Prayer of the Children - The Concordia Choir
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- The Concordia Choir(Moorhead, MN), Dr. René Clausen, Conductor performs Kurt Bestor's Prayer for the Children at Orchestra Hall. Concordia College is located in Moorhead, MN
This song is so emotional for me. On a high school choir trip in 1998, we were singing at a school, choirs performing for each other, and we found out one of their choir students was a Bosnian exchange student. Our director had not planned to have us sing it, but we went to him and begged, and so we did. When we began, our whole focus was on him. When we got to the end of the song, his whole face lit up, tears running down his face and smiling, almost sobbing. Because it had been so long since he had heard his own language. During this time, he wasn't able to go back home because of the violence there. Many things from high school I have forgotten, but I will always remember that, knowing that he so appreciated what we did, and having a hard time finishing the song because of his face. And that is the power of music.
Amanda Claridge I understand his pain I am Serbian I come from the same violence he did. It is still hard for me to listen to this song without crying .
Wait, what language is it called when they get to the part that isnt english. Btw I'm just curious. And I'm glad you made someone ☺
@@datrippster7633 4:53-5:09 Dali cujete sve djecje molitive? www.kurtbestor.com/story-behind-prayer-of-the-children
This is such a beautiful story, thank you for sharing.
Many still can't, or won't, go back because of the mines.
Beautiful. Easily the best rendition of this song I've every heard. I'm not a fan of the dancing though. When I listen to this song, which is often, I generally avoid the distraction of the dancers by not watching the video.
+Idacode Agreed!
Those dancers are performing the piece in sign language
FlyingFerret obviously. How many does it take?
Way to be a dick @@buckjohnson1119.
But yeah, I think the choreography sold them short. Either the timing or the overall mood just didn't fit the music. I think this song would lend itself to much more contemplative - and far less carefree - movement.
I live in Texas we are currently recovering from a mass shooting at Robb Elementary where 19 young were gun down.. This song is prayer. Our government doesn't seem to care about our children all they want to do is play games. Lord hear this prayer and my no more children die because of gun violence.
Nice basses! I would get rid of the dancers though. It takes your eyes (and ears) off of the AMAZING performance!
zoe zach commissaris AGREE!!!! A fantastic musical piece, but with distractions.
@@buckjohnson1119 Black & white. Death and resurrection. Sorrow and joy. Motion and still. Communication through body language. Text and tune. What's not to love?
@@matternst793 As a person that sang in choir, I find it a distraction. The figure skating routine by the couple not on ice, gets in the way for me. My opinion.
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light
Crying Jesus*, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take
Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day
Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm
Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands
Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you're near,
Bringing peace again
Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation:
'Can you hear all the children's prayers?')
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
(*note: Originally, the song was written with the lyrics “Crying Jesus…” Bestor now recommends substituting the words “Crying softly…” enabling people to subconsciously substitute “Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, etc.” This way, the song's universal message of love will be felt without any barriers or limitations.)
I'm totally convinced that Concordia is America's best kept music institution secret.....every performance I've seen or heard from this college has ben phenomenal
Came here after hearing of the bombing of the children's hospital and maternity ward in Ukraine today. Hoping for a better day, a better day. And that all those on unknown roads leading away from home find loving arms, away from harm.
This is so pretty. I don't care what anyone says, men can do this just as good as women.
Wonderful choir, but this stupid choreography destroys the choral effect.
Less is more.
No
it's not choreography, it's sign language.
They meant the dancers in the middle of the signers. At least, that's what I find distracting.
See CEO first time people appreciate humble themselves thankful not tripping love joy peace and happiness in the name of the Father the son and the holy Spirit love that neighbor as thyself love the Lord thy God with all the heart it shall be done on Earth as it is in heaven be fruitful and multiply keep God first amen have a nice day
I've never heard a version where they say 'Jesus save me' - I like it. They usually say 'Who will save me?' which sounds a lot more hopeless...:\
What's wrong with the dancing and play?
It's a children's prayer in men's voices. That mix of art is genuinely fit for the song.
I sang this in highschool, and we learned the sign language to accompany the lyrics.
Whatever gods are listening, we pray to end the wars amongst all men.
Damn they killed that shit. Solid performance
by far one of the best choral performances of this piece I've heard; I only wish that whomever was in charge, creatively, would've let the music speak for itself; the signing and dancing, in my opinion, are all fighting for center stage when it should've just been the music.
If it were one or two signers, that would be better. Personally, I've been a signer in one of these performances when I was in High School, and this many people does take away from the song, but with a few, the beauty of it shines through. (though that could just be my ASL obsessed brain speaking)
The signers are a solid addition in my opinion, but the dancers, especially since they left much to want, were a major distraction for me.
Complete silence for five minutes would have been most appropriate. No applause needed
4th year into Music Education is hard. This reminded me of why I want to teach choir. Thank you.
I feel your pain so hard man, how is it going? (with like the virtual learning difficulties).
@somecallmetim46 Those are the written words, "Who will" are the alternate words for the song, because some people can't grow a pair and say Jesus in public.
“Flood my soul... Shine through me”
~ René Clausen's "Prayer" (The Concordia Choir) sets a text by Mother Teresa of Calcutta:
"Help me spread Your fragrance wherever I go.
Flood my soul with Your Spirit and Life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,
that my life may be only a radiance of Yours.
Shine through me and be so in me that every
soul I know will feel Your presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me, but only You."
Why does Why does Minnesota have so many good choirs
There's nothing to do there so they all just sing
It all goes back to one man and the choir perfection and love that he ignited in training hundreds who went out to start other choral programs in schools, colleges, churches, community choirs, children's choirs. F. Melius Christiansen was that man. He founded the St. Olaf Choir in 1912. The rest flowed from that and raised up other generations of choral geniuses who built strong programs: his two sons- Olaf and Paul, Kenneth Jennings, Weston Noble, Leland Sateren, Erik Christiansen, Anton Armstrong, Rene Clausen, Greg Aune just to name a few.
The dancing is a distraction from an otherwise serious somber theme: war / destruction / hatred / murder / death / injustice.
There is nothing to dance about.
There is time for everything. When this song is sung the room should be dark.
Then you feel the impact of what is being sung about.
No matter how many times I view this performance ( it has been many times) it still moves me. Each time I listen, I marvel at the awesome gift that God has given us, the beauty of the human voice and an ear to hear it. We are truly blessed!
This is beautifully presented - the signing is very emotive and so expressive.
Sounds amazing! The bass section is so strong and resonate. Can't wait to perform this arrangement with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club this spring.
I agree that all the stage action and dancing seemed unhelpful. The singing is amazing! Fantastic. I agree with others re: too much happening---- Perhaps it was more effective as a live experience. And remember it is a (very talented!) college group; they need opportunities to use and develop all the varied talents of their fantastic ensembles----including the dancers! What a wonderful sound! Thank you for posting it.
@Marsuvees1298 - Bestor, the original composer, wrote both sets of words. He did so because the sentiments in the song are universal and not confined to Christianity. Given that the conflict this originated from was (partly) religious, I think that was an excellent choice. From a poetic standpoint, though, I think "Jesus" works better, because its tone is directly pleading in a way that seems to resonate deeper than "who will," which is more rhetorical and less personal.
@arclevel Well I understand that, but there is a reason he put "who will" as the alternate words, not the written ones. I believe that a choir should always sing what is written, not alternate words or melodies, because as you said, it portrays what the composer was trying to say to a fuller extent. Also, my previous comment sounds much more harsh than I intended it to be, but I still stand by it!
being a singer, dancer, and composer, everything just works with this performance. This is what I want for my music
to clarify, if you like the music on its own that's awesome, keep listening. the thing is this music programmatic. and the choreography only augments the meaning of the music for me
3:05
when ever this song came into my memory i felt like a Child
The Concordia Choir is perfect solving my problems
with this particular song, Christ Help me because i have know
power of myself Amen,,
I don't even think applause is needed at the end, this should be something that sticks with you when you leave the theatre
@Marsuvees1298 actually, the reason why the alternate words are "who will" are because where this song was intended for, there is more than one religion, so the composer wanted to include ALL who were suffering
Beautiful performance! I cannot listen to this song without tears. You definitely moved me. ❤️
I could easily see the reason being because of the dance piece, or the overarching theatricality of it. Having not been actually WATCHING it and just listening, i couldn't guess at a proper critique at the visual presentation, but it's a likely reason.
I don't think dancing is a bit much. I think dancing with sign language is a little over kill. And personally, I don't enjoy the movement phrase motifs. Too literal, and not done with the same technical aptitude as the choir.
anyone from oak grove
there was too much going on, the stage seems cluttered with people.
not really a fan of the ttbb arrangement, but witht he dancers and the signing, it is a very unique and inspiring performance.
This is definitely one of the best versions I've heard of this song. I love the sign language, and I don't mind the dancers in *concept.* But, as Triairius says, there's too *much* happening. Also, the choreography doesn't work, especially in the bit where the dancers are "playing" and the music is weeping.
I agree with Triairius, entirely to much going at one time! Eye confusion! The singing is awesome, but I had to scroll down as not to watch but just listen. All the movement made me dizzy.
Thinking of you, Ukraine. God speed.
I thought it was very interesting listening as well as watching this TTBB performance. The choir sounded lovely and the men had a very nice blend. I find this song can be quite emotional if it's executed successfully, that bring said, the two dancers were really distracting me from the music. I do not think they did a great job, most of what they did looked like there was no foundation and was learned the day before. Involving dancers in this piece can be very difficult to execute because they must be in sync with the music, these dancers were all over the place. My school's chorus of about 180 voices performed this song, but the SATB version, and it was amazing. If you haven't already listened to a SATB version of this, you must. The combination of all the voice parts and the incredible emotional connection was very well showcased in my schools performance, it struck me through the wings.
Wow does this piece ever apply to the tragedy today of children in cages right here in our country. So moving.
There is an outstanding version of this on a 1993 copyright cd called "INNOVATORS: Sam Cardon; Kurt Bestor" produced by Brian Blosil for WordPerfect Corporation. It's a ddd disc so the quality is outstanding. I got mine as a member of the WordPerfect Forum, but I imagine you might find a copy or at least some information by contacting Corel WordPerfect. The disc contains ten other selections of a similar nature!
I was a WordPerfect employee when Innovators was released. The whole album was spectacular, but this song moved me in such a deep way that I can still clearly remember the emotions now. Kurt was a friend of mine in high school. I still have the original CD somewhere in my house.
LOVE your male voices, guys. :'( you don't need no women...and none of the dancers...but that doesn't matter.
I LOVE this piece, I sang it last year in Low Beaux (my high schools men's choir) and i think you guys did an AMAZING job... the interpretive dance/pantomime (no offense i was a very creative idea) made me CRACK UP though. It just seemed so awkward in the context of the piece considering it was written for a childrens' hospital that was blown to bits. I honestly really liked the idea though.
I just wept openly. Bravo 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽
The mens choir sang this at a camp that I go to during the summer. It was right after the Orlando shooting and this camp is a refuge for about 20 LGBT youth that find it hard to be at home during the summer, including myself and a few life long friends. The director stood up and started giving his history of the song and the little speech directors do. None of us had heard him speak about it yet and I can very clearly remember him saying "This song is dedicated to the Orlando victims and anyone who is needing strength and comfort in this fearful time." He made eye contact with me and a few of the other gay kids in the choir and I just burst into tears. I was crying the whole song and after all of us went to him and thanked him, we had never been spoken to in such a comforting way before. This song still makes me cry, but it also makes me feel strong, supported, and reminds me of my home away from the prejudice of my home town.
Wow - that made me cry. So beautiful. Ignore the purists who think they know the *one way* this should be done. The song is beautiful on its own, true, but beauty is expressed in so many ways, and seeing how the signers and dancers expressed the meaning of the song in their own way was touching. Beautifully done.
@Triairius I agreed. Sometimes the best thing to do is just stand there and sing.. simplicity is sometimes the best way to perform :)
My school is singing this in an all women's choir this year for competition and assessment purposes, our teacher played this for us off of sheetmusicplus.com and we automatically fell in love with it. The beautiful chords, harmonies all of that we're really dying to sing this and hopefully he adds the guys in just for the cherry on top.
Oh my god, I teared up. This was amazing
Sounds fantastic. But way too much is happening on stage.
Rene, I just found your recording - so beautiful...
I have loved this song from the first time I heard in in 2004. Since then, I have never heard a choir sing it where the bass is that intense. I really love this choir. Way to go you guys!!!!
Amazing song, wish they didnt have so much dancing it was very distracted toward the message of the song and the horrible things committed in the Bosnian War
Children are our heart & soul givens themselve for prayer to God each day of life on earth, please father forgive🇺🇸& my wickedness
My chorus just sang this for our Christmas concert. Because of what happened last Friday in CT it was a tearfest. Everyone was sobbing and it was so beautiful. RIP those 20 innocent little children and 8 adult heroes.
And here we are again
I thought this sounded amazing... But I feel the dancing was a bit too much.
I received a "Word Perfect" word processing installation CD back in 1997, and on that CD was an entire album entitled "Innovators". Many (if not all) of the songs were Kurt Bestor's arrangements. This was the final track on that CD, and I still remember being floored when I heard it for the first time. It stirred emotions so strong that I will never forget it. It brought me to tears almost instantly.
Me too. I worked there when Wordperfect for Windows 6.0 was released. They gave us all a copy that had Bestors album on it. I felt exactly the same way when I heard that song.
Agreed. I'd love to isolate JUST the choir. They do a fabulous job!
@guitarman14339 It's not pantomime.. XD It's Sing Language :S
I once did this for a baccalaureate service with my senior men. I wonder how many of them remember. Such a beautiful song.
Not only is this song amazing, but the sound echoes are amazing. Each voice softly swaying the words and quietly starting and ending creates a magic that jumps through the screen. So magical and heart felt.
A student in Freshman music theory when I was a TA during my senior is the composer of this song.
Beautiful. My daughter's high school women's chorus did this arrangement for contest and there was not a dry eye in house. On the judges' tapes, you couldn't hear anything but the judges sobbing. This song has the power to do that.
Bravo Bravo! By far the best choral performance I have ever heard of this piece! I perform with one of the top Barbershop choruses on the east coast so I know near perfection when I hear it! My hat is off to all the young talent in this choir. Well done!
The dancing either needs to go or get better choreography
Agreed, I think one signer would have been enough.
I have heard this song sung a number of times, and only once have I heard it performed better. A high school elite choir in Great Falls Montana performed this in an intimate concert and the emotion they captured was the only thing that raised it above this performance. Having been at both performances, the kids won by a narow margin.
@@brentvolf9126 I am the father of one of those students, and I still remember feeling this song inspired. Thank you Mr. Volf.
What is up with the dancing? It ruins the performance of the song....
AWESOME SONG, but the dance had much to be desired
I think it is beautiful and well done.
I know this was performed a few years ago but I am still moved to tears even after hearing it almost 11 years ago from a cappella group "Reprise". Amazing.
The current administration is deaf to the cries and prayers of the children and their parents. I'm a puddled mess hearing this again and again.
My school choir is singing it for our concert and this is the first time I'm hearing the song and it's a very beautiful song and it brought tears to my eyes as listened to it because of the parts (I loved the bass parts)
Beautiful. I so appreciate the interpretations in sign and dance. They add a visual element that broadens the appeal of the piece.
I actually got to go to an honor choir with this man! It was an incredible experience and I am so greatful that he does them!
Anybody else notice that they ended up about just shy of a half step flat?
edboy484 Does anyone care?
Were right now singing this in my men's chorus and i absolutely love it and i love this great mens sound!
Stunning vocal performace
oh yes, lovely song, superb performance.
lol my chorus is singing this.
my school is singing this song for our christmas concert. i LOVE this song. so beautiful.
Yessss very well delivered
i remember singing this my sophomore year in high school such a powerful song
Oh my god I remember doing this a couple years ago, I loved it so much
I'm doing this song for chorus
Oh the dancers... giggle.
Thanks René, I needed to hear this today.
Oh Hai, Eric and John!
t his was beautiful
It is difficult as a singer to find the balance between feeling emotion and effectively conveying that emotion to the audience. It is truly an art and a labor of love to find that place.
This is so hauntingly beautiful! Compelling!!!!
I have watched this before and read some of the comments. What this is, I believe, is one of the most powerful statements anyone could ever make for peace in our time. And, it is done by the young people who usually pay the heaviest price during any conflict. This is just a powerhouse presentation. Thanks, Concordia!
Not worthless at all. Thank you so much for this.............Whatever this is.
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻.
we sang this with my highschool at the fireman memorial in new york by the twin tower
the dancers are extremely distracting from the song...I hate it. :/ The choir is amazing though. LOVE this song.
I like this arrangement of this song, but it is missing 2 things. The female voice and a child-likeness in their voice.
I dunno. I feel like the men in black are omnisciently watching the innocent children below asking if you can hear their prayer. The singers are gloomily speaking of the children's prayers as if they will never be answered. That's what i see in this interpretation
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light
this composition is about the children of war
love the sound but they need some girls for the soprano part so it has an even better sound or get some guys who have a very high voice