Nordic Choir, Allen Hightower, conductor perform Ēriks Ešenvalds' setting of Sara Teasdale's " Only Sleep". Luther College is located in Decorah, Iowa.
Sara Teasdale must smile on this setting of her words, and especially on this rendition. To realize her impression in this way so completely satisfying, and so satisfyingly complete.
IMHO the best version of the song on the whole internet. I love to come back from time to time. It always give me a shiver and heals my most terrible days. Thank you!
@@edwing71 I respectfully disagree. Sometimes less is more in a solo, I think. This version comes over far more smooth and natural then the Trinity Choir version.
I was in the Stranahan Singers in 1965-1966 and then the University Singers at the University of Florida from 1968-1970. I have great memories of those times and loved every moment of it. I am now years down the road, but I have never lost my love for the absolute beauty of the choral sound when it is done this well. This was a stunning rendition of this song and it not only brought many of the listeners to tears, it appears that a number of the singers felt the emotion of the moment as well. Not hard to understand when a song is done this well. Fabulous job, Allen Hightower and the Nordic Choir!
I was in the Illinois Honors All State Chorus 2017 and Dr. Hightower was the conductor. He truly is an amazing director and it was a pleasure to work with him :)
Words: Only in sleep I see their faces, Children I played with when I was a child, Louise comes back with her brown hair braided, Annie with ringlets warm and wild. Only in sleep Time is forgotten - What may have come to them, who can know? Yet we played last night as long ago, And the doll-house stood at the turn of the stair. The years had not sharpened their smooth round faces, I met their eyes and found them mild - Do they, too, dream of me, I wonder, And for them am I too a child? Sara Teasdale
The College's mascot is "The Norsemen". The college was established by Norwegian immigrants and this title for the "Nordic"choir is a continuation of the Norse Heritage.
Listening to this gave me chills after chills. I had to stop looking at my music (I'm hearing it for the first time to study) and just close my eyes. Amazing job, such a talented soloist and choir. Bravo.
There was a different recording/video of this same performance that Luther had posted to UA-cam. A year or two ago they took it down and posted another (also very good version, but not as good IMO). Oh how I wish they had never removed that version as the recording and videography were both superior to this one. It was amazing.
I agree that the other recording (? 2016) was better. It was taken down because Dr Hightower left Luther College. Music Department didn’t want videos of former choir director on their site or UA-cam. (I called to ask why)
Compliments! I love this song and this is a good interpretation. Bravi! (but it is exagerated saying that it is the best one on YT). Certainly, they deserve a location with a better acoustics and with a better microphoning of the set, especially for the soloist (instead, for example, of redundant personal cameras for the maestro). Thank you for sharing.
Many of the college choirs have multiple soloists for pieces and don't make not of them in the program. I have recorded this soloist a couple time in other years.
@@maestroz25 I have to share how often I go to only this version of this song, many times, for peace and rest from everyday noise and busy-ness😊😊 I'm grateful for your posts!
It was not until the very end that I realized that the choir members were holding hands. Just a lovely rendition of a beautiful piece.
A master class in ensemble phrasing. THIS is music... Well done.
Best version in youtube
Sara Teasdale must smile on this setting of her words, and especially on this rendition. To realize her impression in this way so completely satisfying, and so satisfyingly complete.
Chills. Absolutely stunning.
The soloist killed it too.
IMHO the best version of the song on the whole internet.
I love to come back from time to time. It always give me a shiver and heals my most terrible days.
Thank you!
Second best 🙂The best version is sung by The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge and Rachel Ambrose Evans, look it up on UA-cam, you'll enjoy it too!
@@edwing71 I respectfully disagree. Sometimes less is more in a solo, I think. This version comes over far more smooth and natural then the Trinity Choir version.
Wow! Very nice! Just stunningly beautiful!
The conductor in this piece now works at UNT! I met him during the all-state camp and didn't realize that he conducted this!
I was in the Stranahan Singers in 1965-1966 and then the University Singers at the University of Florida from 1968-1970. I have great memories of those times and loved every moment of it. I am now years down the road, but I have never lost my love for the absolute beauty of the choral sound when it is done this well. This was a stunning rendition of this song and it not only brought many of the listeners to tears, it appears that a number of the singers felt the emotion of the moment as well. Not hard to understand when a song is done this well. Fabulous job, Allen Hightower and the Nordic Choir!
I see the future choir president of this choir, in tears. Yes it was moving!
Sole wrenching !
Hermosa y muy conmovedora , es extraordinaria esta obra
Having a granddaughter called Annie, this brings emotions, memories and love flooding back to me. Superb rendition.
I was in the Illinois Honors All State Chorus 2017 and Dr. Hightower was the conductor. He truly is an amazing director and it was a pleasure to work with him :)
Congratulations! I sang in Nordic in the late 70s and there is nothing quite like it. Soli Deo gloria.
I do believe I saw at least two male singers with tears in their eyes (I wish I knew their names!). Beautifully expressed ALL!
So beautiful made me cry.
This performance was such a wonderful discovery on my youtube feed ❤️
This is extremely stunning. Way to go Nordic Choir.
Best performance! Surpasses all other choirs in this interpretation.
Wonderful support by the choir!
Words:
Only in sleep I see their faces,
Children I played with when I was a child,
Louise comes back with her brown hair braided,
Annie with ringlets warm and wild.
Only in sleep Time is forgotten -
What may have come to them, who can know?
Yet we played last night as long ago,
And the doll-house stood at the turn of the stair.
The years had not sharpened their smooth round faces,
I met their eyes and found them mild -
Do they, too, dream of me, I wonder,
And for them am I too a child?
Sara Teasdale
this is so beautiful.
Excellent video! Thanks again for sharing!! I just can't stop listening to their beautiful voices!
The hands. Very touching. Beautiful rendition, and I've listened to about two dozen on UA-cam. Why is this called a Nordic Choir in Iowa?
The College's mascot is "The Norsemen". The college was established by Norwegian immigrants and this title for the "Nordic"choir is a continuation of the Norse Heritage.
Listening to this gave me chills after chills. I had to stop looking at my music (I'm hearing it for the first time to study) and just close my eyes. Amazing job, such a talented soloist and choir. Bravo.
Congrats to the singers! - just beautiful - greetings from Belgium!
Outstanding....exactly what I would expect from Luther!
wonderful!
There was a different recording/video of this same performance that Luther had posted to UA-cam. A year or two ago they took it down and posted another (also very good version, but not as good IMO). Oh how I wish they had never removed that version as the recording and videography were both superior to this one. It was amazing.
I agree that the other recording (? 2016) was better. It was taken down because Dr Hightower left Luther College. Music Department didn’t want videos of former choir director on their site or UA-cam. (I called to ask why)
Bravo!!!
Compliments! I love this song and this is a good interpretation. Bravi! (but it is exagerated saying that it is the best one on YT). Certainly, they deserve a location with a better acoustics and with a better microphoning of the set, especially for the soloist (instead, for example, of redundant personal cameras for the maestro). Thank you for sharing.
2:14
Who is the soloist?
Many of the college choirs have multiple soloists for pieces and don't make not of them in the program. I have recorded this soloist a couple time in other years.
@@maestroz25 I have to share how often I go to only this version of this song, many times, for peace and rest from everyday noise and busy-ness😊😊 I'm grateful for your posts!
@@maestroz25 it would be great to view those if possible. Thanks for viewing my comments, really enjoy the content.
Soloist is Betsy Austin, Luther College 2016. And my daughter!
@@pataustin816 She is AMAZING! I hope she still sings?
bro is no tmea all state choir kid here bruh😭
im here pookie 😣✊
don’t worry we thriving
im in 8th grade so im just watching how tmea auditions are gonna work in the future 😭