisiting it now on the day of Her Majesty's passing - the cathedral choir I sing in rehearsed it tonight to get it ready for a special service. Appropriate for the day - especially since Harris was the Queen's childhood music teacher.
@anthonyoflaherty7542
Жыл бұрын
@@hrolnir a
Thank you for shar this beautiful music. We all need more this kind of music in this terrible time. This is a light of the end of the darkest tunnel. Greetings from Germany Please forgive me my bad english and I hope you think what I mean.
@dklord1
2 жыл бұрын
You made yourself understood completely, mein Freund. ✌🏼
This is breathtaking…this is my favourite choral piece and to have it finally sung by Voces8…it means more than I can express. This is firmly on repeat. Thank you very much all!
The most glorious piece of music sung by the most beautiful choir. Makes my heart leap with joy
This is British music at its best! Love it! Great harmonies, very organic choral writing. Unnecesserary to mention, that the performance is world class as always with these great ensembles and Barnaby Smith. So enjoyable!
Undoubtedly one of the greatest masterpieces of English choral literature - surpassed perhaps only by his other masterpiece, "Bring Us, O Lord". Thank you!
Keble College chapel - such wonderful acoustics to swell the beauty of the voices.
As always, I'm in awe. Can this be any more musically stunning? I'm sold for life! Thank you again, VOCES8.
Gorgeous, the harmonies have the clarity of a well lit stained glass window!
@a1ar127
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting insight/analogy😌
That is a perfect song, sung by a perfect choir with a perfect conductor👍👍. Thank you so much for this music
One of my very favorite double choir works! Exquisite! Thank you!
Sheer perfection. My favourite piece of choral music sung by my favourite choir.
This transports us to another world of beauty and love - quite outstanding - thank you
Back in my country, we would say "Eeeeeiiiii!!!" expressing amazement. So once again, Eeeeeeeiiiii!!!!!!
Stunning. Loved the dis-chords and dissonance. The way the piece kept going to different notes and keys from what you you would expect.
I remember singing this at University 25 years ago! Such a beautiful song! You all did a wonderful job!! I'm in heaven!
Despite many many years of university education and several more engaged in professional qualifications there are very few things in life I am truly certain of - but these are two : When I lie on my deathbed, if I am lucky enough to have retained my faculties, I will think " I have spent insufficient time in my life listening to beautiful music " ; the second, when I die, if I do not hear voices such as these, I will know, I have not led a good enough life and I have been sent to the other place.
@12111scott
Жыл бұрын
Tim, I too love this music and may you go to the good place. Not on your merit but of Jesus’ for our righteousness is but filthy rags. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Always marvellous Voces8 Angels
Probably my favourite piece of choral music ... ever. Many pieces come close but none surpass. I have several recordings of this but this is supreme. I have been privileged to sing q1,t1 on a couple of occasions (once in Chester Cathedral) but I can only dream of performing to this standard. Thank you.
Absolutely breathtaking! “Endless perfectnesse,” indeed! I had the privilege of conducting this with a high school choir of about 100 voices over 30 years ago…
Delightful . This is a recent performance with an augmented line-up . Heavenly , what would be better than this ? to watch and listen is a real privilege .
In my old college chapel - spent many glorious hours music making in there (and had the old organ blow up when a piece of mine was played for the Visitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury!!)
This must be what Angels in Heaven sound like. 🙌✨✝️
Sir William Henry Harris (1883-1973) was an English organist, choral trainer, and composer. "Faire is the Heaven," for unaccompanied double choir, was composed in 1925.
Such beautiful airy fullness from women... and low smooth exact bass completed this. Thank you!
My first experience in singing this choral anthem was under the direction of Sir David Willcocks as guest conductor. He carried us to heaven and back, and it became a cherished favorite of mine ever since.
@JayR-uy8gl
2 жыл бұрын
Just out of curiosity, when and where was that?
Angelic. Don't understand the words, but it draws me heavenward.
Such wonderful voicings! I love how smoothly the transitions happen in this work and especially with this choral ensemble. I love all the overtones!!
Thank you so much for this exquisite performance - when I was much younger I remember singing this piece with a large choir in the 1970s - I enjoyed singing it but I doubt that our rendition was any match for what I have just heard - truly beautiful.
One of my favorites to sing! Well done!
As always - divine!
What an absolutely GORGEOUS work! I LOVE William Harris’ music! And VOCES8 and Apollo 5(?) do such a SUPERLATIVE rendition!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!👏👏👏
Fabulous. One of my all-time favourite choral works, and in a performance to rival the unparalleled one on the eponymous CD by The Cambridge Singers (which remains the best I’ve ever heard). I just felt this Voces8 version was taken a bit too fast in the earlier stages. Glorious sound, though, and with a wonderfully balanced bass note at the end! Interesting to see that two current members of The King’s Singers were imported for this performance (the high and low book-ends!).
Loved working with you guys at Tabor College in Kansas! Much love to your amazing group and having a master class with us! Sound amazing as always
Thank you all very much for this performance of beautiful music.
Forward- looking harmony with all the clashes and key changes for the era.Spellbinding performance- listen to Bring us O Lord for another exquisite gem.
One of my all time favourites. I LOVE singing this piece. Is there another piece written better for the text than this? Maybe Dormi Jesu, Rutter? Lux Aeterna, Elgar? Probably nothing better than this. Love watching Barnaby direct this. Being a 1st CT myself, I knew what was in his head........just brilliant.
Wonderful! What a blessing!
Ganz große Kunst!! Danke.
So sanft und zart wie immer. Thank you Voces8!
Stunning. Thank you.
Absolutely beautiful
Fantastic sound, lovely music! Good Job voces 8!!!
Barnaby, you get better and better.
Genial, danke!
I’m a big Voces8 fan, and I just watched this video for the first time. It brought me to tears, thinking about us humans are always striving, hoping for something better than this messed up earth.
Well done. Haven’t heard this in a while!
Дуже дякую! Молодці!
Simply a dream!
Bellissimo il brano, bellissima l' interpretazione! Mi fate sempre emozionare! Grazie
intonation was tops. tyvm for performing this very difficult piece. wow.
shivers!
beautiful Thank you
spectacular and edifying
Superb. Cannot be beaten for utter quality and musicianship.
Sublime 🥰
Hermoso engaste te voces. Felicidades 🎉 a todos.
Exquisite!
Thank you.
This is beautiful, and amid dark times is a reminder of the Light of the world, Who is not overcome. Thank you for singing this so beautifully, and sharing it with us. You've made one person's day better at the least, so please... keep singing! :)
Lovely 🎵🎵
Beautiful
Wspaniale, Gratulacje PL
My heart leaped to see Patrick there. The best find each other!
This is excellent, well done
Bravo à VOCES8 c'est incroyable d'atteindre ce niveau de clarté et précision, chaque voix sonne et résonne en harmonie avec les autres. Vous êtes "bluffants", vous êtes "mortels" ! (don't try to translate these two last words, and more, don't trust Google translator - it's typically french - lol !!!)
Brilliant.
This video is definitely “the image of such endless perfectness”
참 좋습니다(very good)!
Do I spy a couple of Kings Singers in there too? Sublime performance 🙏
Miss choir🥺😭😭😭❤
@annaritaaltieri6548
2 жыл бұрын
Me too, so much. 😔
❤️🎶🎵💕perfection 🥰
@molliethorn
2 жыл бұрын
@Austin Howland 👌😉
Please offer this Human beauty to Poetin! He will stop his crime right away..
Voces8 x 2 = ❤️‼️
Voces8 + Apollo5 = the Sixteen? :) lovely as always.
🤩👏👏👏
Wow, it's hard to believe this was written in 1925!
😍😍😍
Wait wait wait... Isn't that Patrick from King's Singers?, also Miss Eleonore, thank you for being here, I miss listening to your voice and how well it paired with Andrea's voice... Impeccable piece of music, I have been loving these collabs so would you please keep them coming? maybe?. Muchísimos éxitos, un saludo de un fan desde Venezuela
👏👏👏👏
♥️♥️♥️
For the Scottish singer - Fantabidosee!
Beautiful and divine! I'm Italian and sing in a little coir "a cappella". I would like to see you in Italy. Excuse me for my bad English....
@mwnyc3976
2 жыл бұрын
Your English is just fine. :-)
❤🧡💛💚💙💜😇
The legendary Chris Wardle is back.
I love how "and guests" just so happens to include two King's Singers
Harris’s harmonic palette is modern for the time, I feel. The ear-tickling sonority makes you want to keep repeating the experience,and the added 2nd at the final bars is sublime. Can somebody explain to me why the ending chord of ‘Bring us Oh Lord’ of his sounds totally miles away from the home key of D flat major, when , in fact, the final chord is indeed D flat? Maybe it’s the succession of penultimate chords that fool the ear into believing that this final chord is unrelated to the home key?
Bello
That was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnantly bland planet.
rest in present awareness.
Crikey, and they managed to stay in pitch, Brilliant.
"World without end...Amen." What else need be said?
And the cherry on top came at the end, with the bass low D flat.
May I borrow them for my church choir? Pretty please?