Is this your first exposure to Voces8? Wow! Get ready for a deep dive. :) They. Are. FANTASTIC. And their collabs with other choral groups like this one are always top notch.
Thank you for checking this out. This is the video that introduced me to Ringmasters, but I've followed Voces8 for years. I've seen them in concert several times here in the states, from a small church to the massive Basilica Cathedral of St Louis. Stunning doesn't even cover it. Fall on the floor, weeping tears of joy more like it. Blake is the tall bearded guy in Voces8, and the lone American. His arrangements are wonderful. The gentleman to his right is Barney Smith, the music director and counter-tenor singing alto. Andrea is the tall soprano, and you really must hear her live. Her voice is a wonder. Anything they have done is worth checking out. They have been on Djesse 1 and Djesse 4 of Jacob Collier, and "Seven Psalms" from Paul Simon. They have a parent organization, the Voces8 Foundation, with 2 other performing ensembles, Apollo, UK based mixed quintet, and the newly formed US based Lyyra, which is an upper voice sextet. They have 3 singles out now from their upcoming debut. Check out "Here there be Mermaids" or "Jhoro Jhoro". The foundation is in the business of promoting choral singing, often working with local schools in the towns they tour into. Class people, every one of them.
VOCES8 is the England a cappella octet, while Ringmasters are a Swedish barbershop quartet (2012 Barbershop Harmony Society champions). So yes, you would be right in feeling a bit of barbershop in the way they sing! This particularly arrangement we're hearing is arranged by Blake Morgan (tenor of VOCES8), and it's slightly different than your usual 12-singer ensemble. What he's trying to do is still somewhat separate the SSAATTBB octet and the TTBB quartet, so at times you'll hear sections where it's just the octet / quartet, and other times you'll hear some beautiful interweaving countermelodies. As an a cappella and barbershop fan, this is AWESOME and I definitely really want more octet-quartet collabs! Amazing video as always Jen, love your analysis on the vocal aspects so that I can appreciate their art even further!
If you want to check out more of Ringmasters, give ua-cam.com/video/Qo_N9_ZFBhs/v-deo.html a listen. This is with the original bass and was done at the 2016 BHS International Convention on the Association of International Champions show.
This is easily one of the most mindblowing close harmony/barbershop arrangements I‘ve ever heard. Blake is a FANTASTIC arranger (and composer as well!). Try reacting to his Grammy-nominated „Slumber, My Darling“ 🥹😭😍
Fantastic as always Jen! I encourage more Voces8 on your channel when you want to nerd out, as they are truly in a league of their own with arrangements, blending, all the nerdy chamber choir things that I could ramble on forever about. There aren't enough adjectives to describe how lovely each of these people are as vocalists and human beings. My ears and my mind are at ease when I hear them!
I used to sing this old gospel song while growing up. It was written in 1863 by Robert Lowry. If you're not familiar with Voces8, they have over a hundred UA-cam videos, each one better than the last. I was blown away the first time I heard them perform "The Deer's Cry," by Arvo Part. LONG pauses between phrases, but they all come in exactly at the right moment, all done without a conductor. Impeccable technique...
I'm surprised, Just Jenn, that you did not recognise this piece. It is a very well known spiritual but I have never heard it arranged and sung as well as this. The words were oft hidden by the wonderful notes.
1st time ever, Jen analyzing a video that I have already added to a playlist. Thank you. Pray consider analyzing the VOCES8 cover of "Salvation is created".
Thanks Jen, I have been working with some of their songs in order to help my breathing, their breath control is extremely good and that is one of the things lacking in my singing since my heart surgery! This group Voces8 is very hard to stay with breath wise. My vocal teacher turned me on to them! Great analysis! Again thanks! Low bass Kenneth.
While not true barbershop, I think you could consider this a really good introduction to same. There are many really good barbershop quartets and choruses on You Tube and I would be interested in hearing your analysis of some of them.
Very fun watching your brain explode! I have only been listening to Voces8 for a couple of years and love everything they have done. I found RingMasters through this collab on the @VOCES8 UA-cam channel and am enjoying exploring their recordings as well.
Nice video,I reckon this piece by Voces8 and The Ringmasters is one of the most special I've ever seen,so beautiful and powerful,loved your reaction to it and your analysis ❤
Voces 8 specializes in classical choral music -- they are world-class and fantastic! RIngmasters are champs in the barbershop world -- it's rare that these two worlds ever cross, but this collab is divine! (btw, Blake is the tall tenor in V8)
Once was listening to a new Voces8 YT post. Tears were coming out of my eyes at about four notes in. Definitely check out their rendition of Allegri's Misereri. Will bring watery eyes, too.
This song is well known to me, but this is this most beautiful arrangement I’ve heard. These voices are incredible, the acoustics are amazing. Stunning. I felt this one. 😊 Thanks for introducing these two groups. ❤
Hello Jenn -- since you were unsure at the outset, the two gents in the middle of the screen (at say, 3:18) are Barnaby Smith (the shorter one on the left, almost all in black...he is the director of Voces8, and sings countertenor) and Blake Morgan (the much taller one, in a black and blue flannel, on the right, sings tenor, and is the one who wrote the arrangement). Yes, Barnaby does give a very subtle nudge to get the group going. Looking at the whole group, at 5:32 (of your vid), you've got the Voces8 group with the backs mostly to the camera, from left to right the voices are BBTTAASS. The four members of Ringmasters are facing the camera, Bari, Bass, Lead, Tenor left to right. The musical arrangement largely ignores the two groups as groups. In other words, they're standing as if there are two bass "sections" and two tenor "sections", but that is not how the arrangement works. You are correct in your guess that the tallest woman is the S1. Andrea's voice is absolutely magical. The tune is a very old American hymn (rooted in "spirituals"), but the arranger, Blake, is the only American in the group. I think the rest of Voces8 are British, and Ringmasters are all from Sweden. The sound of the group as a whole reflects what I think of as "the Voces8 sound", how Barnaby rehearses them to sound. Absolutely top-notch professionals, all twelve. Thanks for bringing back a lot of stuff I learned in college decades ago (vocal pedagogy major). I've listened to this performance a dozen times or more. It is such a clinic on how to sing, how to sing together, how to agree on vowels, and primarily (for these old ears) how to make an arrangement extraordinarily interesting while using pretty much only diatonic harmony. There is some polytonality (E major against E-flat major triads near the end there, for example ("shall we gather"), and some ninths thrown in to great effect (e.g. the last chord -- which also has that delicious high fifth in S1).
Jennifer! Hmm I don't think I know this group but I have heard the song before in church at some point. A cappella though, this should be good. Interesting intro. And at 6:45 we get a lesson from professor Jen! 😊 Wow it really builds at 7:45. Great acoustics where they are. Oh my! Voces8 are British! Formed by 2 brothers who were choristers at Westminster Abbey! Oh my goodness I can't wait to visit London Jen! But I digress. Gotta focus here. 😁 O. M. G! That was just stunning! Jen surely we will have more of one or both of these groups in the future, right? I was, like you, speechless! Awesome reaction and analysis as always Jen.
i don’t understand how hayley williams (paramore) sings decode, the acoustic version on youtube is amazing. it’s black and white posted by XTM301! PLEASE REACT ANE EXPLAIN 🙏
Is this your first exposure to Voces8? Wow! Get ready for a deep dive. :) They. Are. FANTASTIC. And their collabs with other choral groups like this one are always top notch.
Thank you for checking this out. This is the video that introduced me to Ringmasters, but I've followed Voces8 for years. I've seen them in concert several times here in the states, from a small church to the massive Basilica Cathedral of St Louis. Stunning doesn't even cover it. Fall on the floor, weeping tears of joy more like it. Blake is the tall bearded guy in Voces8, and the lone American. His arrangements are wonderful. The gentleman to his right is Barney Smith, the music director and counter-tenor singing alto. Andrea is the tall soprano, and you really must hear her live. Her voice is a wonder. Anything they have done is worth checking out. They have been on Djesse 1 and Djesse 4 of Jacob Collier, and "Seven Psalms" from Paul Simon.
They have a parent organization, the Voces8 Foundation, with 2 other performing ensembles, Apollo, UK based mixed quintet, and the newly formed US based Lyyra, which is an upper voice sextet. They have 3 singles out now from their upcoming debut. Check out "Here there be Mermaids" or "Jhoro Jhoro".
The foundation is in the business of promoting choral singing, often working with local schools in the towns they tour into. Class people, every one of them.
VOCES8 is the England a cappella octet, while Ringmasters are a Swedish barbershop quartet (2012 Barbershop Harmony Society champions). So yes, you would be right in feeling a bit of barbershop in the way they sing!
This particularly arrangement we're hearing is arranged by Blake Morgan (tenor of VOCES8), and it's slightly different than your usual 12-singer ensemble. What he's trying to do is still somewhat separate the SSAATTBB octet and the TTBB quartet, so at times you'll hear sections where it's just the octet / quartet, and other times you'll hear some beautiful interweaving countermelodies. As an a cappella and barbershop fan, this is AWESOME and I definitely really want more octet-quartet collabs!
Amazing video as always Jen, love your analysis on the vocal aspects so that I can appreciate their art even further!
If you want to check out more of Ringmasters, give ua-cam.com/video/Qo_N9_ZFBhs/v-deo.html a listen. This is with the original bass and was done at the 2016 BHS International Convention on the Association of International Champions show.
Ringmasters ARE a barbershop quartet of championship caliber!
This is easily one of the most mindblowing close harmony/barbershop arrangements I‘ve ever heard. Blake is a FANTASTIC arranger (and composer as well!). Try reacting to his Grammy-nominated „Slumber, My Darling“ 🥹😭😍
Hold on! Does this mean you haven't reacted to The Ringmasters' Notre Dame Medley?!?! It's not to be missed!
Beat me to it! I second this
@@Alieo24And I third, fourth and fifth it!
It absolutely is a must-see!
since we're talking barbershop I gotta seventh it!:D
It's a must-watch and may be the start of a new obsession
More Voces8 please. Love your analysis. Thanks.
Fantastic as always Jen! I encourage more Voces8 on your channel when you want to nerd out, as they are truly in a league of their own with arrangements, blending, all the nerdy chamber choir things that I could ramble on forever about. There aren't enough adjectives to describe how lovely each of these people are as vocalists and human beings. My ears and my mind are at ease when I hear them!
Will definitely be back!😊
I used to sing this old gospel song while growing up. It was written in 1863 by Robert Lowry. If you're not familiar with Voces8, they have over a hundred UA-cam videos, each one better than the last. I was blown away the first time I heard them perform "The Deer's Cry," by Arvo Part. LONG pauses between phrases, but they all come in exactly at the right moment, all done without a conductor. Impeccable technique...
I'm surprised, Just Jenn, that you did not recognise this piece. It is a very well known spiritual but I have never heard it arranged and sung as well as this. The words were oft hidden by the wonderful notes.
I was waiting with bated breath to get to the ending. I knew you'd be transcended.
Thank you for bringing “new” groups for me to investigate further. This was so ethereal, uplifting, beautiful! Great job, Jen. ❤️🤗
The first time I heard them do this, it left me breathless. Thank you for doing this one!
1st time ever, Jen analyzing a video that I have already added to a playlist. Thank you. Pray consider analyzing the VOCES8 cover of "Salvation is created".
Thanks Jen, I have been working with some of their songs in order to help my breathing, their breath control is extremely good and that is one of the things lacking in my singing since my heart surgery! This group Voces8 is very hard to stay with breath wise. My vocal teacher turned me on to them! Great analysis! Again thanks! Low bass Kenneth.
While not true barbershop, I think you could consider this a really good introduction to same. There are many really good barbershop quartets and choruses on You Tube and I would be interested in hearing your analysis of some of them.
Very fun watching your brain explode!
I have only been listening to Voces8 for a couple of years and love everything they have done.
I found RingMasters through this collab on the @VOCES8 UA-cam channel and am enjoying exploring their recordings as well.
Nice video,I reckon this piece by Voces8 and The Ringmasters is one of the most special I've ever seen,so beautiful and powerful,loved your reaction to it and your analysis ❤
Voces 8 specializes in classical choral music -- they are world-class and fantastic! RIngmasters are champs in the barbershop world -- it's rare that these two worlds ever cross, but this collab is divine! (btw, Blake is the tall tenor in V8)
I LOVE watching you when the music touches you so much you tear up. It validates me tearing up too!
Don’t think I’ve ever caught one of your videos this early! Thank you for your great analysis and reaction!
Great insights as always, thanks Jen 😊
One of my favorite videos -- of all time -- is Voces8 and The King's Singers doing Billy Joel's Lullaby. It. IS. STUNNING.
Once was listening to a new Voces8 YT post. Tears were coming out of my eyes at about four notes in. Definitely check out their rendition of Allegri's Misereri. Will bring watery eyes, too.
This song is well known to me, but this is this most beautiful arrangement I’ve heard. These voices are incredible, the acoustics are amazing. Stunning. I felt this one. 😊
Thanks for introducing these two groups. ❤
You should listen & react to the "Notre Dame Medley" by Ringmasters aswell, its an amazing performance/ arrangement :)
So long as it's not the one with the orchestra drowning them out, I wholeheartedly concur. Wearing black suits, not the bright red jackets!
Hi Jennifer hope you are having an great and awesome day ❤
VOCES8 make such beautiful choral music, and adding the Ringmasters here adds even more to the depth of the sound.
Avi Kaplan and Voices8 did a short video “Calidonia” that sounds great
Voces 8 is a different league....check their version of "sleep" by eric whitacre...or our version of Finlandia...out of this world
That was glorious. Love your reaction Jen
thank you for this Jenn ..
Voces8 allegri miserere their rendition is superb. It doesn't hurt the Christopher Wren designed their performance space.
Hello Jenn -- since you were unsure at the outset, the two gents in the middle of the screen (at say, 3:18) are Barnaby Smith (the shorter one on the left, almost all in black...he is the director of Voces8, and sings countertenor) and Blake Morgan (the much taller one, in a black and blue flannel, on the right, sings tenor, and is the one who wrote the arrangement). Yes, Barnaby does give a very subtle nudge to get the group going.
Looking at the whole group, at 5:32 (of your vid), you've got the Voces8 group with the backs mostly to the camera, from left to right the voices are BBTTAASS. The four members of Ringmasters are facing the camera, Bari, Bass, Lead, Tenor left to right. The musical arrangement largely ignores the two groups as groups. In other words, they're standing as if there are two bass "sections" and two tenor "sections", but that is not how the arrangement works. You are correct in your guess that the tallest woman is the S1. Andrea's voice is absolutely magical.
The tune is a very old American hymn (rooted in "spirituals"), but the arranger, Blake, is the only American in the group. I think the rest of Voces8 are British, and Ringmasters are all from Sweden. The sound of the group as a whole reflects what I think of as "the Voces8 sound", how Barnaby rehearses them to sound. Absolutely top-notch professionals, all twelve.
Thanks for bringing back a lot of stuff I learned in college decades ago (vocal pedagogy major). I've listened to this performance a dozen times or more. It is such a clinic on how to sing, how to sing together, how to agree on vowels, and primarily (for these old ears) how to make an arrangement extraordinarily interesting while using pretty much only diatonic harmony. There is some polytonality (E major against E-flat major triads near the end there, for example ("shall we gather"), and some ninths thrown in to great effect (e.g. the last chord -- which also has that delicious high fifth in S1).
The ending reminds me of the finale to Stravinsky's Firebird actually!
Hi Jen, I would love for you to react to some of Avi Kaplins' solo work on here.
This is an older Protestant hymn. I think it was used in the movie “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Jennifer! Hmm I don't think I know this group but I have heard the song before in church at some point. A cappella though, this should be good. Interesting intro. And at 6:45 we get a lesson from professor Jen! 😊 Wow it really builds at 7:45. Great acoustics where they are. Oh my! Voces8 are British! Formed by 2 brothers who were choristers at Westminster Abbey! Oh my goodness I can't wait to visit London Jen! But I digress. Gotta focus here. 😁 O. M. G! That was just stunning! Jen surely we will have more of one or both of these groups in the future, right? I was, like you, speechless! Awesome reaction and analysis as always Jen.
For sure need to be back😁 thank you!
My church used to sing this song, but as a country/bluegrass song.
i don’t understand how hayley williams (paramore) sings decode, the acoustic version on youtube is amazing. it’s black and white posted by XTM301! PLEASE REACT ANE EXPLAIN 🙏
Can't wait until you do Geoff Castelucci's new video "Unshaken".
He brought back the 4 ghost riders from Ghost Riders In The Sky when they were alive.
That's Barney. Blake is on his left.
This is an old American spiritual from slavery days in the Southern USA.
😮