Gloria in Excelsis Deo - Norwich Cathedral Choir

[elton1981]

Love the altos

[saveourforestsuk]

I much prefer the more simplistic purist style of delivery where the voices perform as one.

[notyobs]

@saveourforestsuk I'm not sure how that would work with this piece!

[goosey2505]

guys, if you are wondering, this is the mozart mass gloria in excelsis

[xemoto]

Is this really Mozart? Sounds like it, but I'd like more info. I want a recording of this.

[nalter1]

AWESOME!!

[venomscarletspider]

15 people missed the like button or have no God in their life

[olimcantaba]

Beautiful!

[84ulisse]

bravi, bravi, bravi....e la laro pronuncia del latino è più che accettabile!

[JSC1401]

Mozart K259 "Orgelsolomesse", Missa Brevis in C.

Orchestra: Strings without violas, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets, timpani, continuo.

It's easy enough for a cahedral choir.

[jpchamant]

fantastique interprétation de cette pièce dure si dure et complexe a interpréter. Bravo Messieurs.

[hamerclavier3]

Tolle Musik, tolle Stimmen!

[Bobfis341]

Also it's not an organ accompaniment originally but probably scored for two violins, bass and a small organ, possibly with additional trumpets.

[Bobfis341]

I can't believe it took so long for you to realise it's Mozart! You can so easliy tell because of the predictable tunes and also the very frisky accompaniments for which he was criticised.

[bartosz131313]

amazing!!! Mozart is super;P the choir also!

very beautiful

[FatherRayDominick]

A very beautiful video

[cristian18chms]

GLORIA A DEUS!!

ISSO SIM QUE É NOSSA AMADA IGREJA CATOLICA APOSTOLICA ROMANA

CORAL MAGNIFICO MUSICA LINDA

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

[Silverdaddy101]

Not so bad, but the Beethoven Missa Solemnis in C is far more interesting

[notyobs]

Wolfgang Amazeus Mozart. It's superb.

[benzathine]

Usually love Mozart, especially his operas, never heard this piece before and hope I never will hear it again.

[notyobs]

Strange. I love it to bits.

[falstocat]

@benzathine Likewise, I've never seen you and you better hope I don't. :0

Write something better and post it up after having it performed AROUND THE WORLD, eh?

[afffred]

i don't understand at all how the conductor's conducting...he moves weirdly?!

[notyobs]

I think very precise timing is required for this piece and his conducting ensures that. It makes perfect sense to me as I suppose it did for the singers too.

[Marcomanseckisax]

@afffred That's not a conductor but a precentor.

[Wally773MTG]

@afffred I'm not entirely sure so don't quote me here but I think this is a more renaissance or classical style of choral conducting. It seems to me that this type of conducting would be favored in polyphony like this. What you are used to seeing I think is a romantic and/or modern style. Again, I'm not a conductor, haven't even taken a class, just making an educated guess

[dagisa123]

so fine, very good, perfect!!

[jpstenino]

Wonderful to hear and see this special musical moment.

[allwasforanapple]

Many of the contributors here just don't realise that this is Norwich Cathedral Choir (Anglican) singing a Vienese Mass. The Director is the great Michael Nicholas.

[brassspitoon]

Notyobs, you say this is circa 1987? Got me thinking that in view of the current economic crisis some of these lads, now about 32yrs. old are unemployed junior bankers or stocktraders. Well at least they have a touch of Youtube fame.

[cestrian101]

i've sung this at chester

there's something satisfying about singing things with simple harmonies like in christmas carols or early english music

[loupblanc26]

Magnifique! I love their ruffs

[davidmiler12]

the conductors surplice is a bit long, its like an alb!

[allwasforanapple]

It's an old English surplice - or should I say an (organist's) rotchet. Absolutely normal in many English Cathedrals. He is a marvellous conductor. I am also struck by the narrow/very intimate space between Decani and Cantoris. His son continues his father's marvellous work in Gloucestershire.

[glendempsey]

The conductor here, Michael Nicholas, is my organ teacher!

[notyobs]

@glendempsey You lucky thing!!

[SMURFING930211]

Very good, a wonderful sound and spirit moving. Thanks be to God.

[cks125]

In the Book of Common prayer, it says that the prayers and songs should be in a tongue people understand..they are being a bit hypocrytical of having latin sung..hmm Glad I got away from the protestant church.

[tomasz1641]

Somehow I doubt that there are very many people in the congregation who are unaware that the Glory to God is being sung...

[tomasz1641]

By the way - if you've "gotten away" from the protestant church in order to escape Latin (!), I presume that you have not escaped to the Catholic Church, in which Latin remains the international language of worship; so...to what Church have you repaired? I am not meaning to be critical, only curious...

[cks125]

LOL I converted to Catholocism..the See of Rome!lol. The church used to be in latin up until 1962 but after the Vatican 2 there is no latin anymore really..mostly everything is in English, but my parish has a latin mass all the time, as my priest is very orthadox. I was atheist then C of E and now Catholic, and am completely happy..so happy infact that I am following a potential vocation to the Roman Priesthood..I had a varied life1lol Dont get me wrong, Im not dissing the Anglicans! lol

[dacatholicbandorgan]

You are Almost correct. The Vatican II changes where mandated in 1969 or 1970. Vatican II kept the Latin in the ordinary form of the Mass (at current, the New Mass). Vatican II even kept the now extraordinary (Tridentine Latin) Mass and was never forbidden. A lot of things go on in the New Mass that Vatican II did not permit or even mandate like Mass in the Venacular and other things.

Is the Latin Mass at your Church the Tridentine or the New Mass (done in Latin)?

[cks125]

I go to all the masses..tridentine latin and english, but i have preference for the latin...im going into the seminary this year, as I am now a seminarian..in the tridentine form, or the extraordinary form of the roman rite.

[dacatholicbandorgan]

FSSP or ICK?

[cks125]

FSSP...in Denton, USA

[dacatholicbandorgan]

I am currently considering a vocational process with the FSSP. Whats it like?

[cks125]

It is very light, and less daunting than shall you say applying for the cruddy english seminary..I had to fill out a 9 page application form, then a 2 booklet psycological form, then you haveto go for a psycological assessment, and then you have the selection conference, and then the meeting with the bishop, and then you are decided upon. At FSSP it is more efficient and spiritual. Plus, the formation process is superb, and you wouldnt haveto worry about if the staff are liberals! Go for it!

[ChristainPatriot01]

What year are you, and not to be rude but aren't you allowed to use a computer in the first place?

[allwasforanapple]

Cathedrals and Colleges are the exception because Latin is (or certainly should be or would have been at least) 'understanded by the people' as the rubric has it!

[emocat1111]

I would have liked it better if it were more lagato(sp)

[PatchW29]

The Girls will be doing Midnight mass for the third time this Christmas whereas the boys have sung it every year previously. Anyway, the girls were invited to sing WITH the boys not instead of them.

And who does the Once In Royal solo at beginning of the mass? Oh yeah a BOY chorister!

[notyobs]

Mixing them is a shame, there's a risk the tradition of boy choristers could be lost. I'd rather it was one or the other.

[PatchW29]

It is a nice tone together but i do agree. There is a great concern that the boys choral tradition will be lost as it is no longer considered "cool".

[breddachris]

they sound like girls any way so it wouldnt make a difference if they mixed

[busybee720]

I disagree. Well, no...rather I'd say the young girls sound like trebles. However girl choristers often stay in the choir until their much older and quite often a proper soprano voice is completely different to a treble voice.

[allwasforanapple]

You are talking nonesense.

[breddachris]

no im not talking nonsense im giving my opinion as we all can........i believe they sound like girls.........However if its for the Glory of God then im fine with that

[PatchW29]

The combined tone is good but i do agree with your point. Boys choral tradition is no longer considered to be "cool"

[fluff4brains27]

i'm a member of the girls choir of norwich cathedral and yes we do sing WITH the boys and i dont think that there is any reason for the tradition to be lost seeing as nothing has changed accept the girls get a chance to show what they can actually do. a boy choristor will always do once in royal as this is a tradition that we enjoy. the boys enjoy singing in the choir and i dont think they would ever find it 'uncool'. both choirs sound great together and apart and have improved since this video.

[PatchW29]

Glad someone agrees and knows what they are talking about. I really missed singing the Taverner at midnight mass since i left the boys choir.

[Bobbyjck11DXHHH]

in the name of the father son and the holy spirit we aare dpoing this song in choir

[PatchW29]

The boys in different robes are head and deputy head choristers. This was taken about thirty years ago btw.

As for rosamund123's point about the girls this is wrong. They do the occasionall service whereas boys sing every day. The boys without doubt have a better sound...

[notyobs]

Just a minor correction, it's about 20 years ago.

[rosamund123]

well in that case, why do they always ask the girls choir to sing at midnight mass on Christmas Eve? it's probably the most highly-attended service of the year and very prominent... I just thought that if the boys were so much better, it would be them.

[tjrm93]

Usually, the ones in red are the probationers - the choristers who haven't become full choristers yet.

Well, that's how they do it at my Cathedral anyway

[TimonyErt03]

Seems a tad bit slow. I did the tenor solo in this at my junior college with orchestra. This lacks energy.

[choirboyfromhell]

Is this taped in the choir? It seems the chancel is REALLY narrow, much moreso than I remember.

I have to wonder if the boys in preaching tabs and cassocks were from another choir, or might be probationers (unlikely, since a couple of them were singing solos).

[Ikje86]

why are the boys in different clothes?

[notyobs]

I think the ones in red are maybe senior choristers or something like that?

[kelsiejackson]

Oh I LOVE this one...my favorite of the Mozart Missa Brevi...this one is also REALLY hard to find. Thanks for posting it up.

[benaggreyfynn]

Lets sing with the angels to praise God, The Almighty Father. Angel voices indeed.

Splendid.

[rosamund123]

wow, that was really lovely

I live in Norwicha and visit the cathedral often... generally the girls choir is thought to be better than the boys nowadays! they always sing at midnight mass on christmas eve and you get some really lovely singing

[davidmiler12]

whose setting of the mass is this (for the gloria)

[notyobs]

We've established that it's Mozart. Please see the "More Info" section for the full story.

[ds1868]

Some rather strange comments below re Catholic and Anglican rites of Mass. Norwich Cathedral belongs to the Church of England and enjoys the Anglican tradition of Church music. This may encompass all the traditional music of the Church, indeed Louis Vierne's Messe Solennelle is enjoying something of a comeback at the moment. Please do not confuse 'Anglican' with Protestant Presbytrianism or Methodism. We have our own traditions, embedded deeply in the past, long before Henry VIII split with Rome

[RevunBuford]

that gentleman is directing the devil out of that choir!!!!! (if there be any)

great job! Glory to God.

[MassimoofItalia]

I wonder who came up with the words????? THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.... it is an ordinary of the mass for your info.... many people composed music for this part of the mass... the Gloria... look it up.. the Gloria is a part of the Roman Catholic Liturgy

[Gspijkenisse]

But not only the Catholic Church!

I understand you're so fanatic because you're a newcomer. But that does not mean you can look down on other religions and deny the fact that the Gloria is used by other churches aswell.

I've sung allmost my entire life in catholic choirs, I am an altarsever for both tridentine and ordinary masses also my entire life and I play churchorgan since I was 11.

So don't you think I would know better?

Doen't waste your time arguing with me about this...

[notyobs]

According to Wikipedia:

The text of the song begins with a slight variation on the words said by the angels as part of the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field in Luke 2:14. The song continues with verses added to make a proper doxology. This song was originally in Greek and goes back very far in the history of Christianity. Another form of the song goes to at least the third century, if not to the first... plus lots more, see Wikipedia.

[MassimoofItalia]

You don't even know what you are talking about. It can be a part of the mass during lent, advent, and funerals. Most churches Omit it though. And yes, it is a part of the Roman Catholic mass. Go talk to a priest and get your facts straight. And I'm not a "new-comer". I'm a Catholic, and I have been playing the piano since I was 6, Altar serving since my first communion.

[MassimoofItalia]

IT's mozarts Missa Brevis... we sang it... but it sounded much better than this

[Gspijkenisse]

who composed this beautiful song?

[notyobs]

I asked another Youtube user, who didn't know but embraked on an amazing piece of detective work to find out. The end of a long message from him reads:

"I checked The Choral Public Domain Library (one of the world's largest free sheet music sites, where you can search for scores).

I checked all the Haydn Masses. But nothing.

Then started on the Mozart ones.

Eventually I found that they are singing "Missa Brevis in C Major (KV 259)(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)"

[Gspijkenisse]

Yes, it reminded me verymuch of Mozart. Who is btw thé most awesome composer for choral music.

I just adore him!

Thank you btw.

[MassimoofItalia]

Actually it's not a song... it's a part of the Roman Catholic Mass.. the Gloria

[madmusician91]

The conductor here, Michael Nicholas, is now the conductor for the church choir I'm in: St Mary le Tower, Civic Church of Ipswich!

[notyobs]

That's increible.... he looks at least retiring age in this clip, and that's 20 years ago now.

[madmusician91]

He turned 70 in September I think, but he's still in very good shape and is a fantastic conductor: incredibly clear and always gives you your cues...

[FinnishKnife]

Very pretty!

[peterkin48]

Yes.....a lot of truth in all these comments.Sadly it IS true that the boys choir in Norwich Cathedral is not as good as once it was. The boys' voices seem to lack depth and power nowadays....one contributory factor to this has to be the work load.With a girls'choir...and one which is given so much prominance there in Norwich....the work load on the boys must fall back....and with it the depth and voice strength which develops with the experience of the pressure of singing.

[colenso05]

I'm glad to hear it! I have friends in the area so one day soon I may get to hear them. My concern of course is with pressure from the "politically correct" to admit girls to cathedral choirs. How long before finances dictate the mixing of boys and girls, thereby removing that special boys sound? This and the increasing prevalence of a culture that values style and fashion over quality.

[notyobs]

Many, many people share your concern.

[notyobs]

I couldn't agree more. I'm sure it will still be just as good, the Cathedral choirs can usually be relied upon.

[colenso05]

What matters is the quality of the singing! I wonder if Norwich Cathedral Choir still sounds as good? 20 years is a lifetime given what is happening now.

[churchlad]

Norqich have a fantastic choir, in fact most english cathedrals still do!