The Voices of liberty came to my school today with the song writer, Derrick Johnson. He said this was the first song he wrote for voices of liberty back in 1982
I was instructed by Gary Lewis (former voices member as well as a gold medal international barbershop winner!) He brought the wonderful music to my high school (sylvania northview) and taught it to a 16 person accapella group called harmony road show. we were blessed to sing this exact version of the song and many many other derek johnson pieces! These people are amazing and for the longest time it was my dream to sing in this group! they bring tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my skin.
oh my goodness this is so good. they are one of the best acapella ensembles in the world no doubt. i love the dissonance at the end of Missouri!! so good 0:49
So... seeing as the people on this post seem to know a lot about this sort of thing... not to be crass and discuss money at a time like this, but does anyone know what a gig like this pays?
(pardon me while I inconspicuously run off to do some scales)
I love this group. It is almost worth the price of admission to Epcot just to listen to them. Simply spellbounding! I wonder whatever happened to that older gentleman who used to sing with them who wore the dark red colonial costume?
Honestly, Derric Johnson's arrangements rock my world. My choir in high school had the opportunity to work with him and it was one of the best musical memories I have. Also, the VOL are excellent. I could listen all day! I really admire them for all their hard work and talent!
how about we just appreciate the beauty of it. We are singing the same arrangement @ PCC, and it has a non-traditional beauty to it. no one in our group sits there and argues about the "origin of the song" we just sing it and love the beauty and atonality of it. the vocalists work very hard to sing this song (trust me) and it is beautiful.
We have the Derrick Johnson Arrangement. He is the director of this group... our director worked with him at disney for about 20 years... good luck getting in touch with derrick... he is a very busy man... :)
Well, firstly, it is a love song between a trader and an Indian Princess. And it's about crossing the Missouri River with his love. And by spiritual, I meant the sound of a spiritual, you said youself, soul like. While I know very little about the wild world of choral music, I do know that scooping is a bad thing (doing it in the instrumental world is bad too).
ok well first of all the voices of liberty r a pop group and so they tend to sing in a poppy manner. in pop music, scooping is perfectly acceptable. and second of all, the scoops r implemented in the song cuz derric johnson, the composer wrote the song that way (i would know i sang the song)
A. It's not a spiritual, actually. It has to have religious overtones to be a spiritual. This is about a valley.
B. No. This song was actually first sung by boys choirs in a very straightforward manner. Scooping is a major "no-no" in choral singing. But I think it's acceptable in this case. They're a very small choir so it sounds okay in this setting. They were trying to give it more soul, which they did. :]
Actually the song is not either an American Spiritual or Folk Song, rather it is a sea shanty becoming popular with sailors in the early 1800's. It was first published in 1931 in a collection of sea shanties (also spelled chanty) called, "Capstan Bars." Overtime the lyrics have been edited and changed as there are a few different lyrical versions.
Read further down under the history of the song on Wikipedia. There you will discover that the song is a sea shanty. Perhaps in a broader sense, you could call a sea shanty a type of folk song in the sense that Frank Sinatra is classified as jazz at a record store. However to musicologists, music historians, and knowledgeable musicians a sea shanty on its own is an entirely different classification of music literature, separate from an American folk song.
i did, it said it's origin! Besides why would a song about a river be a sea chanty. I think that their stating that its constructed in the style off a sea shanty.
One of the most beautiful songs ever composed.
PVcat1 8 months ago
The Voices of liberty came to my school today with the song writer, Derrick Johnson. He said this was the first song he wrote for voices of liberty back in 1982
SeaMusicAtFour 1 year ago
OMG i love this song !!! its one of my Fav!! =D
Jesusfreak101ist 1 year ago
OMG i love this song !!! its one of my Fav!! =D
Jesusfreak101ist 1 year ago
I get to sing with these people in the candlelight processional in epcot. :)
simplydorkcr13 1 year ago
0:57 it sounds like something is not on pitch. Yup! watch the lady in red she misses her note and then proceeds to cough. Listen closely
themagician90 1 year ago
I was instructed by Gary Lewis (former voices member as well as a gold medal international barbershop winner!) He brought the wonderful music to my high school (sylvania northview) and taught it to a 16 person accapella group called harmony road show. we were blessed to sing this exact version of the song and many many other derek johnson pieces! These people are amazing and for the longest time it was my dream to sing in this group! they bring tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my skin.
summer5824 1 year ago
I saw them live. They kick ASS!!!!!! not the same performers though. Still amazing.
superawesomekid00 1 year ago
I LOVE....THIS SONG....
bluepunk95 1 year ago
oh my goodness this is so good. they are one of the best acapella ensembles in the world no doubt. i love the dissonance at the end of Missouri!! so good 0:49
lilmateo91690 2 years ago 5
the best performance in the history of Epcot's Voices of Liberty cast...unbelieveable :)
dawgluva15 2 years ago
Thanks, mangojoe!
Ampersandra 2 years ago
So... seeing as the people on this post seem to know a lot about this sort of thing... not to be crass and discuss money at a time like this, but does anyone know what a gig like this pays?
(pardon me while I inconspicuously run off to do some scales)
Ampersandra 2 years ago
they are paid $24,000 - $40,000 depending
mangojoe 2 years ago
I sang this sing for my choir concert in october.
sunshinegirl41294 2 years ago
Are any of these posts by any of the Liberty Voices?
muziquebox 3 years ago
This is one of the best combinations of singers.. RIP in Peace DMAC
dolnikj 3 years ago
rest in peace in peace?
eamonnoneill 3 years ago 4
I love this group. It is almost worth the price of admission to Epcot just to listen to them. Simply spellbounding! I wonder whatever happened to that older gentleman who used to sing with them who wore the dark red colonial costume?
magistr88 3 years ago 3
i played this song in my band and the voices of liberty were just at my school for an assembley
Crosscountry618 3 years ago
Whos that, that keeps coughing??!!!
firehawk000 4 years ago
lol there's nothing more annoying I agree
RUFUSTEPH5 3 years ago
People cough because perhaps perhaps unwittingly they cannot stand quiet or silence. They never cough during tutti's.
BuckshotLaFunke 3 years ago
hahahahA! that is so true
and has been true ever since i began as a little performer
so true
lilmateo91690 2 years ago
Liz is awesome
cubadere 4 years ago
its about time we see people with REAL singing talent. these guys dont need a studio to make them sound good!!! this is RAW, NATURAL talent.
slippery500 4 years ago
Not only can tehy sing they know teh US Constitution. You can ask them Constitutional questions. Talented and knowledgeable.
TheStormchaser1 4 years ago
Honestly, Derric Johnson's arrangements rock my world. My choir in high school had the opportunity to work with him and it was one of the best musical memories I have. Also, the VOL are excellent. I could listen all day! I really admire them for all their hard work and talent!
bebastefania23 4 years ago
how about we just appreciate the beauty of it. We are singing the same arrangement @ PCC, and it has a non-traditional beauty to it. no one in our group sits there and argues about the "origin of the song" we just sing it and love the beauty and atonality of it. the vocalists work very hard to sing this song (trust me) and it is beautiful.
eggnoramoose 4 years ago
Hey eggnoramoose, who arranged this piece? I've never heard this version of it, and I love it! Could you let me know? Thanks!
symphodude 4 years ago
We have the Derrick Johnson Arrangement. He is the director of this group... our director worked with him at disney for about 20 years... good luck getting in touch with derrick... he is a very busy man... :)
eggnoramoose...
eggnoramoose 4 years ago
Wow! that's awesome! Thanks!
symphodude 4 years ago
lol Well not anymore. Derric is no longer the director for reasons that i don't want to state. Just a little gossip/info for ya!
ngordon88 4 years ago
All I can say is, I sang this last year with my all-girls varsity choir. And the Voices of Liberty kick the crud out of us. xD
Harikou 4 years ago
Well, firstly, it is a love song between a trader and an Indian Princess. And it's about crossing the Missouri River with his love. And by spiritual, I meant the sound of a spiritual, you said youself, soul like. While I know very little about the wild world of choral music, I do know that scooping is a bad thing (doing it in the instrumental world is bad too).
LinguesonoVita 4 years ago
ok well first of all the voices of liberty r a pop group and so they tend to sing in a poppy manner. in pop music, scooping is perfectly acceptable. and second of all, the scoops r implemented in the song cuz derric johnson, the composer wrote the song that way (i would know i sang the song)
bimmerboy87 4 years ago
They have such a clear, crisp sound. Beautiful!
oolunastaroo 4 years ago
very well done. thank you.
love this song forever.
lenbenhear 4 years ago
oh man! what a beautiful arrangement and really well done by the Voices of Liberty! Awesome!
merryohg 4 years ago
Aside from the way they scoope into EVERY DAMN NOTE, it's a really beautiful rendition.
melthedino 5 years ago
Isn't that the sound they should go for in this song though? It is an American Spiritual.
LinguesonoVita 4 years ago
A. It's not a spiritual, actually. It has to have religious overtones to be a spiritual. This is about a valley.
B. No. This song was actually first sung by boys choirs in a very straightforward manner. Scooping is a major "no-no" in choral singing. But I think it's acceptable in this case. They're a very small choir so it sounds okay in this setting. They were trying to give it more soul, which they did. :]
melthedino 4 years ago
Not a American Spiritual, an American Folk tune!
VIDALVAUGHN 4 years ago
Actually the song is not either an American Spiritual or Folk Song, rather it is a sea shanty becoming popular with sailors in the early 1800's. It was first published in 1931 in a collection of sea shanties (also spelled chanty) called, "Capstan Bars." Overtime the lyrics have been edited and changed as there are a few different lyrical versions.
Jebus382 4 years ago
This article is about the American folk song. For other uses, see Shenandoah.
"Oh Shenandoah" (also called simply "Shenandoah") is an American folk song, dating to the early 19th century.
THIS COMES DIRECTLY FORM WIKIPEDIA
VIDALVAUGHN 4 years ago
Read further down under the history of the song on Wikipedia. There you will discover that the song is a sea shanty. Perhaps in a broader sense, you could call a sea shanty a type of folk song in the sense that Frank Sinatra is classified as jazz at a record store. However to musicologists, music historians, and knowledgeable musicians a sea shanty on its own is an entirely different classification of music literature, separate from an American folk song.
Jebus382 4 years ago
i did, it said it's origin! Besides why would a song about a river be a sea chanty. I think that their stating that its constructed in the style off a sea shanty.
VIDALVAUGHN 4 years ago
I saw this group when I was at Epcot last January. They're amazing!
fruitball4u 5 years ago
I'm a "kid" of gary louis ... he had our vocal jazz group sing this EXACT song.. but gosh this is beautiful :)
summer5824 5 years ago
I LOVE THIS SONG!!! We're singing it in choir..this exact arrangment.
BHSsinger2007 5 years ago
may God always bless the south i love your sound
cindy clay ndc coast
07caclay 5 years ago
i wish out chior sounded like this when we sing it
clixit07 5 years ago
love the harmony
brightsunshine 5 years ago
fantastic
squeesh 5 years ago