I’m not well versed in this type of music, it’s so beautiful. But I had no idea young boys could sing like that - no wonder there were castrati back then (and thank God that practice has stopped!)
As someone who knows nothing about music other than how beautiful that is, I kept trying to guess which person would be the high C and never guessed right. Also the variety of the mouth position and body movement was different each time.
Very nicely sung, but I do think the tempo is way too fast. Yes, it's alla breve, but you have to take into considering, that this was to be sung in St. Florian's monastery church with 11 seconds reverb! So if you take it alla breve, then it's to be Largo if not Adagio. Bruckner's motets always transport the mystery of faith, especially in the piano and pianissimo parts, and that can only be transported at a low speed.
Ummm, they’re not all high C’s. Some groups take it down a half step to align with how music was keyed at the time this music was written. The soprano in the second excerpt, for example sang a high B.
Tenebrae 1st, The Sixteen 2nd But then I stumbled upon the 2006 version by Tenebrae (can't find a video where you can see them perform). It is simply devine: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Pt61UhsYAPc.html Quartet: Soprano 1 (top) - Grace Davidson Soprano 2 - Julia Doyle Alto - Ben Turner Bass - Matthew Brook Grace Davidson is also featured on a different performance by The Sixteen (2020): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vCIRQ5QkmrY.html
I've found that in "casting" choirs for broadly-split pieces like Lauridsen's (or Whitacre's), it's advantageous to have many more men women (if possible). Generally, the lower the pitch, the more singers needed to project it. As few top sopranos as possible, on down. The most successful grouping I've had with this particular piece (without having to take it up a half-step): 8 B3, 8 B2, 7 B1, 6 T2, 5 T1, 4 A2, 4A1, 3S2, 2S1. Sometimes I would have the A2 sing with the T1s and vice versa...but this division allowed for each pitch to resonate at generally the same volume. Another helpful hint: when auditioning voices, if people insist on always singing a certain part (because they always sang that before), I'd advise not working with them at all. You need people who are flexible.
I would say the best one ive ever heard in 45 years is Voces 8 which isn't on here! Andrea the soprano is the best of the best imho. Of these though I would say the 1994 version from the Tallis scholars.
I loved hearing all the different groups and versions but the best top C wasn’t included in this video clip. Do a search for - Roy Goodman & Kings College Allegri Miserere, 1963
#1 is #1 here... Josephine Stephenson's melody just blossoms and transforms into something etherial. Although, all were wonderful, and this was the best video ever made on RU-vid.
I was amazed by the ease, power and accuracy brought by the singer of the bird ensemble, that's my favourite, but also Tenebrae is one of my favourites. I missed Voces8 and loved the less known recordings. Thanks!
I am not talk about this Gregorio I’m talking about do you know Southwest Elementary not like Southwest Elementary, Southwest Elementary, like Savannah and Savannah I go there and this is not the one I listen to I listen to Gregório from Columbia
Another vote for Andrea Haines and VOCES8 (not included in the video, but linked here!) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cLtm0DqNPHM.htmlsi=iT4vghfS6PL3iTmc
1) Tenebrae-Josephine Stephenson 2) Sixteen-2010 Elin Manahan-Thomas 3) Sixteen 2021 Victoria Metyard 4) Sixteen evolution Victoria Metyard & Alexandra Kidgell. (at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral) Historically the version that probably 1st brought this piece to public attention was King's College solo treble Roy Goodman (in English). All fine voices! 😂
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IsDRUVDsZRg.html Soprano sings the whole phrase without an obvious pause for breath, amazing control. Then they did this version too..ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cLtm0DqNPHM.html 😊
4:27 leonardo grcónarcía alacron provides the best overall performance. Not taking away from the soprano, but it's the chorus line that makes it beautiful.
