I just watched them and was weirded out by their sitting position. I actually walked out of the program as I could not get past it. It is not the convention. But thats my opinion. Program announcements of this group should indicate that this is how they will perform so the public is warned and can decide whether they want to watch.
I love Lauridsen's work, but I have to say, he has a definite style, bordering on sameness, this is very similarly written to Lux Aeterna. Very gooey, legato, and based around one chord.
My chamber choir sang this song too... It's sooo beautiful, but when we were learning it it was like... "how is this all gonna come together and sound good??" but in the end, here is what is made a beautiful arrangement of chordal harmonies and 'O Magnum Mysterium'
Wait... we actually did 2 versions of this piece and this one we actually did 2 years ago, and the first comment I posted was about the other 'O Magnum mysterium' we performed. Personally, I like this one better... =-)
WHOO! This piece can be performed so many different ways! Great job with the feel of it. This sounds so natural. No reverb, no special effects. The way it should be.
Naturally, during the twelve days of the Christmas season, there was much entertaining and singing of Madrigals. this is where Madz got there idea to sings while in sitting position. Hope you enlightened from this.. Peace!im also a big fan of madz and im one of the member of Madz et al Family.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
This is a great piece. Yet another choir trying to emulate "The Philippine Madrigal Singers". It doesn't matter if your choir master was a former madrigal singer, there will only be 1 madrigal group,I would appreciate this more, if the choir has it's own identity. sitting while singing is so prententious, that already is the trademark of the madrigal singers, get your own style!! this is a second rate copy-cat choir.
Well Madz also not the original one who sings while sitting.if you go back in time, Madrigal singing, brought to England from Italy in the 16th century, was at first an informal type of private entertainment at the castle and country homes of the landed gentry. Frequently, the lords and ladies performed the music themselves as they sat at dinner in the Great Hall.
Just to be clear though, sitting is not a defining characteristic for madrigals. Any genre can be sung sitting down. The sitting formation is an identifying trait of the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
I could not disagree more profoundly. I have sung this piece on numerous occasions; and while this group is perhaps not perfect, it is nonetheless a credible performance. So far as their performing sitting down, why should this matter? Admire their performance for what it is, or watch another ... but please don't waste time with such specious criticisms.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
This is a great piece. However, the choir has no originality.e. Yet another choir trying to emulate "The Philippine Madrigal Singers". It doesn't matter if your choir master was a former madrigal singer, there will only be 1 Philippine madrigal group,I would appreciate this more, if the choir has it's own identity. sitting while singing is so prententious, that already is the trademark of the madrigal singers, get your own style!! this is a second rate copy-cat choir.
want to be more mesmerized?...search for the ust singer's version...despite a much smaller number of singers, they sounded a perfect rendition of this piece...
yup, i agree, even if i'm an avid Madz fan. though there are 2 UST versions here already -- the manila-based UST Singers alumni, who were just singing in a practice session, AND the US based alumni, performing in california, USA. Look for that Hollywood choral festival rendition, and hear for yourself. :)
My first exposure to this piece was a wind ensemble recording. The instrumental version of this was so incredibly moving, I should have known it came from a choir piece. Gorgeous!! If you want to hear it, iTunes has a couple of good recordings. I recommend the Mallory Thompson version on Contemporaries. Could you imagine the choral and instrumental versions together?!? WOW.
This is my favorite chorale piece... Does anyone know what year it was written? A friend of mine analyzed this for a music class we were in, but I was never able to find a good recording of it. I did hear a great rendition of it by Los Robles Master Chorale a couple years back though.
Lauridsen and Salamunovich are great friends. He wrote the Lux Aeterna and the O Magnum Mysterium with Paul Salamunovich's style in mind, back when Paul conducted the LA Master Chorale.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Paul and singing with him for many years, he is not really the fan of the vibrato, so I dont believe the music is written to have vibrato in it, per Paul S. style.
Still this is one of the best sounding versions I've seen in youtube. Good job.
theyre squeezing eachothers hands to keep tempo, right?
ive never heard it with vibrato, it doesnt necessarily sound better, but it had more of an emotional effect on me, as it reminded me of church choir in hawaii as a little boy, with all the old timers. man the tears come rolling down
this is my favorite version besides the victoria version. its very hard to do this without a conductor because of how slow the piece is. but if you keep it piano till about 3:54 in this video than get loud then the effect is huge. but good job guys. i heard that lil mess up in the beginning but its all good.
looks like this piece has many critics. I think it is beautiful the harmony is wonderful. I myself cannot sing while sitting but im sure if i were trained like these fine men and women i could. Excellent 5 stars
I like it!! Well done!! Reminds me of my choir days. The sitting was something I had never seen before, and so it threw me off for a second, yet the sound was good and strong. Again, well done!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
if you are going to copy the madrigal singers' style, make sure you'll at least approximate the level of performance/sound of the madrigal singers. this group has been discrediting the madrigal singers for the longest time and here they are copying the madrigals' style. PATHETIC!
The piece is not "owned" by any Fil choir. Surely, you're not privy to the reason why this choir even started singing this (or from where they even heard it first). Are you from the madrigal singers or even a member of this choir? All you have is an absurd assumption of "sitting in to steal" and "alleged claim to superiority" more suitable for a gossip column.
They're sitting down, all right. That's just about the madz style copied in here. Blame their conductors who are from madz for teaching them to sing in this position...ooh, big deal, *rolleyes* PS. My previous reply applies to denois comment on another piece of this group (but just the same, it fits here as his absurdity continues). Looks like denois' got a personal vendetta going on...chill!
Not bad - but where is your conductor? This many singers and no one to shape the phrases? Too metronomic in many sections, especially not leaving enough space between phrases. Nice tone production, however... I wouldn't kick any of these singers out of my choirs.
Interesting and odd formation on the stage... seated in the half-circle like that... but it seems to work. The dynamics are really well-done, as was mentioned before. Some of the vowels are a little wonky, but overall it's a really great job considering there is no conductor in front of you!
I just watched them and was weirded out by their sitting position. I actually walked out of the program as I could not get past it. It is not the convention. But thats my opinion. Program announcements of this group should indicate that this is how they will perform so the public is warned and can decide whether they want to watch.
excellasia 5 months ago
Where's that vibrato coming. Is it with the recording or the choir itself?
jpvuststenor1 1 year ago
I love Lauridsen's work, but I have to say, he has a definite style, bordering on sameness, this is very similarly written to Lux Aeterna. Very gooey, legato, and based around one chord.
GoofballFilm 2 years ago
the voices are nice, but there is zero pitch balance. it kind of sounds like someone wiggling the pitch bend gadget on a keyboard.
alexthomasdude 2 years ago
My chamber choir sang this song too... It's sooo beautiful, but when we were learning it it was like... "how is this all gonna come together and sound good??" but in the end, here is what is made a beautiful arrangement of chordal harmonies and 'O Magnum Mysterium'
Japan01GK 2 years ago
Wait... we actually did 2 versions of this piece and this one we actually did 2 years ago, and the first comment I posted was about the other 'O Magnum mysterium' we performed. Personally, I like this one better... =-)
Japan01GK 2 years ago
WHOO! This piece can be performed so many different ways! Great job with the feel of it. This sounds so natural. No reverb, no special effects. The way it should be.
chrismcgintymusic 2 years ago
a gorgeous piece.. heavenly... i am so lucky to have performed this :D
xcurlilocksx 2 years ago
wow! you performed this?!?
fairytaleseries 2 years ago
yes... it is such an amazing piece.. it is great being a soprano.. we performed it over christmas. magical
xcurlilocksx 2 years ago
wow that's crazy.
where are you in there? *sitting*
fairytaleseries 2 years ago
also in the info it says it was performed may 27 2001...
fairytaleseries 2 years ago
funny! lets just enjoy the video instead of making comments professional or otherwise
AlvinEarl73 2 years ago
Needs work!!! especially those soprano's the move their voices too much to where the vibrations sound like an old woman!!
musickid8551 2 years ago
y sit? they can project better standing
oemgeeitsabaybay 3 years ago
they don't blend well at all. I also agree that the vibrato is entirely too much. And they're really out of tune.
citrusmusic8592 3 years ago
ey! anyone here from chopa? meron lang ako itatanong...
marlonization 3 years ago
Sang this song two weeks ago in our Christmas concerts. Beautiful song~~
gnuhmap 3 years ago
its beautiful
belle19Uc 3 years ago
this song is sooooo peaceful!!!!!! so beautiful in so many ways!!!!!!
mhmasterson 3 years ago
This song should be performed without Vibrato, it ruins the whole thing.
joshuaw021 3 years ago
listen to ust version. that is how it should be done
singspieler 3 years ago
finally a version in which i hear the low D in the third bass :-)
janmoeyaert1 3 years ago
Naturally, during the twelve days of the Christmas season, there was much entertaining and singing of Madrigals. this is where Madz got there idea to sings while in sitting position. Hope you enlightened from this.. Peace!im also a big fan of madz and im one of the member of Madz et al Family.
jammerdyep 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is a great piece. Yet another choir trying to emulate "The Philippine Madrigal Singers". It doesn't matter if your choir master was a former madrigal singer, there will only be 1 madrigal group,I would appreciate this more, if the choir has it's own identity. sitting while singing is so prententious, that already is the trademark of the madrigal singers, get your own style!! this is a second rate copy-cat choir.
clava1980 3 years ago
Well Madz also not the original one who sings while sitting.if you go back in time, Madrigal singing, brought to England from Italy in the 16th century, was at first an informal type of private entertainment at the castle and country homes of the landed gentry. Frequently, the lords and ladies performed the music themselves as they sat at dinner in the Great Hall.
jammerdyep 3 years ago 7
Just to be clear though, sitting is not a defining characteristic for madrigals. Any genre can be sung sitting down. The sitting formation is an identifying trait of the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
moonrage73 3 years ago
I could not disagree more profoundly. I have sung this piece on numerous occasions; and while this group is perhaps not perfect, it is nonetheless a credible performance. So far as their performing sitting down, why should this matter? Admire their performance for what it is, or watch another ... but please don't waste time with such specious criticisms.
mdmnmdllr 3 years ago 7
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is a great piece. However, the choir has no originality.e. Yet another choir trying to emulate "The Philippine Madrigal Singers". It doesn't matter if your choir master was a former madrigal singer, there will only be 1 Philippine madrigal group,I would appreciate this more, if the choir has it's own identity. sitting while singing is so prententious, that already is the trademark of the madrigal singers, get your own style!! this is a second rate copy-cat choir.
clava1980 3 years ago
Why should a choir have to have originality? If the song sounds very good the way it is, why change it?
jamesfink22 3 years ago
This Is Beautiful I remember when Our School Choir Sung It is A Beautiful Piece of Work
black48198 3 years ago
want to be more mesmerized?...search for the ust singer's version...despite a much smaller number of singers, they sounded a perfect rendition of this piece...
nematel 3 years ago
yup, i agree, even if i'm an avid Madz fan. though there are 2 UST versions here already -- the manila-based UST Singers alumni, who were just singing in a practice session, AND the US based alumni, performing in california, USA. Look for that Hollywood choral festival rendition, and hear for yourself. :)
zarchys 3 years ago
Way too much vibrato to be enjoyed. It almost seems too slow as well.
favreguy444 3 years ago 3
Yea way yo much vibrato! Like wtf? aw ah aw aw aaawawa
spidermangeo 3 years ago
I hate those vibratos...It ruins the song...
jibcraip 3 years ago
My first exposure to this piece was a wind ensemble recording. The instrumental version of this was so incredibly moving, I should have known it came from a choir piece. Gorgeous!! If you want to hear it, iTunes has a couple of good recordings. I recommend the Mallory Thompson version on Contemporaries. Could you imagine the choral and instrumental versions together?!? WOW.
mastersinger76 3 years ago
This was one of my favorite songs to sing in high school!!! I was literally in tears!!! Beautifully done!!!
DvaReed 3 years ago
quit your cryin
sizeablealarm 3 years ago
This is my favorite chorale piece... Does anyone know what year it was written? A friend of mine analyzed this for a music class we were in, but I was never able to find a good recording of it. I did hear a great rendition of it by Los Robles Master Chorale a couple years back though.
quinn479 3 years ago
Buy the Lux Aeterna performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Its the Morten Lauridsen and it has them doing this song. It's amazing.
deusdark 3 years ago
oh, and it was written in 1994 i believe.
deusdark 3 years ago
Lauridsen and Salamunovich are great friends. He wrote the Lux Aeterna and the O Magnum Mysterium with Paul Salamunovich's style in mind, back when Paul conducted the LA Master Chorale.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Paul and singing with him for many years, he is not really the fan of the vibrato, so I dont believe the music is written to have vibrato in it, per Paul S. style.
Still this is one of the best sounding versions I've seen in youtube. Good job.
deusdark 3 years ago
theyre squeezing eachothers hands to keep tempo, right?
ive never heard it with vibrato, it doesnt necessarily sound better, but it had more of an emotional effect on me, as it reminded me of church choir in hawaii as a little boy, with all the old timers. man the tears come rolling down
d(-_-)b
kadjrare 4 years ago
they're not holding hands at all.
ivytreeproductions 3 years ago
yeah the vibrato gives it way to much cliche
kndtony 4 years ago 2
I agree. Maybe it was in the recording system? :D
YULitle 4 years ago
it has to do with the quality of the recording, and video posted. but most of it is the actual singers.
ivytreeproductions 4 years ago
I second that
susursss 4 years ago
this is my favorite version besides the victoria version. its very hard to do this without a conductor because of how slow the piece is. but if you keep it piano till about 3:54 in this video than get loud then the effect is huge. but good job guys. i heard that lil mess up in the beginning but its all good.
Ghost096 4 years ago
cut the vibrato and things will be juuuuust fine.
sorafb 4 years ago
looks like this piece has many critics. I think it is beautiful the harmony is wonderful. I myself cannot sing while sitting but im sure if i were trained like these fine men and women i could. Excellent 5 stars
music20011 4 years ago
I like it!! Well done!! Reminds me of my choir days. The sitting was something I had never seen before, and so it threw me off for a second, yet the sound was good and strong. Again, well done!
mexiyoda23 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
if you are going to copy the madrigal singers' style, make sure you'll at least approximate the level of performance/sound of the madrigal singers. this group has been discrediting the madrigal singers for the longest time and here they are copying the madrigals' style. PATHETIC!
denois69 4 years ago
The piece is not "owned" by any Fil choir. Surely, you're not privy to the reason why this choir even started singing this (or from where they even heard it first). Are you from the madrigal singers or even a member of this choir? All you have is an absurd assumption of "sitting in to steal" and "alleged claim to superiority" more suitable for a gossip column.
annefrancs 4 years ago
They're sitting down, all right. That's just about the madz style copied in here. Blame their conductors who are from madz for teaching them to sing in this position...ooh, big deal, *rolleyes* PS. My previous reply applies to denois comment on another piece of this group (but just the same, it fits here as his absurdity continues). Looks like denois' got a personal vendetta going on...chill!
annefrancs 4 years ago
My comment: THAT'S ALL.
denois69 4 years ago
Not bad - but where is your conductor? This many singers and no one to shape the phrases? Too metronomic in many sections, especially not leaving enough space between phrases. Nice tone production, however... I wouldn't kick any of these singers out of my choirs.
musicbrent 4 years ago
the conductor is on the left end of the semi-circle formation.
erciasico 4 years ago
Must stand! Wrong style of singing for this piece. Must have strait tones from all members not just sopranos.
darthmaxo 4 years ago
....madrigal singers wanna be?? hehehe....
larishiny 4 years ago
Their conductor is a previous member of the PMS
youngsiever 4 years ago 2
the circle reminds me of "Will I" from RENT!
malchikcrazy09 4 years ago
imo, it does not matter if you are sitting down or standing up..you just have to put your heart on every song.
pinoyboymike 4 years ago
I, too, think it was kind of bad. sorry. it was intersting though. but I don't think sitting down is the proper position for this piece.
maki718 4 years ago
Interesting and odd formation on the stage... seated in the half-circle like that... but it seems to work. The dynamics are really well-done, as was mentioned before. Some of the vowels are a little wonky, but overall it's a really great job considering there is no conductor in front of you!
rcktmanil 4 years ago
horrible?... i don't think so.
compare the sound of your choir to ours and then tell me who sounds horrible.
pinoyboymike 4 years ago
the tenors needed to sing out more in the opening. It sounded weak to me. And that Alto scoop! GAH! That was horrible...
btownchoirboi 4 years ago
Wow! galeng...
marlonization 4 years ago
very well done! great dynamics...
erciasico 4 years ago