May his memory be for a blessing. I lost my mother five months ago. Coincidentally my teenager had sung this (the top soprano part) just a few months before.
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua leceat eis. (May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord, with Thy saints forever, for Thou art Kind. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.)
“It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature and everlasting beauty of monotony.” - Benjamin Britten
Thank you for sharing this quote Caryn. I would love to include it in my mother's funeral order of service, but I think it best to keep it for my own personal meaning, as it really captures so much about my relationship with my mother.
Our father has just passed away. I find this music so beautiful. He loved Elgar. “When I hear music I fear no danger, I am invulnerable. I see no foe.” Henry David Thoreau
To those who are unfamiliar with music, this song is ridiculously difficult to get through. Each part acts as it’s own beast, and you must not only know YOUR part, but everyone else’s part to a T for it to pay off the way it’s supposed to. This is a beautiful performance, made all the more impressive by the difficulty of the piece.
The hardest part of singing this in my choir I think was getting the long phrases smooth and not dying from the excruciating interval jumps. Of course you need to know others' parts to know when your beat is. (Dunno why but there indeed are many people who blissfully count their long note's length in their own head, disregarding what's happening... even soloists. So it's definitely a skill that some have to work for.)
As we left the church at my darling husband’s funeral I had this recording played. I cry every time I hear it but i need to hear it every day - it gives me hope.
My mother died this week. This came to my rescue. I have always loved the Elgar original, and this choral arrangement is sublime as a Requiem. Thank you for a magnificent performance.
This was a great favourite of my late husband. Played at his funeral and I now turn to it when I need solace and remember my loving husband. Magnificent choral work.
There are times when they sound like a full orchestra to my ears or like a perfectly pitched brass band… Nonetheless, the spiritual significance of what is happening here is tremendous and brings me to tears every time
As intimate and intense as "Nimrod" is in the orchestral version, the intensity is magnified and focused by an octet of choral voices. As of that weren't enough, the text of the prayer "Lux Aeterna" from the Latin Requiem Mass further sharpens the impact. This is powerfully unbearable in the very best of ways. Samuel Barber's "Adagio" treated similarly is on a par with this. This music and sound is almost too beauiful.
This was the recording that introduced me to VOCES8 as I searched for a version of Nimrod. I have been following VOCES8 ever since and I keep coming back to this recording. It is utterly sublime and so moving. It would be one of my Desert Island Discs - if I am ever famous enough to be invited onto the programme!! 😏
25 thumbs down. All that evolution to get to opposable thumbs to do this with them... makes me nuts. My wife went in for a procedure at a hospital here in Boston a few years back (it went fine - no sad story here) and for whatever reason, they had a harpist playing right outside the recovery room. All I could think about was coming out of anesthetic to the sounds of sweet harp music and wondering if I'd gone to Heaven (no... not me... no chance there I'm afraid). And I explained my thinking to the nurse who had the desk and she kind of laughed and said "I never thought of that"... goofy story. But for folks who do get to follow the light, if there is such a thing, I'm pretty sure this is what it would sound like. I know that Elgar isn't considered one of the "important" composers, but to have written even just this piece of music. What more could a creator ask of one of his or her creations? And to be able to perform it like this? Is there a better purpose for a human being?
To me, Elgar created the most amazing shimmering sound in this movement. It seems perfect to go with this sacred text: eternal light. Typically, Voces8 delivers a profoundly brilliant performance.
Of the Voices in particular: The only Superlatives I could add to those already used in the comments: Vox Angelus Of the Room: We often say: "The Room is the other half of the Paino/Forte"; This Room uplifts, supports and enhances this spectacular sound (and am sure it's why they chose it over others)... No Coincidence. With all our Technology, it's still hard to say we've mastered the art/science of Room Crafting. Many Years of Good health and Joyful performances to all the crew!
Exquisitely beautiful interpretation of this imaginative setting of "Nimrod" (Enigma Variations). Though the text is from the ordinary of the funeral mass, the theme of eternal light is singularly appropriate for these challenging times. Profound thanks for this lovely musical offering. Later -- two years later. Christmas Eve 2022 -- and again and again I return to this inspiring amalgam of text and music. At now 82, and mostly housebound, it is musical settings and renderings such as these.that keep my faith alive in my silent solitude. Thank you, Voces 8 for your inspired musical ministry to a rather derelect former choirmaster and chorister. Christmas blessings to you all!
Garywait3231, you have perfectly expressed my personal thoughts and I adopt your heartfelt comments as my own. Thank you, Voces8, and warm wishes to all the other former choral directors and singers, especially those who might be homebound or living with physical impairments. God bless you and keep you in the palm of his hand.
@@RobertChastain : My heartfelt thanks, and best New Year's wishes to you, for your kind words. And thanks to groups like Voces 8 who give us such a blessed foretaste of the music of the spheres!
first second i listened to it in class beside my friend, I looked at her and she was so confused and concerned and my facial expressions, and I don't blame her, I am still awe struck 🤩❤️ i have always wondered if this piece had been arranged for a choir and here it is❤️
Some music affects a certain part of the brain. The harmony and beauty of this piece always brings tears to my eyes, whether I am listening to it or playing it.
Sublime and haunting . One of the most beautiful and sad pieces of music I have ever heard. Perhaps only equalled by Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings.
This always reminds of remembrance sunday which commemorates all those who died in WW1 and WW2 it always brings tears to my eyes when I think of all the young men who died in such awful scenes,
When I worked in Central London, I used to pop into this church to hear free 'dinner time' music - always something to appreciate, but this is exceptional.
Came here via their recording of Underneath The Stars - Kate Rusby and it goes without saying I'm glad I did. What a pleasure to hear this arrangement, I'm obviously aware of the verison played on Remberance Sunday, but to hear words put to the music is thrilling and so so moving. I also appreciated the touching Comments. Perfect & Thank you and peace to you all.
With all the world afire, our nation divided, the human condition leaves a great deal to be desired...and then...one finds redemption, in the form of human voices that reflect our better angels.
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis, quia pius es. May perpetual light shine upon them, O Lord, with your saints forever, for you are merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them, for you are merciful.
Did Elgar himself ever associate these words and this title with this music? Not in the orchestral work, obviously, but elsewhere. There was, by the way, a scene in a British movie in which the young organist uses his playing of "Nimrod" to seduce a woman he has just met. I'm not endorsing such a thing, you understand, but it must have made an impression on me. Who knows the movie?
Elgar wrote this piece to himself. It's one of the only pieces performed orchestrally that pulls my heartstrings. The lux aeterna text was the perfect addition. Lamenting, hopeful, etheral
I heard this on the radio a couple of weeks ago. Of course, I was quite aware of Nimrod, but not of the addition of the wonderful Lux Aeterna text. My dear friend, who is declining rapidly with dementia, totally fell in love with this setting, and is moved to tears whenever I play it for her. Between losing her, and my own mother's terminal illness, this arrangement not only provides beauty, but some comfort in the pain of loss.
Exquisite! Young people making such beautiful music gives hope that this troubled world has a better future coming, and harmony indeed can rule in this world and in our souls; Godspeed
In case of Rock fans in here: The norwegian band Motorpsycho released in 2019 their interpretation of this communio. It's starting perfectly mellow and leads further on to a sheer psychotic and thrilling lot.
Eternal rest grant unto her, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her! And through the mercy of God, may all the faithful departed rest in peace. Hail Mary, Full of Grace… Amen. And may our Lord Jesus Christ and all the angels and saints, especially Our Blessed Mother, comfort you and pray for the repose of your dear mother’s soul. Amen. God bless you, Sister!
It was the late Prince Philip's funeral that led me to hear this music. It was one of the songs he selected to be played at his funeral, and it was indeed played at the Windsor Castle.
Has it ever been discovered /established what the final enigma variation was ? In this variation I hear great feeling. A love and a great sadness that that love will pass away and be no more.
