I think of Chanticleer as a gifted sculptor: whatever material it touches, it caresses with such genius and lovingkindness as to bring forth from their slumber all of its glorious textures, shades and contours. Chanticleer, how great thine art!
Wow... this sounds so angelic! Why would anyone dislike this? Besides, it's one of the most popular Christmas carols EVER, and it's been translated into more languages than any other carol, too. I freakin' LOVE this! ^_^
Thank you, Chanticleer, for your generous response. I appreciate your explanation and the wealth of information pertaining to the various markings and dynamics. The Cambridge Singers performed an arrangement by Rutter where they carried over "bright" to "'round yon" on their CD, Christmas Star. As for the up tempo version with guitar accompaniment, Emmanuel College Chapel Choir, Cambridge, recorded it on their CD, "Veni Veni Emmanuel" with a breath between "wacht" and "nur." ALL are lovely.
Well I think it is absolutely delightful, regardless what kiltlvr states here. There are very heavenly voices singing this piece. I want to enjoy the experience, not count the breaths!
It IS lovely, I agree. But, if Chanticleer, one of the most extraordinary vocal ensembles ever conceived, can't examine something so simple and see the error (they are, after all, educated in music and not just vocal masters), then honest critiques should be welcome.
There is a significant difference between a critique and gross criticism, and my comment was intended as a critique. And I think a response from a Chanticleer rep would be insightful.
@kiltlvr I guess I have a different philosophy, given that I personally know how hard it is so sing. If there aren't glaring pitch issues or stylistic mishaps, then I just go for the experience. I don't even hazard a critique because for me it is not relevant. If I took the same position as you did and critique, I'd get someone telling me to do it better. Frankly I couldn't so I just enjoy what I hear and that is it. We have rights to our opinions. Life is too short to not enjoy.
Your assumption that I'm not, or ever have been, a singer is amusing. It's because I AM a singer that I made the comment. At least we agree that life is too short not to enjoy.
@kiltlvr I never stated such a thing, that is a presumption on your part. I was strictly writing from my own point of view. I'd be happy to listen to you sing. You must be a fairly good singer if you can delineate breaths and phrasing. I have not attained such a skill.
@kiltlvr We'd be happy to respond to your question. It is a bit lengthy so we'll need to respond in several comments due to YouTube's comment length restrictions...
Versions by Joseph Jennings, Michael McGlynn, and Malcolm Sargent do not rest in the 4th measure and employ other compositional devices to continue the phrase. The Sargent arrangement may make an appearance at Chanticleer's Christmas concerts this year!
I wonder if the break between "wacht" and "Nur" sounds as weird in German, or if the quicker tempo carried the phrase better, or if his accompanying guitar covered the gap. Chanticleer spends a remarkable amount of time debating things just like this. It's nice to know that some ears actually pick up on the subtlety...and equally nice that some enjoy it.
I agree that, textually, it makes sense in English to carry through "bright." If you believe Wikipedia, Gruber's original version (which also has a rest at the end of measure 4) would have been much faster.
The last iteration of "Sleep in heavenly..." is marked again p. Zooming out, we see one gigantic, 12-bar phrase (I think Gene's jazz roots are showing :) connected by a crescendo-diminuendo. The challenge for the singers is to sing in such a way that there is a sense of connection through the rest, perhaps feeling the lullaby as a perpetual pendulum. At least that's what I was thinking when I sang it.
...but here's the cool thing: the start of measure 5 is marked mf followed by two 2-bar phrases. The peak of the phrase is marked f in measure 9, followed by a diminuendo on the word "peace" in measure 10.
In this arrangement by the late great jazz arranger, Gene Puerling, there are some interesting score markings. He tells us to start p in 6/8 with an 8th rest at the ends of measures 1 and 2. In the measure 3, he has marked mp and emphatically no breath, connecting "calm" with "all". At the end of measure 4, we have another 8th rest. So it would seem that Puerling heard a break between "bright" and "Round"
Has anyone ever studied the wording and phrasing of the first stanza to realize that a breath taken between, "All is bright" and " 'Round yon Virgin" and before "Mother and Child" doesn't make sense? It should be:
Silent night,
Holy night,
All is calm
All is bright 'round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly peace.
Chanticleer, you are too amazing to let something so obvious place you in the sameness of all other choirs and ensembles.
I think of Chanticleer as a gifted sculptor: whatever material it touches, it caresses with such genius and lovingkindness as to bring forth from their slumber all of its glorious textures, shades and contours. Chanticleer, how great thine art!
dopeybozo 1 month ago 2
I like this arrangement!!! It's so different.
cmcbamf 1 month ago
Wow... this sounds so angelic! Why would anyone dislike this? Besides, it's one of the most popular Christmas carols EVER, and it's been translated into more languages than any other carol, too. I freakin' LOVE this! ^_^
KnucklesEchidna125 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
Chanticleer........a balm for the soul. One of God's blessings delivered through the voices of men.
dsmrfld 3 months ago
Thank you, Chanticleer, for your generous response. I appreciate your explanation and the wealth of information pertaining to the various markings and dynamics. The Cambridge Singers performed an arrangement by Rutter where they carried over "bright" to "'round yon" on their CD, Christmas Star. As for the up tempo version with guitar accompaniment, Emmanuel College Chapel Choir, Cambridge, recorded it on their CD, "Veni Veni Emmanuel" with a breath between "wacht" and "nur." ALL are lovely.
kiltlvr 3 months ago
Well I think it is absolutely delightful, regardless what kiltlvr states here. There are very heavenly voices singing this piece. I want to enjoy the experience, not count the breaths!
mradaChris 3 months ago
@mradaChris,
It IS lovely, I agree. But, if Chanticleer, one of the most extraordinary vocal ensembles ever conceived, can't examine something so simple and see the error (they are, after all, educated in music and not just vocal masters), then honest critiques should be welcome.
There is a significant difference between a critique and gross criticism, and my comment was intended as a critique. And I think a response from a Chanticleer rep would be insightful.
kiltlvr 3 months ago
@kiltlvr I guess I have a different philosophy, given that I personally know how hard it is so sing. If there aren't glaring pitch issues or stylistic mishaps, then I just go for the experience. I don't even hazard a critique because for me it is not relevant. If I took the same position as you did and critique, I'd get someone telling me to do it better. Frankly I couldn't so I just enjoy what I hear and that is it. We have rights to our opinions. Life is too short to not enjoy.
mradaChris 3 months ago
@mradaChris,
Your assumption that I'm not, or ever have been, a singer is amusing. It's because I AM a singer that I made the comment. At least we agree that life is too short not to enjoy.
kiltlvr 3 months ago
@kiltlvr I never stated such a thing, that is a presumption on your part. I was strictly writing from my own point of view. I'd be happy to listen to you sing. You must be a fairly good singer if you can delineate breaths and phrasing. I have not attained such a skill.
mradaChris 3 months ago
@kiltlvr We'd be happy to respond to your question. It is a bit lengthy so we'll need to respond in several comments due to YouTube's comment length restrictions...
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
Versions by Joseph Jennings, Michael McGlynn, and Malcolm Sargent do not rest in the 4th measure and employ other compositional devices to continue the phrase. The Sargent arrangement may make an appearance at Chanticleer's Christmas concerts this year!
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
I wonder if the break between "wacht" and "Nur" sounds as weird in German, or if the quicker tempo carried the phrase better, or if his accompanying guitar covered the gap. Chanticleer spends a remarkable amount of time debating things just like this. It's nice to know that some ears actually pick up on the subtlety...and equally nice that some enjoy it.
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
I agree that, textually, it makes sense in English to carry through "bright." If you believe Wikipedia, Gruber's original version (which also has a rest at the end of measure 4) would have been much faster.
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
The last iteration of "Sleep in heavenly..." is marked again p. Zooming out, we see one gigantic, 12-bar phrase (I think Gene's jazz roots are showing :) connected by a crescendo-diminuendo. The challenge for the singers is to sing in such a way that there is a sense of connection through the rest, perhaps feeling the lullaby as a perpetual pendulum. At least that's what I was thinking when I sang it.
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
...but here's the cool thing: the start of measure 5 is marked mf followed by two 2-bar phrases. The peak of the phrase is marked f in measure 9, followed by a diminuendo on the word "peace" in measure 10.
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
In this arrangement by the late great jazz arranger, Gene Puerling, there are some interesting score markings. He tells us to start p in 6/8 with an 8th rest at the ends of measures 1 and 2. In the measure 3, he has marked mp and emphatically no breath, connecting "calm" with "all". At the end of measure 4, we have another 8th rest. So it would seem that Puerling heard a break between "bright" and "Round"
sfchanticleer 3 months ago
Has anyone ever studied the wording and phrasing of the first stanza to realize that a breath taken between, "All is bright" and " 'Round yon Virgin" and before "Mother and Child" doesn't make sense? It should be:
Silent night,
Holy night,
All is calm
All is bright 'round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly peace.
Chanticleer, you are too amazing to let something so obvious place you in the sameness of all other choirs and ensembles.
kiltlvr 3 months ago