'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal' by Paul Mealor

[HopeWithPandora]

My Valentine choral nightcap... perfect peace and beauty...

[Butterflyfilmsltd]

Simply incredible I have never heard such wonderful harmonies.

[hyghiaumtym]

I hope Peter Jackson discovers this before he releases The Hobbit.

[Butterflyfilmsltd]

No words, except one, Heaven!

[MissFioredipesco]

Over and over again... enchanting harmonies. Bravo to the composer, bravi to the choirs :)

[2shiny]

came back for more. and more. amd more. happily addicted to this piece of intense beauty. What I would have given to have bene at this performance - and I was in Edinburgh then. It reminds me of my favorite painting, 'Der Morgen', by Philip Otto Runge.

[jesekisgek]

the chords are so rich... some moments i actually feel butterflies in my stomach

[ithappensometimes]

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white; Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk; The firefly wakens: waken thou with me. Now droops the milkwhite peacock like a ghost, And like a ghost she glimmers on to me. Now lies the Earth all Danaë to the stars, And all thy heart lies open unto me. Now folds the lily all her sweetness up, And slips into the bosom of the lake: So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip Into my bosom and be lost in me. Now sleeps the crimson petal.

[ithappensometimes]

When I listen to this it's all I can do just to sit down and try to breathe.

[timbolicous]

This expresses what it's like to go to heaven - read about NDEs and you will see what I mean

[Pyanistman]

May 10th release of the Royal Wedding CD. I just reserved two copies @ AMAZON.

[bevy814]

very appropriate for this wedding and beautifully written

[lydiloo93]

just...stunning. 

[mairimurray]

Is it something to do with the recording that the words are so indistinct? Or is it the choirs' diction? The words are so important in this and most of them are lost.

[Altivelzian]

@mairimurray It was a recording of a concert if I remember correctly. Ubi caritas had all the technical recording expertise of, presumbly the BBC at it's disposal. Much closer recording levels. Also, you have to remember this is a choir of university students, while the Abbey choir, with additional forces were all professional singers of many years standing plus boys who are drilled within an inch of their lives every day.

[CavalierTim]

More haunting than ubi caritas? Perhaps. The former, however, contains the words of eternal life.

[dyamarick]

@CavalierTim Amen, amen.

[MsRach5]

@CavalierTim Hmm yes the words to Ubi Caritas are beautiful, however I think this version connects on a more personal level, as if it is a dialogue between two people, and the picture that is painted in the mind through the lyrics is magical.

[CavalierTim]

@MsRach5 True--the two versions are actually quiet different from each other. I feel the abbey setting is more contemplative/ethereal in nature while the poem is actually a bit erotic! At any rate both are great for the setting of two young lovers and are beautiful in their own way--luminous, haunting harmonies!

[MsRach5]

@CavalierTim The harmonies - to be honest I think you could put any words to it and it would still send chills up the spine!

[MsRach5]

Much more haunting than ubi caritas, absolutely wonderful

[bauersnarky]

Absolutely ethereal.

[valdemaar]

Same music, different words, as the composer tells us in a video you can watch at The Telegraph. "Paul Mealor: The royal wedding composer"

[Kenojuak]

When can I buy the sheet music for this incredible piece by Paul Mealor? When will I be able to buy a hard-copy of a CD of his music on Amazon? When is his next commission? When will the Tallis Scholars record him for the first time? When will he receive his MBE? I am so, so excited to watch the career of this staggeringly promising young composer, and to enjoy his music for the rest of my life. I pray that God will continue to bless Paul Mealor, and to bless all of us through his great works.

[straypixel]

@Kenojuak The sheet music for Ubi Caritas has been available from musicroom com since yesterday. It's published by University of York Music Press.

[ceilsuzlega]

@Kenojuak All of Paul Mealor's music (published by University Of York Music Press) is available from Musicroom

[310Loki310]

@Kenojuak I agree 100% - I need a CD immediately.

[avivagabriel]

I thought it was stunning during Kate and William's wedding... and I love this performance of 'Ubi caritas et amor' / 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal' even more than the powerful, haunting rendition for the Royal Wedding. This is a fine, fine composition. Wow. (The 'crimson petal' suggests the losing of one's virginity; the 'now sleeps' part suggests the culmination of that part of the marriage vows)...

[JamsMarz]

Go compare.........Westminster Abbey Choir - Ubis Caritas Et Amor

[JamsMarz]

I think it's the same music with different words.

[perosterberg]

Soryy for the swedish......

Otroligt vackert

Amazingly beautiful........

[kevmd40]

People don't you look at titles or can't you tell by hearing that this is not the piece from the royal wedding. It is however another piece by the same composer.

[hoobletoodle]

@kevmd40, Yes I'm sure most people know its not the same piece but some of us are interested in other songs from paul mealor too!

[cookie91091]

@kevmd40 It is essentially the same piece. He was asked to re-set this piece with the Ubi Caritas text for the Royal Wedding - this Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal version is part of a longer song cycle.

[IA2329]

How utterly sublime - da iawn :)

[bevanjphillips]

beautiful full of hiraeth

[Tomthenigma]

Sublime.

[verysmartmart]

Absolutely beautiful. Perfect choice for the Royal wedding.

[rory09]

Get ready for the view count to explode...

BTW if you like this you really should look up Eric Whitacre.

[IA2329]

@rory09 Whitacre is equally fabulous as is Morton Lauridsen - similar vein. Love this though

[hyghiaumtym]

i literally just heard this from the royal wedding. i turned down common to hear it. i love it. it has to be able to download soon!

[lordsandwich399]

@hyghiaumtym same. Walked into the room and was like, Wow this sounds like a song from Halo!

[hyghiaumtym]

@lordsandwich399 hauntingly beautiful. this song was literally the only thing that stopped me from changing the channel. and when it was over i left so i could find it on youtube lol

[SnowTigerr]

this is very beautiful.

Only could you please repost it with a louder audio? It would be great to hear it loud in its full magnificence. Thank you