Vocal Coach reacts to Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri - Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short
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Vocal Coach reacts reaction to Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri - Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short
Original Video: • Miserere mei, Deus - A...
I hope this video helps you understand your voice and what you can do to grow as a singer
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This one has always reduced me to tears, the beauty is beyond this world, quite overwhelming.
They sing the psalm 51, when you read this psalm while their singing, it brings an extra dimension.
If you want the ultimate contemporary song that does that for me, and probably will for you if you have a daughter, listen to, if you haven't heard it, Billy Joel's Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel). I almost NEVER get through that song without my eyes at least heavily wetting, and as absurd as it may sound, even writing this is promoting a bit of that. It is also a BEAUTIFUL bit of writing, both musically and in the text. You have been warned. :-)
Beauty beyond words.
Is this the most beautiful song ever written?
100% me too... not a dry eye in the house
I can only imagine the joy that the composer felt writing this piece and the power to provoke such deep, ethereal emotion...
God.
bro. it's literally psalm 51 of the holy bible. God inspired this work
@@Hi.Evetest You know, people don't believe God does things like inspiring a great work of music but He does...
@@oxigenarian9763 if don't believe that's not my problem. God inspired this psalm, those who don't like it can have therapy that might solve it.
There is a video telling the history of this piece, it is wonderful.
what a proper way to ask for mercy, always touches the soul.
The Lord bless you from Lebanon the Land of saints.
I’ve been lucky enough to sing the soprano solo in this fifteen times over the past ten years. It’s the highlight of my year. Thanks for bringing attention to this. I truly hope this reaches people who wouldn’t have otherwise heard it.
My soul loves this music. I am cleansed somehow just by listening to it. I was raised in the Catholic Church where I grew up in the Convents as a Ward of the State. This music reminds of the most private moments of reflection, where I found a joy within myself, during those many lonely years without my family. I felt absolute freedom and love. Even today at 55yrs, it soothes me. Like there is something bigger than ourselves and our circumstances. Something thats just Beautiful.
God bless you.✝️🙌🏼
Yes. I listened to this the day that Christ personally spoke to me and it made me weep.
When I saw the notification for this video, I was really excited, I've been obsessing over this song for years. Btw, I love your thoughts and opinions on music :)
Thank you so much!!
Should also look into "O Magnum Mysterium" by Lauridsen.. it's tough to decide which is best. Two songs with this name.. make sure it's Lauridsen's
It gives me a feeling of solemnity with in a sacred space or act like when taking the Eucharist, it leaves me in a state of peace .
This piece, interpreted by the Tenebrae Choir, never fails to bring tears to my eyes and goose flesh to my arms. Absolutely sublime.
Can't believe i had to wait all this time to see a vocal coach pick up this masterpiece. Glad it's you !
We all have the same Human Reaction because our Soul memory reminds us of the Angelic Heavenly Choirs that we all heard sung to the Great Glory to God when we were there and what we shall hear again when we go back.
and... That high "C" part before during and after is done with one breath .... omg it has power it is cleanly executed and a dynamic range .. all in one breath.. i love this piece from beginning to end over and over again
It's an extraordinary piece of music, proven by its popularity almost 500 years after it's creation!
No matter if you are a practicing christian or otherwise. It invokes a feeling of being part of something greater than oneself.
I can vision this song echo into the universe as a requiem for humanity.
The words are from Psalm 51, and thus not originally Christian at all, though what is sung is I presume the Latin translation by St Jerome.
@@faithlesshound5621 For a guy who named himself faithlesshound you seem to have quite extensive knowledge about early religious music. So of what religion was the composer Gregorio Allegri in your opinion? Please enlighten me.
@@GAIS414 Allegri wrote the music, but the choice of words was not his.
@@faithlesshound5621 I was referring to the music and the arrangement in the first place. As I don't speak Latin. I read up on it and there are references in the text from Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, and the Talmud. However in this version and setting, for all intents and purposes, it's definitely Christian.
@@GAIS414 I did not know that the Psalms of St Jerome's Old Testament had been Christianised and were not the same as those of the Jewish Bible. The Protestant reformers took great pains to ensure that their translations had NOT been changed from the original. There's a lot of overlap between Jewish and Christian beliefs. We don't know how much the people who wrote the Jewish texts in the first millennium BC took from Egypt, Greece and Babylon, or their Canaanite forebears: that was the world they lived in.
Maybe the music itself is Christian? If you mean it's in the style of church music, I would agree. 1500 years of development must have taken church music far from that made in other settings.
The story of how this wonderfull piece of music got outside of the Vatican is as follows: a teen from Salzburg traveled to Rome with his father and heard Miserere preformed twice in the Sistine Chapel and wrote it down from memory, and when the pope heard about it he was so impressed he gave the teen a order of chivalry, the teens name was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
PS: Beth reacting to one of my all time favorite songs is the best belated birthday present :D
Which is certainly not what happened, but it is a fun story. Copies of the piece were on sale by the time Mozart would have heard it. It had also been performed in London twice, by then.
@@hasseo1 Also, this version has mistake in it, which was introduced in 20th century and give signature feature at 3:14
@@hasseo1 don't be so arrogant in your ignorance. Confident stupidity makes you look bad.
"According to the popular story (backed by family letters), at fourteen years of age Mozart was visiting Rome when he first heard the piece during the Wednesday service. Later that day, he wrote it down entirely from memory, returning to the Chapel that Friday to make minor corrections. "
Sadly, it is just urban legend...
@@hasseo1 precisely that.. check the interview here: ua-cam.com/video/h6hD8YtO5HI/v-deo.html (at 2:40 minutes)
Beautiful. I’ve sung this with several very good chamber choirs, but Tenebrae are outstanding.
Vocal ensemble, double quintet in this case. Every voice is sung by only one singer.
So beautiful. “Have mercy on me oh God.” Just beautiful.
I can NEVER not cry when I hear this. The beauty?!!!
Lyrics for those who are interested.
Have mercy on me, God
According to your great kindness
And according to the multitude of your mercies,
Erase my iniquities
Wash me completely from my iniquities
And cleanse me of my sins
For I know my iniquities
And my sins are always before me
To you alone, I have sinned
And done evil before you
That you may be fair in your speech
And justified in your judgement
Behold, I was conceived in iniquity
And in sin did my mother conceived me
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts
And you teach me wisdom in the hidden places
Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow
Let me hear your joy and gladness
And my humble bones will rejoice
Turn your face away from my sins
And erase all of my iniquities
Create in me a pure heart, oh, God,
And renew your right spirit within me
Do not turn me away from your sight,
And do not take your Holy Spirit from me
Return your gladness and salvation to me
And uphold me with a willing spirit
I will teach sinners your way
And they will be converted unto you
Save me from blood,
God, God of my salvation
My tongue will praise of your righteousness
Lord, open my lips
And my mouth will sing your glory
Because you have not desired sacrifices
For you don't delight in sacrifices, or I would do so
Nor do you desire burnt offerings
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit
A broken and humble heart40
God will not despise
Do well before the Lord in your good pleasure to Zion
And build the walls of Jerusalem
Then you accept the sacrifices of righteousness
In oblations and burnt offerings
Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Check out O Magnum Mysterium by Lauridsen.. difficult to decide which is best.
Here is the crazy part, god does not exist.
Yep. Psalm 51 (Psalm 50 Vulgate) The Miserere. _The repentance and confession of David after his sin._ Referenced in 2 Samuel 12. 3000 years old. The 4th Penetential Psalm.
Isn't this Psalm 51?
Wait: that's just Psalm 51! I didn't know that!
I'm not sad, I find myself at peace listening to this
Every single part of this song gives me chills, no matter how many times I listen
I think that this is one of the most perfect renderings that I've heard (I was watching it the other day, before I saw that you'd done a reaction video). From the first note I always seem to end up clutching my hands together on my breatsbone, almost as though I want to hold the music close to me. Back in the 1980s/90s, my late husband and I used to go on canal holidays with friends every year. I used to put a cassette on of this, and it would blast out as we went through the Harecastle Tunnel near Stoke-On-Trent. Being underground in a narrow, low, dark tunnel, with just the 60ft narrowboat's headlight, gives you time to think and reflect.
Another favourite is 'Spem In Alium', sung by the Tallis Scholars.
I am sorry to read about your husband.
Eternal rest, grant to him, O Lord,
and perpetual Light shine upon him.
And may he rest in Peace.
Amen
The sadness in this piece doesn't come from thoughts about the plague, which was in the 1300s; rather, it's a song of penitence. "Miserere mei" means "have mercy on me": The song is the Latin of Psalm 51, a song of sorrow over one's sins, of asking for God's forgiveness, and of confidence that He will grant it to a anyone with a sincere heart.
Thank you for the explanation. A study of such a beautiful piece of acappella music is incomplete without understanding that the lyrics are supported by the musical arrangement. Without doing so, there is no context for the lovely music. This lyrical song is a prayer of supplication, not just an amazing vocal performance.
Please do more exposure to beautiful choir music. This is so spiritual.
Yes, yes, yes !!!!🙏🙏🙏
What does it make you feel? In tears for the home we are all away from.
First time i heared this version it gave me a shock of goosebumps, now i want to hear how it sounds in a church because it will give the song the most credit in such a beautiful place.
This is my favorite piece of music, every bit of this performance is stunningly beautiful
I've been obsessed with this piece, specifically the Kings College Choir version, since I heard it in the soundtrack of the film _Maurice._
When music is part of your life, you just see it and feel it different, and when you understand the complexity and the requirements, let's not say Talent, behind every piece, you just feel grateful with yourself for liking good music.
Don't care what your faith is, you can feel the spirit/higher power while listening to this.
Easily the most beautiful piece of music written for the human voice! Can you imagine what complete hash unneccesary Autotune would make of this because there's bound to be a producer or engineer out there who thinks it's necessary!
Omg, if they "tuned" that last chord to equal temperament? 😬 If it's not tuned on the harmonic series, it's just not going to ring pure like that!
Why would you even put the thought of something like that in my head! Don't give them any ideas!
Singers on top of their game. Every one of them is a phenomenal talent. So that helps, I've heard less moving versions, but this is perfect. Last thing I'd like to hear before I died.
Thank you that was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes Beth. I also love Gregorian chants. Thank you again it touched my heart and soul, Rick!!!
Totally agree with you, that kind of song you don't want to clap at the end, though it is so beautiful, you want your soul to savour the moment of delightness that it has brings to your heart.
It makes me feel total grief and love for the magnificence of life and God. It's a miraculous download from the heavens. It is absolutely perfect.
I love this video! Beautifully done by the choir and it makes me want to cry! Great job Beth!
I love this piece. The laser purity of Tenebrae's tone is truly remarkable. I've had the opportunity to hear them live and cannot recommend the experience enough. Nigel Short's musicality is at an epic level (as are each of the members of this group) and I've followed his work since the King Singers days, fantastic. If the opportunity presents itself to see them live, GO.!
Thank you, Beth, for this reaction! One of my all-time-favourite pieces of music to listen to and to sing as well! It just stuns me every single time I hear it, an absolute masterpiece.
Also a big fan of Tenebrae! It definitely is one of the leading ensembles/choirs in Europe. (Co-)Founded and conducted by Nigel Short, former countertenor of The King's Singers, now new musical home of Stephen Conolly, former bass of The King's Singers and other amazing vocalists.
I would highly appreciate if you would react to more "Old Music" from time to time, it is a nice variety in the reaction community!
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I subbed to your Roar channel by the way Have you reacted yet to any of the Epica Omega Alive stuff? Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 ua-cam.com/video/BdBCVMD8TiM/v-deo.html is a 13 minute masterpiece that goes through many different transitions and the singers use different styles throughout the song even the Keyboardist gets "Epic" on this song. ]:P
React tô daíquing tana Mongólian Singer
I seen your Chris Stapleton Reactions.
I was wondering if you could react to Anymore by Travis Tritt...
It's the 1st part of a Trilogy Video Set.
Not to mention, Mr. Tritt has a unique and amazing voice
Hi Beth! I was wondering and kinda asking you to do a video on "The Search Is Over" by SURVIVOR sung by the late Jimi Jamison..
It makes me feel how vulnerable we are as human beings
"What does that make you feel?!" - Respect.Skill is evident.
I imagine being a vocal coach hearing one of the most beloved skilled professional choirs in the world today must be near nirvana. Oh that young woman hitting that high note is so fantastic. So powerful yet so fragile at the same time. You feel that note in your soul, she hits it so good.
So happy that you are looking at some late-Ren/Baroque polyphony, and particularly thrilled to see it performed in St. Bartholomew's. My last trip abroad before the pandemic included a visit to this gorgeous church. Please continue to do some early music now and then!
It’s been my fave for so long and always leaves me in tears
The room is as much a part of this as the vocalists are.
I listen to this often at night to help me sleep. It's so beautiful. The Clare college performance of this is amazing too.
Don't know much about music... but do understand how a professional like you explain it, thank you !! This is one of my favourites ! I simply cry everytime I listen to this piece...Lord , I'm a sinner....toiling in a sinful world , in a valley of tears !!!
That's what I call pure teamwork :)
Loved this performance, and heard it multiple times for a long time! Gives me chills every time. When I first stumbled onto it, I was also really surprised, because I recognized the high soprano singer - she's Josephene Stephenson, and I'd first encountered her years before, on a youtube channel called "peyrson", where she did some really lovely covers with another lady Agathe Peyrat.
Well worth looking up, that channel, even though it's not been active in years.
Love that you love this performance too! 😊
Oh, and Josephene's partner Agathe in that little channel doing covers went on to found a band called Inglenook and... do opera! Here's her doing Der Hölle rache (Königin der Nacht ) - Die Zauberflöte, Mozart: ua-cam.com/video/s8f3OtN7m3w/v-deo.html
The two had some really lovery harmonies in their early videos together, but I was really pleasantly surprised how they went on to greater things. From the Peyrson channel, their cover of "No Surprises" is a good example of what they did.
Thanks for this recommendation. That was astonishing.
It brings me joy and to tears listening to this song and just makes me want to go on my knees and pray to our lord and ask for forgiveness for any wrong doing that I have done.
I have tears in my eyes when I hear Sharon, Anneke or Floor, no matter how many times I hear their songs, but here I cry
This is much harder than what they do. In a vocal ensemble, every singer must be perfect in pitch and volume.
Roars!!! I love it. Hey Beth, and community. I've watched a couple of reactions before. As a choir singer myself, this just brought so many memories back. I love this song, Loved this vid.
So moving and it grips the heart….wonderful….thank you…..
I'm no longer particularly religious, but this song and Tchaikovsky's Hymn of the Cherubim both instill an almost transcendent feeling whenever I listen to them. Love the analysis of this song
I couldn't agree more
What does it make me feel? Reverence.
The stillness you mentioned feeling when the piece concludes reminds me of 'savasana' from yoga; after all the movement you lay on your back and the mind is able to much more easily enter a place of calm quiet stillness for having performed all the movement beforehand.
Stunning & beautiful.. the reverb gives you goosebumps. I don’t think it’ll make my gym playlist, but it’s awesome all the same 😊
This is better suited in the background while praying the rosary. 🙏🙏🙏
Excellent review! Thanks!
I was fortunate enough to perform this in the best choir i ever sung in several years ago, i still sing along with UA-cam at home. One of my all time favorite pieces!
So glad you examined this favorite of mine! Adding to the sadness of the era, this was written for Holy Week (Thursday) mass on the Cistine - the most somber part of the liturgixal year. I believe it's arranged for two chamber choruses plus the quartet with the soaaaring soprano, who all join together at the end. The high soprano certainly hit that highest note, but I thought you might comment on how she got there (throwing mouth wide open, tightening face & throat) and the impact on the resulting sound losing its round, controllef shape for a wide, flat sound (to my ear). I've compared to other recordings and the difference becomes apparent. Hate to pick at this, though, when the performance is so spot on gorgeous and deeply moving.
Not for the Mass, actually, but for the night service which follows it, called Tenebrae. Yes, same as the name of the group. The Latin word means "shadows" with the sense of "gathering darkness", and that is what th Triduum is, until the light of Easter. Tenebrae is conducted in a darkened church, with seven candles lit. The service consists of readings and sung psalms like this, and at intervals in the service a candle is extinguished. At the end only one candle, the light of hope, is left. A loud sound is made by a clapper to signify the closing of the tomb. The congregation exits in silence.
it makes me cry, thank you
So beautiful, with emotional Power to it. I love this song.
I didn't even got notified or didn't notice you'd do a reaction to this ^^'. This is such a beautiful classic piece, one of my absolute favourites. Neal Stephenson mentioned it in his book "Seveneves" and that is the only reason I got to discover it (despite actually liking a lot of choral and orchestral, classical and sacral stuff, I've never heard of that song prior to reading the book) I always liked the melancholic, almost wailing melody line, don't know why but this piece always calms me down and helps me vent negative feelings (which I'm usually quite horrible at, I tend to bottle up on them instead), also the sound quality in that cathedral, wow 🤩 Always liked that in the cathedrals and churches I went to and this one really got superb sound, too. Oh, and I don't know why, but this piece also somehow reminds me of some of the big battle scenes in the Peter Jackson LOTR trilogy when the sounds of the fight itself drop out and there's only the choral or soloist vocal pieces are to be heard - maybe a weird comparison, but those are what this piece makes me think of.
Have mercy upon me, O God: after Thy great goodness.
According to the multitude of Thy mercies, do away mine offences.
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.
Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of Thy help again: and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew [show] Thy praise.
For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee: but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar.
This is the song I want to hear when my time comes and *fingers crossed* I reach the pearly gates
This song evokes sorrowful hope. Of acknowledging my own iniquity and shortcoming, crying out to be forgiven and washed clean with the knowledge that it is done. That forgiveness is offered and the slate is wiped clean. There was a cost to that, but it was required to be paid. In the dark stillness and waiting, light will return to the world.
One of my favorites. So good!
Truly beautiful.
Doesn't even need any religious context.
To every human being this music would be soothing.
There seems to be specific tones and rhythms that are genetically built into us to cause a metaphysical reaction.
And they took advantage of this perfectly more than 450 years ago. Astounding.
hearing this always brings me to weep
Great reaction and analysis, as always. It's a beautiful piece and this performance is just stunning, but without the context, I don't know that I would have realized that it was intended to be a sad piece. After watching this video, I listened to the original video, with my eyes closed, to see what emotional impression it gave me and, for the most part, it sounded like a very pretty piece of worship music. More than anything else, it gave me a very open feeling of awe and wonder. A lot of this may be due to the very major-leaning tonality. In the last minute or so, there was this intense, heart-wrenching sense of sadness, but then it resolved on a big, major chord that kind of took the wind out of that sad section and returned to the original feeling. Either way, it's an amazing piece of music. I hadn't heard of Allegri before, thank you for introducing me to his work. I'm definitely going to have to listen to more of it.
It's a plea for God's mercy and forgiveness for sin.
What should be noted is that it is customarily sung during the Tenebrae service (tenebrae is Latin for "shadows or gathering darkness) in Holy Week. It's an incredibly moving service of readings and music in which the seven candles, the only light in the church, are extinguished one by one. The service ends, the church is in darkness- the darkness of Christ's tomb. The congregation leaves in silence.
i would be very interested in a translation ( i can find one, I'm sure) but I agree 100% that it makes you feel SOMETHING. The language (Latin?) is not my native tongue, but the performance said what the lyrics surely intended.
and 600% on the recording itself! the engineer did it exactly right and you couldn't even tell there was an engineer! Bravo to everyone involved in this production. And thanks to you, Professor Beth, for introducing me to another spectacular piece of musical art.
This is Psalm 51/50 in Latin: Have mercy on me, Oh God…. You can find the translation on line or in any Bible.
@@justinbosl3972 thanks, Justin. looking at it now!
It's Psalm 51 in Latin. This piece was composed by a parish priest.
@@russelljohnson4527 This is the latin subs for this version:
"Miserere mei, Deus:
secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum,
dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea:
et a peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco:
et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci:
ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis,
et vincas cum judicaris.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus:
cor contritum, et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion:
ut aedificentur muri Ierusalem.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes, et holocausta:
tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos."
"God have mercy on me:
according to your great mercy
And according to the greatness of your compassion
blot out my iniquity.
Wash me from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my iniquity:
and my sin is always against me.
To you only have I sinned, and I have done evil in your sight:
to be justified in your words
and you will be clear when you are judged.
Sacrifice to God with a broken spirit
a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise it.
Deal favorably, O Lord, in your good will in Zion
that the walls of Jerusalem may be built.
Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings.
then they will lay calves on your altar."
I don’t think Latin is anyones native tongue lol. It’s super beautiful.
I've been following your channel for years, and i can't believe you reacted to this song. Tenebrae is made of the best vocalists in the world, but also Sahar Brightman... You are approaching the
pinnacle of what music is ( as a form of art ). You are the best there is. I take my hat off to you.
This is an exquisitely beautiful piece, exquisitely performed. Every part is SO exposed throughout the entire piece, not just in the smaller antiphonal choir and solos (THAT HIGH C!, she sounds almost like a pure sin wave), but the main choir. NIgel Short was a former King Singer. If you've never done a reaction on any of their work, I would highly recommend one. Like these folks their a Capella mastery is almost beyond belief. You can listen to any aspect exclusively on any piece, timing, pitch, dynamics, entrances and cutoffs, arrangements, any and every aspect, and they are all performed to perfection. YOU can probably do all that coincidentally, but I'm not a professionally trained musician.
Yes, the sequential movements throughout the piece are so beautifully arranged temporally and chordally, it gives me the feeling of a journey, or a reaching toward ultimate beauty. Surely you've heard it, but on the other extreme is Thomas Tallis eight choir 40 piece work, Speminalium (sp?). The King Singers did a composite recording of that, looped if you will, and their discussion of the process on a YT video I saw was fascinating. So was the theme as each one discussed it while the project was going on of, more or less, this should be glorious (or they hoped it would be), or not, one of the two, if you catch their drift.
I remember one of our choir directors saying anybody sounds good in those cathedral environments. He was PARTIALLY kidding obviously, but it truly is the ultimate acoustic, ESPECIALLY for the music written specifically to be sung there, and any choir does sound very, very good performing there. When you sing like these guys and gals, for a piece like this, it is a REQUIREMENT, IMO.
I heard a recent organ recital in a cathedral like this with an absolutely spectacular organ. You could also tell that piece (Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor) was written with a cathedral performance in mind. It changed the tempos tremendously, with the opening legato and sustains played VERY slowly to accentuate and work within that gloriously sustained reverberation, in some cases waiting for the reverberation to completely, or nearly completely die out before entering the next phrase. And he played the faster more intricate parts, some of them, quite quickly. The individual notes became somewhat less prominent compared to the mixing up that occurred in all of that delightful caressing and shaping by the space, but the secondary mixed sounds were something else. It is a different work heard there, and life giving. I hope that was not waxing too poetic, but what can I say, that is how it 'hit me', and I was just reading some Michael Chabon, who puts me to utter shame, but inspires nonetheless. That performance is on YT, but I cannot remember the specific organist and cathedral, sorry.
One excellent analog to the breathing control I heard from an excellent soloist was to picture fishing. The breathing in is the cast, could be longer term or staccato quick for a very short cast, then reeling the business end of the kit back in, varying the speed and length as necessary, etc.
How does that recording make me feel? Even though I am no longer religious, as such, isn't that obvious? It makes me feel worshipful, wrapped in beauty. If there is a heaven, and there are angels, and they do sing (not exclusively with a harp, I hope. :-/ ) this has to be at least tickling the underside of that sound, but here on Earth.
Thanks for mixing it up a bit and doing something from antiquity, I would bet a fair number of your viewers have never listened to music like this, and this could inspire some of them to listen to a lot more of it. :-) Music like this has lasted for centuries for a reason! And it is even more special to sing some of it, even though, in most all cases, it doesn't sound remotely like this. Yeah, without all the frilliness I could have written that with about half the verbiage...such is life, in the morning.
The control absolutly gets me.
Perhaps these high notes raised out of the choir symbolizes the extasis of knowing that God can and will forgive a contrite heart, in this case David's.
For the time of the composition, circa 1630, this kind of polyphonic choir (renacentist) was considered antique, and the ornamentations was not annotated. This thing add a veil of mystery to this song. Improvised ornamentations and cadenzas were common during Renaissance and Baroque periods, like a guitar solo in a rock concert
Listened to this being performed by the cathedral boys choir at the cathedral in Durham, UK. Exquisite. The reverb in those buildings is unreal. Seems like the notes would hold for a good five seconds after cut off.
Just like how Prometheus brought fire to man, Mozart brought this to the rest of the world. What a guy.
Chant and Madrigal singing is always wonderful.
There was a band back in the 60s called Steeleye Span. They were one of my favorite bands at the time.
They took songs from the 1400s to 1700s and added a rock sound to them. The songs were not always religious songs, although they did some of those as well. So often we think of music from that period as religious only, but people also sang in pubs and fields as well.
The harmonies were amazing. They continue to perform today.
I would suggest the song All Around my Hat as a great place to start with them. ua-cam.com/video/3zzwbYyvWiU/v-deo.html
They were incredible. And Maddy Prior also did a couple of albums with June Tabor as "Silly Sisters". They were stunning musicians.
It's a song pleading for mercy from the Grace of God for when we f#cked up on an epic way. We've all been there.......
The beauty of Catholic music. All glory be to the King of Kings
Great video! I'd never thought about the effect of vibrato like that before. On a side note: I'd recommend 'Spem in alium' by Thomas Tallis. To listen to it is pure time travel :-)
Our modern lives are awash in music of all kinds. You asked what I feel when hearing this piece. I feel just the slightest bit of envy for the experience the original listeners had - nothing in their daily experience would come close. Surely some would have considered this music supernatural. On a technical note, would some parts have been sung by castrati back in the day? Talk about...um...supernatural.
Considering that women were barred from joining church choirs, absolutely
For me the Miserere when done/recorded well is the closest music has come to perfection and the nearest thing to the secret chord.
What is the secret chord?
@@apollontheintp3257 it’s a secret… 😅
@@mkultravictim3917 Makes sense.
The secret chord is the one King David played that "pleased the Lord"... it's a reference in Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" song to a Bible passage in 1 Samuel that says David played a song that was pleasing to God, which would calm evil spirits that were tormenting King Saul..
Its amazing how you managed to give so much insight on whats happening here even tho its really out of the ordinary in today's music
It is amazing, the soprano on the left seems to be incomparably blessed. Nice to hear your comments.
This is a great version but I have to say the Kings College clip from about 8 years ago is stunning. The melodic parts that intertwine are incredible, worth finding
we can feel god ,this psaume is so great
Angels singing!
Great pick.
Specifically, this piece was written for Tenebrae during Holy Week. Research a little bit about the significance of Tenebrae (specifically before the 1960s when there was an upheaval in catholic liturgy that led to the loss of many things AND the significance of many things that were allowed to remain). Anyway, when people know what Tenebrae is and was... everything that you said so well about this piece takes on an even deeper significance. Thanks for putting this video up.
The original Miserere written by Allegri in the 17th was actually without the high C and other ornaments which was added in the 19th century version.
The arts of this period interweave with one another. Architecture, stained glass, statuary and music seem to be larger than life because of it. A transport to another time and place...✝️
Yessss thanks you for the video/reaction
it is an amazing piece of music. I am lucky enough to be in a cathedral choir (exeter cathedral chorister) which sang this it sounded amazing! and the most incredible part is it is from years THREE TO EIGHT!!! so girls and boys from about 7 - 13 and yet it still sounded so beautiful, which proves age is just a number. the soloist is in year eight and honestly I think she possibly (not to brag) did better than that soloist I feel she had more warmth and shape.
Absolutely gorgeous
I wish I had the ability support longer tones, like the highly-trained younger singers in my church choir do. Neverthless the combined effect of singing in a choir is like none other and it's worth making the effort to do your best. When you listen to this work and these singers it touches your soul. In our era we have had our own troubles that music addresses like nothing else.
Great piece and recording. Tge director, Nigel Short, was once a countertenor withe The Kings Singers.
this is the music i am waitng for. Thx for reaction. I heard this chorus two years ago,an i love it. Can you react to more ancient music? i would love it.
Blessed
There is a UA-cam channel called Common man and there is a group of I think people from India got introduced to this song and even those guys not knowing what they are listening to got got the point that music is connecting people regardless their ethnicity or even century
Salmo 51
1 Tem amisericórdia de mim, ó Deus, segundo a tua benignidade; apaga as minhas transgressões, segundo a multidão das tuas misericórdias. 2 Lava-me completamente da minha iniquidade, e purifica-me do meu pecado.
there’s a pulse that caries through the music and means the different sections are never wholly separate, because that breath is always present.
Great piece to discuss! I first heard it during a liturgical service, in a church with good acoustics. The lighting in the church was subdued, and the scent of incense was in the air. The choirs were spatially separated, so you got the full effect of the antiphonal singing. And it didn't hurt that the singers were excellent.
One aspect I would add to your discussion of the emotional evocation of the Allegri Miserere is the text that's being sung, and its liturgical context. It's Psalm 51, a penitential psalm, and it's intended for use in Lent and Holy Week. the most austere and penitential season of the church year. Allegri certainly brought the temper of his times to his composition, but the text and context also call for a subdued, reflective piece of music.
This song make my eyes heavy☺️