Babylon 5 - One moment of perfect beauty

[intermender]

"moment of perfect beauty". Hmm, I think it perhaps loses something in translation?

[funkmystar]

The vorlons love their songs

[BexMuggins]

As to the piece of music : 90% sure it is actually " Introitus - Puer natus nobis est "

Found by searching for gC1jJC3aBLQ on YouTube. (Won't let me put the URL in for some reason).

[ITherealMarcomanI]

@BexMuggins You´re right. Thanks for the info.

[MsCreepyChan]

so... all of the blankets get up and start circling you whilst singing a heavenly song

reminds me of my last acid trip.

[ITherealMarcomanI]

@MsCreepyChan Drugs are bad, mkay. ;-)

[OvaltinePatrol]

@ITherealMarcomanI I thought CreepyChan was talking about slipping on orange juice.

[TheSteamweasel]

I remember first seeing this scene with my dad, and tears formed in his eyes. He told me that this is the christmas canticle I believe

[knoxvilleguy2]

@TheSteamweasel - The entire setting was meant to convey a sense of the sacred ( Although I'm not sure exactly w / " lesson " Kosh was trying to convey with this ). & Sheridan giving one of his " stat bars " had some significance, too, since the station w  / secede from the Earth Alliance & become the seat of a new goverment.

[AnclavZaRodinu]

I remember at the end of B5 when everyone was at the table talking about Pahk'Mara, Vir told them that he and Londo were passing by Pahk'Mara quarters and heard them singing!

[knoxvilleguy2]

This whole scene seems very organic, set in the innards of a 5 - mile long artificial construct. The area seems like a cave, & the monks ( Vorlon illusions based on images in Sheridan's mind ? ) seem to rise up from nowhere. This is WHY I MISS - FREAKIN' MISS - this series. There's nothing remotely like it showing now.

[Djinnmeister]

I always like the idea that the Vorlons abducted Jack the Ripper and used him as Inquisitor.

[kellyjeanettearts]

As a artist, art lover, and lover of gregorian chants, I so totally get this "moment of perfect beauty".

[lastswordfighter]

For reason I'm think of the Greek myth of the ferryman that escorts souls to the afterlife whenever I see this.

[tastyhorses]

I dont remember the name of the song but it is the Monks of Santo Domingo. It is a monastery in Spain. A destination on the euro-pilgrimage. It does come from an album. I have it. It isnt one moment of perfect beauty. It is about an hour of un-paralleled lovelyness.

[bunnfamilyfun]

@tastyhorses Puer Natus Est, the introit for Christmas Day.

[jiveturkey25]

Too bad this show had a five year plan. It could have gone on for 15 years or more because of its novel style writing.

[mavyt]

@jiveturkey25 Unlike other sci fi shows that are run for X years till ratings peek out, JMS wrote B5 as a five year plan, that wrapped up it's storylines pretty nicely. He had it all done before hand.

[CCTEVO]

What is the actual name of the song? and who is actually signing it? Send Answer to CCTEVO@live.com Thanks for your help with the answer.

[LordGodsServant]

Perhaps Kosh was trying to show Sheridan in preparation for Lorien and his question "do you have anything worth living for?" The lesson is, the creatures (probably Pak'Mara as theyr'e said to sing beautifully for Religious reasons) live in the slums, their lives are a constant struggle to survive, yet they gather together in brotherhood to share joy in their unity and common cause. It's beautiful because even though their life is crap they can have joy in something as simple as singing a hymn.

[FaxModem1]

I wonder what Kosh was trying to teach Sheridan. Maybe I'm just thick or something.

[esthermlaw]

Interesting that the style of music chosen to represent that moment of perfect beauty was in chant style.

[Anlushac11]

The creatures singing are supposed to be the Pak'ma'ra. Sheridan giving them his rank emblem was not important, it was the act of giving itself. The item didnt matter.

There are many scifi book references in B5. Read Anne Macaffrey "The Ship Who Sang"

[Anlushac11]

The creatures singing are supposed to be the Pak'ma'ra. Sheridan giving them his rank was not important, it was the act of giving itself. The item didnt matter.

There are many scifi book references in B5. Read Anne Macaffrey "The Ship Who Sang"

[Amekomifan11]

It's kind of symbolic that Sheridan gives his Rank bar over



[colliertng]

@redemptionsdoom, Never Mess With A Vorlon! :-)

[ChristopherDone]

This scene partly sums up what makes B5 unique among sci-fi.

[ChristopherDone]

@redemptionsdoom "Impudent" *splat*

[0pteryx]

@ChristopherDone LOL'd :)

[Cyclonus5]

It is the Pak'Ma'ra'. If you look at the Pak'ma'ra quarters in the first season episode "Legacies" there are the same cloth strips hanging on the ceiling

[joshuaselig]

@redemptionsdoom LMAO

[Coelacanth1938]

The Pak'ma'ra cannot speak, but they can sing.

[OmegaII]

@Coelacanth1938 They can speak. They just refuse to learn another language.

[Vishvakarman]

It's the re-enactment of the heroic myth - the hero must bow low and give up his status in order to become the hero. There are similarities in lighting and action in the 4th season episode "Hour of the Wolf," when the camera zooms in on Ivanova's status bar, then cuts to some random cave with orange lighting. A robed figured shuffles along the ground and drops a stat bar.

[Keurosaur]

@Vishvakarman Nice, well interpreted.

[mavyt]

After rewatching Seasons 1-5 recently, I also agree in that they are Pahk'Mara. When Vir describes the beautiful singing they heard from them that made Lando cry, the description sounded just like Pahk'Mara. And it would make sense, they awere segregated on B5 cause they were carrion eaters so hanging out in a beat up part of the station to sing holy songs in private seems up their alley.

[Shirotora1979]

@gasdfw5 THe scene with Sheridan introducing the Earth Religions. The Greek Orthadox priest is the priest from his church. If you watch many of the scenes when he is praying and such you will see parralles between them and EO church. Changed of course but similarties. RIP Adreases.

[cniht]

@gasdfw5

Yes, it is Latin.  Album even has its own Wiki Page.

[astrobiochick]

@cniht

Could you post or send me the link to the Wiki Page? I can't find it myself.

[cniht]

@gasdfw5

Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis, cujus imperium super humerum ejus et vocabitur nomen ejus, magni consilii Angelus.

A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: Whose government is upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called, the Angel of Great Counsel.

[cniht]

The group is singing in Gregorian chant. Also they sound very similar to a group of Benedictine monks were making recording at the time and having them sold. They were from Santo Domingo De Silos.

First song on their first album is Puer Natus Est Nobis, and is a dead ringer for the piece heard.

[Shirotora1979]

@cniht Adreases Kusalis (spelling) was the one who came up with the idea of this scene. He is Greek Orthadox RL and was a HUGE insperation into the scens like this. This is one of the thousands of reasons why B5 is one of the (if not the) Greatest sci-fi shows of all time.

[steakman1989]

I think it is probably a religious order that lives in the belly of the station. They are singing Gregorian Chant. They are saying:

Puer natus est nobis et filius datus est nobis;

cujus imperium super humerum ejus;

et vocabitur nomen ejus,

consilii Angelus.

Cantate Domino canticum novum;

quia mirabilia fecit.

These come from Isaiah 9:6 and Psalm 98:1.

[KiwiKugai]

@gasdfw5 Grud, it was a long time ago now, so I can't remember offhand. But he did make it clear that they wern't Pak'ma'ra.

[mihajlo777]

Why dont you ask the producer or Kosh him self who the fuck they are...

[OpenMawProductions]

Kosh was a very eccentric Vorlon.

[midgard83]

@OpenMawProductions i think all Vorlons are like that.... Kosh more than most .. perhaps because he had been chosen to represent the rest of his species (i'd say people but ... never seen a Vorlon up close so i can't say they're even humanoid-looking)

[OpenMawProductions]

@midgard83 I dissagree. Kosh cared for the lesser races on some level, hence his eccentricities. The rest of the Vorlons were all logic.

[colliertng]

It's My Opinion That The Creatures With Sheridan Are Vorlon. Remember that there was an episode were a Man was being hunted & had to be hidden on the Babylon 5 Station. The only safe place was on board Ambassador Kosh's Ship. Kosh would only agree if the Man was put in an sleep state. The man later remarked that the "Ship Sang To Me!"

[ITherealMarcomanI]

@colliertng That´s because the vorlon ship is biomechanical and it lives.

[colliertng]

@ITherealMarcomanI, I know! The "Perfect Machine!"

[AmericanPoliceState]

@colliertng I believe they are Pahk'Mara.

[RonanMacQuarrie]

@AmericanPoliceState nice catch there

[umberhaven]

@AmericanPoliceState

Hey, I think they're Pak'ma'ra too. Great minds think alike. ;) An outstanding moment from a pretty good episode.

[umberhaven]

@AmericanPoliceState

Hey, I think they're Pak'ma'ra too. Great minds think alike. ;) An outstanding moment from a pretty good episode.

[chengloki]

@AmericanPoliceState Wouldn't Sheridan have noticed the smell?? Remember, the Pahk'mara were carrion eaters. =Stefan=

[Tounushi]

@AmericanPoliceState

I thought they only sing on certain religious days, not for petty change.

[BloodnoktheLesser]

@AmericanPoliceState

First, they're too small to be Pahk'Mara. Pahk'Mara have a much larger upper body than these fellows do, what with the hump and all.

Second, why on earth would Pahk'Mara be singing a Gregorian chant? o.O That's not a made-up song, that's Puer natus est nobis!

[PhoenixPlaneswalker]

@AmericanPoliceState IT brought Londo to tears...

[gigasrex]

@AmericanPoliceState Agreed, at the end of the Sheridan's life, when they had a dinner party, Vir told a story about Londo in which Londo heard the Pahk'Mara singing and said it was so beautiful it broke his heart or made him cry.

[knoxvilleguy2]

@gigasrex - & Londo said " God sings with that voice ".

[GeninX3m2]

@AmericanPoliceState I've heard that theory also. Londo said something once about Pak'Ma'Ra having wonderful singing voices

[chengloki]

@colliertng That was the previous president's doctor. =Stefan=

[archangel2467]

@colliertng ... Vorlon ships are living creatures with thought and conscience. They are not simply machines awaiting a button to be pushed to take action.

[colliertng]

@archangel2467, Whether they're Pahk'Mara or Vorlon, I thought this Scene was one of the Best & Most Beautiful Scenes of "Babylon 5."

[archangel2467]

@colliertng ,,,I TOTALLY AGREE.

[ikinser82]

@colliertng Actually it is more likely that the creatures were Pak'Mar"a....In the final episode "Sleeping In Light" Vir recalls a time when he and Londo walked past a group of singing Pak'Mar'a and Londo said that if any one of the Centauri gods were real then that was the voice of god.

[colliertng]

@ikinser82, It was one of the best scenes of Babylon 5! Good Scene & Good TV Series! Plan to purchase All Box Sets & Movies!

[esthermlaw]

@ikinser82 Didn't Vir also say that the Pak'Mar'a also sang only once a year (one a cycle?) If that's the case, this is not the Pak'Mar'a.

[chockn]

@colliertng no vorlons.. those are pahkmara

[KiwiKugai]

There was. at one stage, a belief that these 'Monks' were Pak'ma'ra - based on something Vir said in 'Sleeping In Light' but I think JMS pretty much ruled that out.