In the Bleak Midwinter {Robert Shaw}

[jezichael]

Beautiful arrangement.

[alanthedrum]

The Spinners (Liverpool) did a lovely folk version. Pete Seeger style with full audience participation.

[lynnfamily4]

This is like the best ever.

[maxbatch70]

ALL the choirs, chorale, symphony mentioned ALL give GLORY TO OUR GOD

[rtegeler1]

Do not forget about The Nordic Choir of Luther College or the Great Simpson College madrigal singers.

[terryirv]

What a beautiful song. Great to hear at Christmas!

T.I U.K

[cherokeegrrrrl100]

This is beautiful! I shoud imagine this is as close to the sounds of Heaven that I will ever hear until the day that my Lord God has prepared for me.

[chailey1970]

And I agree with you that maturity of voice can take a choir to places that youth cannot go. I do not, however, believe that comparison can be made across these ranges - apples to oranges, so to speak. The professional groups are a different animal from the collegiate for precisely the reason of maturity - this time of group. When you have returning singers year after year (rather than four-and-out) and the opportunity to create a long-term "sound", it makes for some wonderful music!

[Beaderella]

I luv this piece!!!

[xxxnaomihannaxxx]

my favourite carol x

[Beaderella]

@xxxnaomihannaxxx I know right!!!!! its breathtaking

[lichtbroeder]

When I first heard this sung, years ago, it was in an Anglican church, by candlelight, and it was snowing. Doesn't get any better.

[jimraw1]

When it comes to America's choir, the choice comes down to just two: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Cleveland and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses under the direction of Robert Shaw. (I don't include the British because they also know a thing or two about choirs :D). If I ever had one regret it was not being skilled enough (or Mormon) to sing with either group.

[bartje11]

@jimraw1 You forgot the choirs of Jester Hairston and Moses Hogan, and the Robert Shaw Festivale Chorale. Possibly the best American choir ever.

[jimraw1]

@bartje11 I totally agree with you on Hairston and Hogan, who produced two of the greatest gospel choirs. They didn't have quite the exposure of Shaw or the MTCI love the works by both Shaw's chorale and the Festival Chorale (the workshop groups in France). I would say that Hogan probably would have received even more acclaim if he hadn't died so young, and Hairston the same if he hadn't done so many other things. I would only rank the Cleveland and Atlanta groups above just on the basis of size

[jimraw1]

@bartje11 I forgot one more - Rev. James Cleveland's Southern California Community Choir. If they aren't as polished as the other groups, the joy and energy they bring under the great direction of Rev. Cleveland was unmatched - that was the group that began my life-long love affair with gospel music. It was such a change from the southern gospel music I heard growing up in southern Illinois.

[tbwalden]

@bartje11 Can you possibly compare these groups to Robert Shaw? The mere polish he places upon these ensembles is stunning. We can not chide a maestros decisions. They belong because! T.

[MOZ1175]

@tbwalden Here Here! I so agree and thank You! So many go for straight tone even in the most mature voices when it deprives us a much richer, fuller tone quality, not to mention the emotion that genuinely displays. I love Robert Shaw ensembles for these reasons and so much more. Thank You!!!

[ThingsToMakeAnDo]

@jimraw1 But clearly you have gained something of equal worth ...Wisdom and Grace...there are no regrets when these are present

[chailey1970]

@jimraw1 Humbly, Jim, your assertion is quite limited in scope. If one wants to point out Adult Professional or Semi-Professional choirs, then The Dale Warland (sadly now defunct) Singers must be included as does the Turtle Creek Chorale and Conspirare. If Collegiate choirs are brought into the discussion, there are many whose quality and repertoire equal and often surpass the Adult groups; St. Olaf College, Concordia College, BYU, Indiana University, et al.

[emncaity]

@chailey1970

St. Olaf's is often really worth it, for sure.

[jimraw1]

@chailey1970 I agree with you that St. Olaf, Concordia and other colleges produce very fine choirs. However, I will take Robert Shaws groups, the MTC, or even Dale Warland over the colleges. Why? It's simply the maturity of voices. It's like comparing a great college football or basketball team to the pros. Yes, there is great talent, but in almost all cases the singers will get even better as they gain maturity and experience. (You would never put a Juliard ensemble over the NY Philharmonic...)

[emncaity]

@jimraw1

I used to love the MTC, but it seems to me now when I listen to recordings I used to have years ago, they sort of go barrelling after every piece full-bore and are too often lacking in subtlety and deftness. I always thought that the Shaw chorale, if it had been named something like the London Royal Superior Queen's Conservatorium, or whatever, would've been known as one of the two or three greatest choirs ever. As far as I'm concerned, they still are.

[salashawty]

I have this song for Choir.

>.>

[petlover65]

Beautiful..

[alphashed]

It must be part of God's Blessing to us, if from the bleakest of times, Christina Rossetti could pen these beautiful words. According to Wikipedia: Although the lyrics were written as a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti before 1872, it was published posthumously in Rossetti's Poetic Works in 1904 and became a Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with a setting by Holst. I listen every day to beautiful arrangements like this one, Thank You.

[robertduncanmartin]

This music is by Gustav Holst not Robert Shaw

[SuperSchooni]

@robertduncanmartin It's the Robert Shaw Chorale singing. The greatest director of voices ever.

[oneloveatatime]

Angelic Magnificence!!!!Thank you for posting

[bartje11]

It's my pleasure!

[Slohci]

Mine, too - Mary. One of my all-time faves.

[terigower]

this has always touched my heart...mary

[thedancetuber]

@terigower nice share Mary, thanks!