Eternal Source Of Light Divine (Ode For The Birthday Of Queen Anne) , HWV 74 is a work composed by George Frideric Handel to a libretto by Ambrose Philips, of which the first line, "Eternal source of light divine". The cantata celebrates mainly the Queen Anne's birthday. This work was probably composed during January 1713.
In defense of the soprano who sang this at the wedding - two things: (1) She was used to singing this at Baroque pitch - 415 HZ - roughly 1/2 step down. While this may not seem like a huge difference, the tessitura (the range where most of the notes sit) is a real killer - it hovers around a difficult part of the soprano range. Taking it up 1/2 step made it much worse for this singer who was not used to singing this piece at those pitches.. (2) This piece is usually done with Baroque instruments - using little or no vibrato - and the singer has to adjust her voice to do the same. Modern instruments tend to be louder and that conductor did nothing to keep the instruments down on the day of the wedding - hence the soprano was singing in a range she was not comfortable in - and had to sing with added vibrato and had to sing more loudly than she would have liked. Any trained singer reading this will know what a deadly combination this was. This soprano should not be judged on this performance alone.
Actually Elin Manahan (the soprano who sang at Prince Harry and Megan wedding) was singing at A415. The thing is that Elin is specialised in baroque repertoire, which uses little or no vibrato. It is difficult for a voice like Elin’s to reverberate in such a massive place like that cathedral. There is a lovely rendition of that same work with her singing effortless (the video is here on youtube).
I listened to this after so many comments about the rendition at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding. Until now I didn't realize there were words and the soloist in the wedding did seem to strain. This was lovely.
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@@JM-gu3tx Not everyone is born into families that appreciate classical music. I'm just glad that people are finding their way here, regardless of what points them to it.
thank you. and what/who even is the source of eternal light divine - Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one, the Christ, the Lamb, the ancient of days who rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, whom the Holy Spirit gives witness to for the life of faith now, and by sight in the age to come...
Disagree. I prefer soprano. Personal preference. That's not to say I don't enjoy the countertenor renditions, I just prefer the soaring top notes from the soprano. That said, I prefer Elin Manahan Thomas to this version.
Handel originally wrote this solo for the Countertenor/Alto range. Someone else came along in the latter part of the 20th century and wrote a version with the vocal solo for Soprano. I concur with James David with the exception only of Kathleen Battle's interpretation of this song.
