Emma Kirkby - An Evening Hymn - Henry Purcell

[cutanea2]

This girl has perfect pitch, wonderful, thank you for posting.

[sandsaens]

No puedo parar de escucharlo....

[bbcchorister]

emma is so good

[ccdg1066]

Simply, lovely.

[Kievest]

An eloquent simplicity and clarity illuminates Kirkby's voice revealing the inner

elegance and grandeur of Purcell's sublime music. Kirkby's singing is

emminently suited to the expression of the profound feeling and prayerful

atmosphere created by the genius that was Henry Purcell! The paintings and

visuals not only support the music, but are to be appreciated as great art

onto themselves. Images, poetry, and music are beautifully and seamlessly

combined into an exceptional video! TY!

[grandadpoppyable]

Kirkby's ornamentations are if anthing mostly there but patially hidden in an attempt to keep the focus on the continuo line and please the purists. Becomming almost TOO pure to listen to. I think if one is going to embelish, then embelish deliberatly. Corelli or Handel would have no trouble taking the finished Mozart manuscripts and finishing them off properly.

[shaunjp508]

In fact, I'm sure I heard from someone who knows these things that Kirkby's vibrato can be as much as a semitone wide on each side of the sung note. The difference between her and many other sopranos is that she can decide when to use it and how to use it. Her vibrato is often very quick so we don't notice the breadth of it. Compare that to other sopranos that really on vibrato to 'sound like a professional' - bleurgh,

[planetpod]

absolutely beautiful,play this every evening during autumn/winter after a busy day at work. a time of the day to look forward to.a wonderfully relaxing and calming piece to listen to. thanx for posting!

[ternitamas]

Lovely music, lovely lovely paintings!!!!!

[raleighsquare]

totally sublime.

[pondeflouers]

Спасибо от россиянки.

[TheBloodyLamia]

beautiful......just beautiful

[locomotifx]

The video really suits. Thankyou 4 posting

[Arcadiangrove]

As I said before, the voice of the Millenium

[ReginaMuse93]

I dream of stepping into these lovely paintings! Emma Kirkby is one of my favorite artists.

[fcentaur]

!!!

[snetzler]

I saw Emma Kirkby sing this at the funeral of Francesca McManus and her mother, accompanied by Mitzi Meyerson. Perhaps because of the circumstance, I shall remember that performance more than any other.

[ubermensch811]

essenciademusica: The first line: Now, now that the sun has veiled its light.

-Joe

[1770LUDWIG]

Thank you. It's so beautiful !

[pinkpurpleyellowblue]

My choir instructor picked this for me to sing at a solo and ensemble contest and Im so nervous. Its so beautiful. I hope I can pull it off. Nice job on the video!!! The pictures are just lovely.

[Raquelinthesky]

you are so lucky you found the music sheet of this song, i can't find it, can you please tell me where did you buy it? or where can i find it on line? thank you.

[pinkpurpleyellowblue]

@Raquelinthesky

I didnt buy it, my choir instructor did and when she suggested the song to me she gave me a copy of the sheet music but i can ask her where she got it, if you like?

[millou2131]

If you think this is good, try to get a recording of Ms Kirkby singing Mozart's Exultate Jubilate. Bliss. and if you're still not convinced, compare her version against Jessye Norman's murdering of it.

[uTubular01773]

Does anyone feel like the penultimate Hallelujah is rushed at 3:40? Everywhere else she is so beautiful, it makes me melt...

[earlymus]

@uTubular01773

it may be that two takes were joined about 3.40, that might account for your feeling of discontinuity.

[Edithalba1844]

What a gem! Thank you so much for this threefold pleasure - the composition, Emma Kirkby's voice and the lovely pictures! :-)

[rixancourt]

very beautiful both music and paintings

[SecondaParte]

Che bello....splendido

[fj5a017]

wonderful music, great voice and a beautiful video, thanks for uploading

[gary903]

To Essenciademusica:

I really love the paintings that were used in this video. Where did you get them? Are they all by the same artist?

[essenciademusica]

John Atkinson Grimshaw paintings! Thanks for coment!

[TheJonnymorris]

I just fell in love with Dame Emma...again!

[cutanea2]

@gary903 Gary all John Atkinson Grimshaw's paintings are on the internet, I have looked at them many times, they are brilliant. I found him by a google search.

[essenciademusica]

divinaaaaaaaaaa!

[darkisimus]

...sigh... this is so beautiful...

[essenciademusica]

Now that the sun hath made his flight

and bids the world goodnight

to the soft bed my body I dispose,

but where shall my soul repose ?

Dear God, even in thy arms,

and can there be any more sweet security ?

Then to thy rest O my soul,

and singing, praise the mercy that prolongs thy days.

Alleluia.

[rnbldsrnmsvlbl]

I think that should be "Now that the sun hath VEILED his LIGHT and bid the world goodnight" (?)

[Cylleruion87]

Actually, I'm looking at the sheet music now (I'm singin' it for juries this semester) and it's "veiled his light".

Editor's choice?

[Raquelinthesky]

i know is a little rude from me to ask you this but if you could please share your sheet music with me i'd be so thankfull with you, if you can do it please let me know.

[hotstepper2012]

@essenciademusica

Now that the sun hath veiled his light

... any so sweet security...

and sing, praise...

Halleluja.

:)

[ReginaMuse93]

@essenciademusica Such sweet words!

[ternitamas]

@essenciademusica according to my score:

"Now that the sun hath veil'd his light and bid the world goodnight"

Beautiful piece, an exquisite interpretation by Emma Kirkby and lovely paintings too!

Thanks

[bourgiotis]

@essenciademusica

amazing video...mysterious music !!!greetings from greece

[yamiyugikun]

Purely divine:)

[WreathedinHoochSmoke]

Flawless.

[TrevorDaniels]

I love this piece. It is one of the encore pieces I reserve for recitals.

[davcos22]

I love to listen this. An angel's voice. Thanks again!!!!!!

[riccardopalladio]

This is a very beautiful voice controlled by a gifted, intelligent singer, singing a lovely song. What a treat ! Thank you Miss Kirkby.

It makes me happy to be alive listening to the purity, discipline and warmth of this voice and the thoughtful, sympathetic phrasing. This performance also renders academic arguments about the use or otherwise of vibrato rather redundant. Just listen to the song ~ it's all there !

[romelbrumley]

I have a great respect and admiration for Emma Kirkby works. I really believe she has one of the most phrasing in everything that she does. The internal dynamics within the large phrases are marvelous . She actually does that the work musicality works in all the musical sense.

[henrydarthenay]

Purcell, Bach, une délectation renouvellée, équilibre, harmonie, ivresse du sens auditif insaisissable et furtif tressaillement. Bravô.

[susuemikado]

It seems to me that Early Music Singers that use their vibratos sparingly maintain a more youthful voice for a much longer time than say Opera Singers who sing Puccini and Verdi with a pronounced vibrato.

[Zorica12]

it always makes me laugh when people out there say that emma has NO vibrato, and that having NO vibrato lacks human expression. emma has the most goreous and subtle type of vibrato. she allows her angelic voice to be heard. there is no clutter. i also beleive that having to rely on vibrato for proper expression shows a lack in talent. perhaps for those who depend on heavy vibrato, they lack 'human expression'.

[rumezzo]

@Zorica12 People who say she has no vibrato are simply ignorant of the functions of the vocal mechanism; the level of vibrato she uses is an artistic choice. Human expression is neither dependent upon straight tone or vibrato singing, but on the consciousness of artistic choice within that expression.

[furley523]

@Zorica12 I can assure you; that I do not appreciate any voice with too much vibrato. I have had many occasions to listen to people sing and I'm immediately turned off by their ridiculous vibrato. EMMA'S VOICE IS EXTRAORDINARY, I GIFT FROM GOD!!!!

[AurolaGerero]

Voice of an angel.

[Mooncelt]

It can be totally natural for voices to be vibrato-less. However, Emma's has vibrato. Most of the operatic singers have over-developed vibrato. This was not the norm for opera even of late Romatic period. Vibrato in the Baroque was used sparingly and as an ornament. Mozart would be appalled at the singing now--very inaccurate and covered by a thick veil of bleating.

[komodiakarma]

crack up at your comment Mooncelt..THICK VEIL of Bleating...Any particular singers you have in mind?

[Mooncelt]

I could name a few with bleats, but it's probably better to leave it up to the imagination!!

[FoolishZebby]

@Mooncelt Rosen says something about how violinists and singers both suffer from an excess of vibrato these days: they rely on the moment's grace they get to almost hit the pitch and then adjust. None of that here!

Normally I find soprano voice unbearable, the vibrato too piercing and bleating like you said. This sound is just gorgeous though!

[Hisrevenge]

@Mooncelt I'm really interested in how you, or anybody, knows this for sure? How do you know the degree of vibrato used in the romantic period?

[billyguns2]

Would someone knowledgeable please tell me: is it authentic to use no vibrato in music from this period? I find the use of no vibrato completely lacking in human expression, and artificial rather than artistic. My opinion; please, no death threats and sarcastic comments!

[amomangiare]

Hi billyguns2. Vibrato-less singing is a common misconception in performing early music. I am more inclined to accept a modified vibrato than a totally absent one in interpreting these pieces since studies have shown that straight-tone singing could be detrimental to the voice. Nonetheless I agree that one can't use a Verdi-esque vibrato when singing Purcell. One has to consider the huge differences in orchestral texture and instrumental timbre in understanding the stylistic consequences.

[LaNuzaWorks]

thanks for this. very inspiring!

[essenciademusica]

thanks!

[justwatchingyours]

Thanks.

[justwatchingyours]

Who's paints are they? They are beautiful. Especially the one with the blue sky and boats.

[kiya3]

What a lovely video - so well fitting with the music. And Emma divine as usual.

[PaultjeL]

My favorite from Purcell!

[lightblueone]

well done

5*****

[flute1982]

i wish i can sing like her.beautiful voice like angel sing!!

[BachLoveNat]

BEAUTIFUL!

Thank you thank you

[davcos22]

wow, very beautiful voice, lovely video.

[sfkcbf]

A satisfyingly pure voice, certainly not the common sound often heard among singers. Nice pictures as well.