Michael Nyman Band & Hilary Summers - If

[W00dy]

Hilary rocks!

[Artemisaarual]

10 years ago I was pregnant and, at that time, this was the CD I used to listen on my way to work...In a twist of fate I lost my baby and we played this song at the funeral...Every time I hear it tears run down my eyes...it´s absolutely beautiful and has a very deep meaning for me...

[terryeggett1]

I reckon it's about mortality.

[QueenofLukewarm]

Beautiful, but if I wasn't looking I could swear that was a counter tenor singing! But obviously not! Absolutely gorgeous and haunting all the same, thanks for posting.

[johnsalmond]

Anne's story : such a difficult subject to do any sort of justice to: Pulvers, Nyman and this singer -- who's name is not given? -- do very well

[QueenofLukewarm]

@johnsalmond The name of the singer is Hilary Summers: it's there at the top of the video (perhaps added since your visit).

[MyCerre]

Beautiful, Sublime!

Thanks you for this video. Thanks for share with us.

[funkymunkykisses]

Such a classical song .. just started playing it on the piano, but no whereas good with the full orchestra playing the song.

[rutharuth]

Two people don´t have a heart.

[ingjerd1]

This song..i play it again and again, i love this....it gives me peace in my sou...l

[nuxable]

I can't stop hearing it again and again

[duendiable]

Sublimeeeeee. Así se canta y así se compone! Para mí el mejor clásico contemporáneo.Gracias por compartir y ensanchar mi alma

[mmartini50]

How beautiful is this? *sigh*

[philhateley1]

The Libertine is available on Michael's record label. go to MN Records dot com

[didondio]

Sheet music or tutorial - anywhere !?

[EmmaScarlet1]

どうやったらこの曲を聴きながら涙を流さずにいられるのか、誰か­教えて下さい。

彼女の世界一優しいチェロを奏でているような声が、この世界の暴­力やエゴイズム

に傷つき果てた人々の心を癒してくれることでしょう。

Sombody, please tell me how to keep not crying with listening to this music.

Her voice just like the most tender sounded cello might cure people's heart who are hurt out for the violence and egoism of this world.

[mubedasanroman]

, In every land, To every child, Woman and manThat's what I'd do, If my wishes would come true, That's what I'd do, If my wishes could come true”

[mubedasanroman]

“If … at the sound of wish, The summer sun would shine, And if … just a smile would do, To brush all the clouds from the skyIf… at the blink of an eye, The autumn leaves would whirl, And if … you could sigh a deep sigh, To scatter them over the earthI'd blink my eyes, And wave my arms, I'd wish a wish, To stop all harmIf … at the wave of a hand, The winter snows would start, And if … you could just light a candle, To change people's feelings and heartsI'd whisper love,

[marcocoiatelli]

If … at the wave of a hand The winter snows would start And if … you could just light a candle To change people's feelings and heart I'd whisper love In every land To every child Woman and man That's what I'd do If my wishes would come true That's what I'd do If my wishes could come true

[bergsedijk]

i just cry....

[freelifez]

Absolutely the most perfect beauty. green fields with a flock ravens taking flight the moment you enter or a great white cloud that leaves the sun the moment you sit down on a green, soft, mount of moss or yor mother hugging you and telling you you're the best thing that could have happended.....

[diseingindesing]

Buenísima.

[ddlievens]

I could never get bored listening to this... It is so... Perfect...

[newforestlady]

Yes Douglas I agree though I'd never heard the piece through the film Ann Frank's diary but heard it on an earlier film called Libertine in which Nyman composed the soundtrack. ' If ' is sung as a finalé as Rochester lay dying.

[douglassmcann]

how beautiful the lyrics are here...

what a chanson, i am shivering...

douglas

[PaulBartonPiano]

@douglassmcann -- I see what you mean, me too.

[AxL86m]

I love this song, it's absolutely touching...amazing performance as well

[BelleDisastro]

such a beautiful masterpiece

[909830]

Do you like me now? Do you like me now? Do you like me now?...

[herenowish]

If If at the sound of wish The summer sun would shine And if just a smile would do To brush all the clouds from the sky If at the blink of an eye The autumn leaves would whirl And if  you could sigh a deep sigh To scatter them over the earth *I'd blink my eyes And wave my arms I'd wish a wish To stop all harm (*Repeat)

[herenowish]

If at the wave of a hand The winter snows would start And if you could just light a candle To change people's feelings and hearts **I'd whisper love In every land To every child Woman and man ***That's what I'd do If my wishes would come true That's what I'd do If my wishes could come true

[douglassmcann]

isn't life difficult enuf without people harming each other, or our utter selfishness when it comes to living in harmony with nature.

yes, life is a struggle, even if all the wishes here came true....

wish they did... i can only imagine how painful anne frank's story and so many other innocent people's are... then and now,,,

this music speaks to this on the deepest level.

douglas

[TimothyParadox1]

I argue that humans live in perfect harmony with nature, as they ARE a part of nature and do exactly what they were genetically programmed to do. There is no "good" or "bad". There is no such thing as "harmony". You know, once upon a time there was a race of bacteria. They lived in a time before our planet had an atmosphere that could support human life. They changed the atmosphere to its current state by simply exhaling.

[TimothyParadox1]

Their increasing population exterminated their own kind and presumably many others as well. If it wasn't for their lack of "harmony with nature", NO life would exist today, at least none of the species we know today. Sorry, had to rebuke the anti-human attitude.

[mhoffman01245]

amazing voice really puts some feeling into you also i could recognize that some of music was recycled from time lapse and used in this but other than that great voice she has but hard to understand

[newforestlady]

But mhoffman - this is Michael Nyman. All his music sounds like this - he has his own unique style which results in it all sounding rather samey (if there is such a word!!)

[douglassmcann]

for master composers, it's called 'signature'... yet, i find all of his pieces distinct as well, because i hear such variation in all that he does, his content proves him to be a true poet...

douglas

[kieftree]

you, my lady, are a fool

[ptakart]

A W E S O M E .........

[newforestlady]

Bearzelle - I don't know who Nigel Farage is but I think Hilary looks beautiful, feminine and 'slim' which makes a nice change to most lady operatic singers!! .......... and this is quite apart from her wonderful contralto zonerous tones

[E12191G]

this was beautiful

[bearzelle]

To suggest that my sister looks like Nigel Farage in drag is an insult of mega proportions. You have incurred the wrath of THE BEAR. Your redeeming feature is that you appreciated her voice. Little sister rocks!

[bazzaah]

I did say only a little, if that offers you consolation.

[bazzaah]

I really love this song and Hilary Summers has a lovely voice, but I can't help but think that she looks a little like Nigel Farage in drag.

[newforestlady]

Where was this concert held ........... a church I think?  Just wish I'd been there. Hilary's voice is almost like a counter tenor - superb and haunting.

[cliffordborg]

love this song so much...if you like guys you can hear my music....it is very new age too :)

[newforestlady]

must have heard it 30 times now since discovering it 3 nights ago !!

[mmartini50]

It is just superb, isn't it?

[dipardi]

fantástico. simplesmente perfeito. parabéns.

[pusspups1965]

This is truly fabulous Hil - love you loads!

[mmartini50]

Superb....superb.

[romax33]

semplicemente stupenda!!

[christianagnes]

Thus is the voice of an angel which brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes for it is one of the most angelic loveliest songs that I have had the pleasure to hear.

[inthecourtofthecrims]

I turn from beauty to horror, because beauty cannot save me. Yet I cannot turn yet.

[happybecchinoo]

merveilleux

[Mikhaila]

Amazing voice!

[DamarisNewEngland]

I watched the movie the Libertine, and this song, was the best thing that I took back from the experience.  But OH, what a song! This sad, solemn haunting song fills my dreams. But I really have to give applause to this singer, her rich, deep thick resonant mezzo soprano voice is so sumptuos and alluring, that I hope this exact version of this song plays at my funeral. For I would love to be remembered and cast off from the Earth with a song of utter perfection such as this!

[mmartini50]

What lovely sentiments!

[DevaRupa]

The words of the song on the libertine track are totally different to these here they are. "If, underneath death's cold wing, His restless soul should fly away, Beyond the grasp of fools, T'would meet with the bliss they deny, So stand for him, kneel for him, As he lies low in kneaded clay, Pray for him, who prayed too late, That he might shine on judgement day. Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. O Domine Deus dona nobis pacem. O Domine Deus dona nobis pacem."

[mundopropaz]

@DamarisNewEngland When you hope this exact version is played.. Did you get the record?

[Woodsaras]

@DamarisNewEngland Contralto...

[mmartini50]

Love it!

[joaojpaz]

Fantastic. How simple and profound. I heard this song on "The Libertine" for the 1st time, but then somehow I "lost track of it" so this was quite a find! Thanks for sharing!

[happybecchinoo]

merveilleux

[heilong79]

very nice, seems familar. sounds like time lapse.

[RexVulpes]

Hilary Summers and Michael Nyman are two of our great gits in this musical sphere. Check out "Prospero's Books," "Noises, Sounds, and Sweet Airs" and Summers singing Handel and Vivaldi....well worth the time. Foxpharmakos

[mmartini50]

WOW! Thanks, Spirit!

[coiatelli]

wonderfull

compliments for the singer

for MICHAEL NYMAN

and of course to YOU TUBE

[becats1019]

戦争反対

[SilkBoxer]

Thanx a lot for all these videos :-)

I have been to a Nyman concert here in Athens in 1992.

[bradsnot]

thankyou spirit of solace-how about putting some of the tristram shandy stuff on here?The vocals are equally impressive.

[chyna98]

I love the fact I can finally put a face to a beautiful voice finally...she can freaking sing her a@# off.

[lefaguais]

Truly beautiful.

[appolloamos]

......brilliance..........x

[VisioMusicum]

Hilary is simply amazing.

[crudaz]

Fabuleux Nyman Band. On en redemande n'importe quand. Et quelle voie fabuleuse. L'ensemble et au top !!!

Merci !!!!

[ddlievens]

does anybody have the text of this song?!?!?!

[SpiritOfSolace]

Lyrics and background information are available here (just remove the spaces):

tinyurl . com / 34ke5g

[marcocoiatelli]

@ddlievens If … at the wave of a hand The winter snows would start And if … you could just light a candle To change people's feelings and heart I'd whisper love In every land To every child Woman and man That's what I'd do If my wishes would come true That's what I'd do If my wishes could come true

[niklausse]

Ms Summers is amazing! her Baroque performances are incredible

[branvik]

i agree amazing

[readytosee]

A beautiful performance by Summers and the Nyman band.

[keizar]

thanks a lot!