Rachmaninoff had requestsd for only one of his compositions, “Vespers” (All-Night Vigil, Opus 37), to be performed at his memorial service. But his death in Los Angeles in 1943, the exigencies of the war and, most importantly, the unavailability of true Russian singers (in particular, basses) made his request impossible to fulfill. I’ve heard this performed by a hundred or more ensembles, usually larger choirs, for which Rachmaninoff conceived it... I know it well enough to be acutely aware of its challenges, the part-splits, its incredibly intimate and exposed aspects... I’m also a professional music teacher with years of experience directing and arranging for a cappella... and I have to say, I’ve never heard any performance as compelling and moving as this one. Had you been there in 1943, you would have fulfilled the composer’s every wish... That you are here today online for me to thank for this wonderful gift, fulfills mine.
This has always been one of my favorite choral works. It's so beautifully barren and quintessentially Russian. How the the beautiful soaring climax lifts you high but leaves you with the feeling that if you open your eyes you would have this euphoric feeling of freedom actually the last sensation you will ever feel as could truly be plummeting to you're end. All of this while praising Mary for having "borne the savior of our souls"
i performed this piece once in my high school choir. the amount of breath control and focus needed for this is insane, i give mad props to anyone who can truly pull off this piece. beautiful
I’m no expert on this but to me they typify the “English choral sound”. Very pure, nothing overstated. They are so perfect I think we should just put them in a glass case and marvel at them. I’m not being sarky, they are an incredibly gifted group.
The "cleaness" of their choral quality is very English, and it definitely hits my ear very pleasantly, as an American and great lover of the English choral tradition. That said, there is an aspect to it that's a little disconcerting, mostly because it seems to lack the edge that another professional choir would add, in terms of texturing the music differently. It's interesting, comparing this recording to a traditional Russian church choir from a major cathedral, or from a monastery, like those in Valaam. When I heard this sung for Liturgy by a visiting chamber choir at a Cathedral here in the States it was most definitely a very different sound to this one. Something also interesting is that since "mixed" liturgical choirs are a product of modernity all these hymns and settings were composed for mens voices so what we're getting here is a fairly unique vision I doubt Rachmaninoff thought would come to pass. Edit: I actually found a video of that chamber choir here in the states. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-m-rCc6XjEsQ.html
Always dealing with large numbers of high school singers it always blows my mind to hear only eight people who can sound like this. Very inspiring. Beautiful performance. Very interesting conversation about the Russian pronunciation below!
I’m singing the piece currently with my choir and it’s such a beautiful piece of music. Since I first sang it when I was 17 (back then as a tenor, haha) it has accompanied me through my life. And they make a wonderful job - such a clear and ethereal sound!
Wow. This group is incredible. Truly a world-class performance. What amazes me most about this video is not the seamless blend, the perfect intonation, or the apparently magical way they can communicate and phrase together without looking at each other; it is simply the look of perfect serenity on each of their faces. Bravo Voces8.
Oh my god is that beautiful... I'm close to tears. We'll be singing this with our choir at coventry cathedral at the end of may. And I love this choral so so much. But this one here's just heaven.
This is the difference between a choir or ensemble that memorizes their music so they can then focus 100% of their attention on listening to each other and blending, unlike 90% of all other choirs whose members' heads are constantly bobbing up and down from their books in hand. Nines out of ten times, I can tell just by listening to a choir whether they're holding their books in performance or have their music memorized. It makes that much of a difference.
lcowles I totally agree with you, but I think it’s important we don’t bash choirs who use copies. Most of the ones who do are church/cathedral choirs who are on a very tight turnaround of music. Literally weekly, sometimes daily depending on how often they sing. Of course the majority of pieces will be in their repertoire, but it would be physically impossible to have all this memorised. The aim is to listen just as much while most likely sight reading or at least reading the music (as opposed to knowing it well). Lots of choirs can achieve this, but it’s down to their musicianship and how used to singing with each other they are. But of course knowing the music well will iron out any mistakes and rough edges, which is what makes a choir sound so together and familiar with each other.
Well said. You don't know it until it's memorized. The notes, rhythms and words are a vessel for the art. You can't put all your focus on the colors and forget about the painting.
and yet Voces8 often use music in performance, and sound just as perfectly synchronized. There's a challenge for you. Audio recordings of the same singers in the same acoustic, with and without books.
I absolutely understand what you want to point out. Apart from what the others have said: there are many choirs (most of them) that don't have the ability nor the time to learn everything by heart. They just like singing, and should be appreciated just for that. Of course, I like most other people here, absolutely appreciate what Voces8 are doing, and would wish I had the chance to sing in an ensemble with their ability and compassion to what they are doing.
Rejoice, virgin mother of God, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Savior of our souls.
Brings tears to my eyes...I keep listening to your selections...sighs, my voice is gone now (DRAT!) as I was born singing harmony and I regret not being able to harmonize...SO MUCH...and I LOVE the wonderful blend of this group!
Stunning. I've had the pleasure of hearing this group appear locally in the US with another professional ensemble where I live on at least two occasions. Both groups are magnificent separately, but when they joined.... it was like passing through the gate of Heaven.
My choir is due to sing this in two weeks time and I have been finding it quite challenging. This is the most beautiful version, I have heard to date. What an inspiring group of singers is voices8
This is so beautiful. Voces8 this is heavenly! I’ve sung this as a soprano 1 maybe three or four times with my choir back in Scotland. As beautiful as this is to listen to....to be part of a group singing it.....that raises one to another level entirely!
Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God: Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you: Blessed art Thou amongst women: And blessed is the fruit of Thy womb: For Thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.
Nawet może się podobać..! To brzmienie, jest wprawdzie wyczuwalnie "zwesternizowane", i jakby bardziej "gładkie" - ale, pomiedzy innymi, ktorzy próbowali już własnych sił z tym utworem wielkiego mistrza, z 1915 -go roku - do podobnej barwy brzmienia przyzwyczaili nas już wcześniej, chociażby, - zawsze warci wspomnienia, a czasem porównania "the Cambridge Singers", oraz inni. ..Nieodmiennie, harmonia wokalna, tak charakterystyczna dla "VOCES8", daję sie wysłyszeć, niemal od razu, nawet "z zamkniętymi oczyma" !
There are no words fitting enough to describe the perfection; the WONDERFUL sound of VOCES8. God bless them, and the person or persons responsible for putting the performances together. Genius. Makes my ears very happy.💐💐🎼🎼❣️
A number of comments here about the 'Russian' pronunciation. But not one observation that the language of the piece is actually Church Slavonic; now, I don't know that this necessarily negates individual observations about the pronunciation itself (I didn't read them in detail, and few in fact CONTAINED any details - they were just 'swipes;') but if you're going to criticize you should at least be clear in your terms.
Being Orthodox who also frequently sings in Slavonic, including the angelic salutation in particular, during Liturgies, the pronunciation doesn't stick out in any weird ways.
Singers like you make it look so easy, your performance is near perfection the tone and sound of your voices is incredible!! The best performance on RU-vid! Just amazing.
Знаем, знаем! Своих слушаем, с иноземцами сравниваем, красиво поют, да нет в том души, это исполнение как пишут шедевра. А ведь тот молитва, а как у неверующего она может звучать... Пойду наших ребят послушаю
My cat also liked music--he'd curl up by the piano when I played, and one time I was playing around and happened to be holding him and tried to sing along with some opera and he actually relaxed and started purring. Little weirdo. I miss him tons.
"O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the savior of our souls."
We sang this in my senior year of all state choir. We learned the history of this song. It’s been like 5 years so I may not be completely correct, but there was a point in Russian history where the military took over churches and farms during WW1. They limited the portions for the citizens and forced them to stop practicing their religion. He wrote this to be sung in a church and church only and a capella only as well. It’s the song of the peoples pain. You can’t hear it in the words, but the climax of the song. One of my favorite pieces I’ve ever participated in.
Sometimes the finest work is produced in a more casual setting... all the specificity and technique is absolutely in evidence, but without the “stuffiness” that can, at times, creep into the concert or recording session... bravi tutti
There is such a contrast to this sublime sound in contemporary sacred music. Now, there is a lot of strumming and drumming, and great lyrics, but the scope and range of the “sacred harp” is substituted with controlled yelling... Thanks for preserving such truly inspiring music and giving example of the capability of the God-given human voice. Marvelous piece, as well!
Really great..i'd really like to know how could you be so clear and precise without conductor....Just staring at Andrea or Barnaby or anyone.....not a sign, a blink!!!! love you all (missing Eleonore, her 'cherry on top' on Si le le) Simone - Coro il Polifonico Adiemus
