LOL!!!!!! totally agree, i think the slower this song is done, the more enchanting and sincere the song sounds...my fav xmas carol, along with god rest ye merry gentlemen
Emocionei-me com essa canção que conheci com meu avô. Transporta nosso espírito, seja com defeitos ou não na interpretação. Não importa a idade dela. Nossas mães são mais velhas do que nós. Eu não faria melhor. O que importa é a emoção do encontro com a Paz Divina. É o respeito a todos, temos que ser gentis para merecê-Lo em nossa casa.Um recomeço para muitos. Um continuar na luta, para mim. Obrigada por postagem tão linda!
Antmenah wrote, Oh Holy night..!! What a tender voice and wondrous melody!! It´s like a chorus of angels comming from the earth and the sky at the same..
The Marseillaise connection. During WWI, a French operatic tenor was enlisted. On Christmas Eve, he set out and walked for miles along the trenches, singing "Allons, Cretiens!" The French troops joined in. The British sang "O come all ye Faithful. Across the trenches, the Germans sang "Silent Night". The guns were silent. Allied and German soldiers met each other in no-man's land and exchanged gifts "Clearly he tells us to love one another. His way is love and his message is Peace."
When she starts the first "fall on your knees" i get goosebumps. a bit fast, but kiri is just so brilliant she could do whatever she wants, and it'd be ok with me!
To add to the great responses others have added, and to branch on Aurora's coordination comment; ensuring that every one follows the same thing is a must. Only the soloist generally plays from memory; sometimes the conductor, too, but not regularly. It's not just lyrics, it's rhythm and pitch. Aurora's right, doing this is very difficult.
Pant pant... Kiri! wait for me! (no I couldn´t keep up.) Wonder what they thought? "Let´s do something new with this boring old song! How about double the pace?" Aside from that - Dame Kiri is DIVINE. Sounds amazingly like Elisabeth Söderström here! (she must be a fan of Elisabeth. Like me!)Greetings from Swedish music critic
Thank goodness for your comment! It's true - people are always treating the pop versions are difinitive. I was trained in opera, and I'm always horrified to hear the way these traditional songs are rated by a pop-crazed culture
The medals the boys are wearing are probably from the Royal School of Church Music. They usually signify a senior position in the Chair such as Head Chorister or a section leader such as Trebles or altos. Oh Holy Night must be one of the most beautiful Christmas song ever composed and it is sung delightfully here, although I prefer a tenor voice - rather than the soprano - with choir for this glorious song. Have a blessed Christmas.
@missjessmain Yes, something like that. This must be some time between 1997 and 1999-2000 that was when young Edward burrowes was the soloist in that choir... the Burrowes dinasty ;-)
Because professional choir doesn't spend much for rehearsal. Especially those who sing for the chapel choir, they get the piece only 1 hour before hand. They have the ability to sight-singing. How many songs/hymms do you expect the choir to memorise?
Should anyone look at the original score in the French they will see dotted eighth notes followed by 16th notes throughout. That's not to suggest the song be rushed, but rather that it was never intended to be sung in those elongated phrases every musical score of the song is edited as. It's sad sometimes to me how an artist's original work gets changed by the crowds. That said, any version of this song is meaningful, and I adore the words.
"Holy Marseillaise" is a very perceptive comment. This is a French Carol, of which the main words are "Allons, Cretiens!" not "O Holy Night". However, the Brits already had "Come all Ye Faithful" and "O Come Chris-tians" sounds clumsy. So a talented translator used poetic license and gave the sone a title which (in Englis) does justice to the beautiful French music. The rest is a very accurate paraphrase of the original.
I think that this song has been slowed down in most popular recordings to the extent that we are unused to hearing it at a regular tempo. While the slowness allows professionals to squeeze the life out of every note, it makes it impossible for ordinary singers to perform without comedy insuing. I enjoyed the quicker tempo. I wonder what Adams intended.
In regards to the tempo, let's be fair to Dame Kiri here. The tempo is set by the COMPOSER (John Rutter) and enforced by the CONDUCTOR. Dame Kiri is not at all to blame for the speed. She's singing it as marked by the composer and as conducted by the conductor.
Hi Ellandella. I'm sure Kiri would be monoured to hear she sounded like the great Elisabeth Söderström. I can assume alos she is a big fan. As for the speed, the is the correct spped of this songs. Mario Lanza, who is also not a bad singer, sings also at this tempo. People are getting used to versions by pop "stars" like Carey and Dion singing this like a dirge, and an octave lower. This is meant to be a Christmas Carol to announce the birth of Christ, not a death march.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a professional. That is her work. What is she supposed to do,,perform cartwheels to entertain choirboys?? I prefer to think that the ex-choirboy is a prat.
This rendition was sung much too swiftly; a pretty and goosebump-inducing song should never be sped-up but sung with reverent patience and heartful preesence.
I grew up in the Methodist church, and christmas, without these beautiful hymns, is not the same for me...Great choir!
The contrast between the choristers and soloist is stunning. The tempo is nothing short of joyful & glorious. BRAVO!!!
Bravo to the woman dressed in the red long dress. Thank you so much for this lovely rendition of O Holy Night
Diane Levesque
Absolutely stunning. The choristers provide a wonderful foil for the soloist. The tempo is joyful & glorious. Thank you for sharing.
LOL!!!!!! totally agree, i think the slower this song is done, the more enchanting and sincere the song sounds...my fav xmas carol, along with god rest ye merry gentlemen
breath-taking performance! Amazing vocal job. One of the best choir versions on youtube.
This hymn is called the "holy marseillaise". It is beautyfull, like the German "Silent Night, Holy Night". A lot of greetings from Berlin, Germany
Emocionei-me com essa canção que conheci com meu avô. Transporta nosso espírito, seja com defeitos ou não na interpretação. Não importa a idade dela. Nossas mães são mais velhas do que nós. Eu não faria melhor. O que importa é a emoção do encontro com a Paz Divina. É o respeito a todos, temos que ser gentis para merecê-Lo em nossa casa.Um recomeço para muitos. Um continuar na luta, para mim. Obrigada por postagem tão linda!
Hello Erenir
Antmenah wrote,
Oh Holy night..!! What a tender voice and wondrous melody!! It´s like a chorus of angels comming from the earth and the sky at the same..
Its past christmas. I´m still listening to it.
The Marseillaise connection. During WWI, a French operatic tenor was enlisted. On Christmas Eve, he set out and walked for miles along the trenches, singing "Allons, Cretiens!" The French troops joined in. The British sang "O come all ye Faithful. Across the trenches, the Germans sang "Silent Night". The guns were silent. Allied and German soldiers met each other in no-man's land and exchanged gifts
"Clearly he tells us to love one another. His way is love and his message is Peace."
The soprano, delighting us with my favorite Christmas song , Is the incomparable and most beautiful Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
No doubt about it, absolutely beautiful.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
Antmenah wrote,
Thanks Nerialves, I´ve enjoyed this wondrous chorus and all the beauty, what a powerful and magic voice..!!
I don't know i thought it was Beautiful. thanks so much for sharing this with me.
she's... AMAZING! I have shivers.
and the choir is excellent too.
I've sung it in the italian version and I love it!
LOVE IT...she sings so bueaiful. I also think the background choir is very important. thanks and merry christmas from Vancouver Canada.
A wonderful performance, thank you.
Thank you thank you thank you for uploading a beautiful version of this song.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful song !
This is the best performance I ever heard
Huibert, The Neterlands
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing. Ny wife and I thoroughly
enjoyed thsi!!!
Ralph & Ann
From the North Bay Area of San Francisco Bay Area!!!!
musky527 thank you so much Ralph and Ann
Happy Christmas from Episcopalians in Wilmington North Carolina
I'm speechless!! BRAVO!!!
Angel we have herd on high, would be the song.
Merry Christmas!
merry christmas! Lutherans in Santa Barbara, CA.
Nice piece. Thank you for sharing it.
wow...this song is amazing
Bellísimo....
Merry Christmas from GETTYSBURG
lovely!!
This is so beautiful
When she starts the first "fall on your knees" i get goosebumps. a bit fast, but kiri is just so brilliant she could do whatever she wants, and it'd be ok with me!
nice vioce by the young singers,,,
ALELUIAS!
JESUS CRISTO É O SENHOR!!!
spagbowl....
thanks for your insight
OMG!!!!! THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
The choir was gorgeous and the leading lady was phenominal!!!!!!! =)
She reminded me a lot of Lisa Vroman =)
I second that.
Brilliant voice.
Qu-via-su-git-si Qu-via-sung-na-mi in inuktitut or in english Merry Christmas Everyone From Arviat, Nunavut Canada (Far North).
yes...a nail appointment...as every soprano has on Monday nights.
Very good!
ahh....i wonder if our class was at least 75% good as the choir..that choir has skills!!!
To add to the great responses others have added, and to branch on Aurora's coordination comment; ensuring that every one follows the same thing is a must. Only the soloist generally plays from memory; sometimes the conductor, too, but not regularly.
It's not just lyrics, it's rhythm and pitch. Aurora's right, doing this is very difficult.
Pant pant... Kiri! wait for me! (no I couldn´t keep up.) Wonder what they thought? "Let´s do something new with this boring old song! How about double the pace?"
Aside from that - Dame Kiri is DIVINE. Sounds amazingly like Elisabeth Söderström here! (she must be a fan of Elisabeth. Like me!)Greetings from Swedish music critic
AH the fa fa fa stuff I like this too despite the pompous prigs ! Thanks for post from a common man , sincerly !:)
Thank goodness for your comment! It's true - people are always treating the pop versions are difinitive. I was trained in opera, and I'm always horrified to hear the way these traditional songs are rated by a pop-crazed culture
You've said it perfectly. This would have been mesmorising if they had just slowed it down.
The medals the boys are wearing are probably from the Royal School of Church Music. They usually signify a senior position in the Chair such as Head Chorister or a section leader such as Trebles or altos. Oh Holy Night must be one of the most beautiful Christmas song ever composed and it is sung delightfully here, although I prefer a tenor voice - rather than the soprano - with choir for this glorious song. Have a blessed Christmas.
@missjessmain Yes, something like that. This must be some time between 1997 and 1999-2000 that was when young Edward burrowes was the soloist in that choir... the Burrowes dinasty ;-)
I agree, i am used to a much slower version.
Because professional choir doesn't spend much for rehearsal. Especially those who sing for the chapel choir, they get the piece only 1 hour before hand. They have the ability to sight-singing. How many songs/hymms do you expect the choir to memorise?
this hymn sounds like a holy marseillaise
Ha, good point!
Nice arrangement with good energy. I've also enjoyed the rendition by Libera.
Agreed
Should anyone look at the original score in the French they will see dotted eighth notes followed by 16th notes throughout. That's not to suggest the song be rushed, but rather that it was never intended to be sung in those elongated phrases every musical score of the song is edited as. It's sad sometimes to me how an artist's original work gets changed by the crowds. That said, any version of this song is meaningful, and I adore the words.
I knew I recognised that voice! Go NZ :) even though I do think there are better versions, yes :)
KEPT YOU WAITING TWO HOURS? What for? GOOD LORD!
It is very good, but it will be better, when it would be more slowly. Very nice voices. The sopran sounds very pure and young.
@ellle87 St Pauls Cathedral Choir.. around 15 years ago now I think!
@Ebosse4368
She is Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
why such a fast tempo? this beautiful song should not be rushed
"Holy Marseillaise" is a very perceptive comment. This is a French Carol, of which the main words are "Allons, Cretiens!" not "O Holy Night". However, the Brits already had "Come all Ye Faithful" and "O Come Chris-tians" sounds clumsy. So a talented translator used poetic license and gave the sone a title which (in Englis) does justice to the beautiful French music. The rest is a very accurate paraphrase of the original.
I agree !
Nice church, but to fast song. Merry Christmas from Ljubljana, Sloevenia, EU
I think that this song has been slowed down in most popular recordings to the extent that we are unused to hearing it at a regular tempo. While the slowness allows professionals to squeeze the life out of every note, it makes it impossible for ordinary singers to perform without comedy insuing. I enjoyed the quicker tempo. I wonder what Adams intended.
Wow! I didn't know Judith Light could sing.
@crowneplaza1
No, she is Kiri Te Kanawa and not Maria Callas. Callas died in1977.
In regards to the tempo, let's be fair to Dame Kiri here. The tempo is set by the COMPOSER (John Rutter) and enforced by the CONDUCTOR. Dame Kiri is not at all to blame for the speed. She's singing it as marked by the composer and as conducted by the conductor.
I didnt like how rushed her part was, but the choir was BEAUTIFUL.
I agree with silverstatrucker
How many versus are there to this song
@preruminator: I agree. Aren't we beyong the speed limit here?
Got to admit, as wonderful as Kiri is, she should have left this song to the boys who really know
how to sing this song.
speedy and cold.
Hi Ellandella. I'm sure Kiri would be monoured to hear she sounded like the great Elisabeth Söderström. I can assume alos she is a big fan. As for the speed, the is the correct spped of this songs. Mario Lanza, who is also not a bad singer, sings also at this tempo. People are getting used to versions by pop "stars" like Carey and Dion singing this like a dirge, and an octave lower. This is meant to be a Christmas Carol to announce the birth of Christ, not a death march.
@2241322 i agree !
Its judith light! But wheres tony danza?
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a professional. That is her work. What is she supposed to do,,perform cartwheels to entertain choirboys?? I prefer to think that the ex-choirboy is a prat.
@BlueTunisia erm, theres one called hurry to bethlehem, but i dont think that's the one
Y la alcanzarían?
Oh, your book is good. You have the original version of the score then!
@SultanaBranWthBanana :-)
What do the medals mean some of the boys are wearing?
I can see little Edward... is connor there also?
@Slacktoo you dont need to believe in god to appreciate beauty
@kikkerl That's what i was thinking. I was like um....in my hymn book it says reverently and this is so not the count.....0_o
It's called ARRANGEMENT (Interpretation) ... Maybe by the conductor.
Who is the singer in this?
Why does she sing this lovely song soooo quicklie????
The boy soloist should have sung it.
too fast for this recording but considering the acoustic of the room a perfect tempo for this live performance in St Paul's
This rendition was sung much too swiftly; a pretty and goosebump-inducing song should never be sped-up but sung with reverent patience and heartful preesence.
Any-one know who The soprano is?
kiri te kanawa
St Paul's isnt affiliated to the RSCM.
Isn't the tempo a little too fast?
the greens are humans, the reds are aliens
I completely agree with ifuliki.Surely in St. Pauls' choir there must be a treble who can sing it better than her.