Eric Whitacre, Robert Frost - Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Sleep)

[fancysinger]

I prefer this text a lot, mostly because this was just what it was written for. However, I think before re-publishing it as Sleep Whitacre made some changes to the piece which I really like. For example, at the end of the new version of the piece, the soprano's act as a pedal point while all the other vocal parts repeat "sleep". The changes he made really make the piece in my opinion

[djentbusiness]

At 1:07 it doesn't resonate in this text like it does in the new one. I don't like it.

[Marlvs2sing]

What choir is this? Sounds like the Dale Warland Singers...

And no one else sings Whitacre quite like they do...incredible!

[AllMuttGirl]

How could Robert Frost dislike this...

[JesterIF]

In my opinion, in this version only the first and last stanzas really fit the music. In Silvestri's lyrics, it's a perfect fit through and through.

[guitarman14339]

It wasn't re-written for copyright reasons, It was re-written because Robert Frost hated the Frostiana pieces and made sure that his family would keep any other composers from "tampering with his work" per say.

[purplesharpied]

We just performed Sleep in a concert (with Mr. Whitacre, which was the most amazing thing EVER) and it's very strange to hear the song with completely different lyrics. I do love them both, though.

[huggylove1]

cant beat the original

[MsOperababe]

I love "Sleep", but didn't realise that it was originally SBTWOASE. I am singing the "Frostiana" version; and although I like it, I LOVE this more. I love Eric Whitacre period. What were the Frost family thinking, this is just gorgeous. I'm so glad you posted this and that I found it :-)

[guitarman14339]

@MsOperababe They were honoring the last wishes/will of Robert Frost. When the Frostiana series was first premiered, he attended the concert. He walked out in the middle of it he hated it so much, so he made sure no other composers mess with his work.

[pimcgirr]

This is wonderful in all respects - hearing it sung - finally with the original lyrics, the amazing blend, articulation, musicality of the choir - such a perfect piece. Thank you so much for posting.

It should be sent to the Frost family, who might re-think their original decision to NOT allow the poem to be used.

[ixd735]

@pimcgirr One would hope as such, but with your awareness of the history, they are just as likely to sue you.

[guitarman14339]

@pimcgirr I'm pretty sure they were fully aware of how it sounded. They're "exact words" were "If you do any more with this piece, we'll sue you for all you're worth." and considering how much he was worth (which was a hell of a lot even at the time) he decided to listen to them. So it probably isn't a good idea to have this on YouTube for all the world to hear (including the Frost family)... Just sayin'

[huaixi1]

I remember singing this when I was in choir. Miss the good old times! :)

[borahchoir]

This album was pulled from the shelves VERY soon after being recorded and I know that only a handful of us (Concorida Choir members from that year) have this recording from the album "ECHOS". I think we were supposed to destroy our copies....yeah right...good thing we didn't! That would be a travesty! Thank you for posting

[borahchoir]

I was just going to post this and thought I should check and see if anyone else has yet and here it is! (you should also add that it was the Concordia Choir Moorhead, MN 2001...we performed it at the Minnesota ACDA fall concert I believe that fall and then again at the National ACDA convention that Spring) It only took us 10 years to get it on youtube- ha! !

[johndavidryan]

This fits logically with the piece, though i love silvestri's lyrics, this original text was clearly what mr whitacre intended. I love sleep, don't get me wrong, but i think this fits the movement of the song more cohesively

[margotlorena1]

I prefer Sleep

[CoDUltimate19]

Oh my god. So great! I got to sing Sleep for a choir concert at my high school, but my choir director showed me this arrangement. I think it fits the text perfectly.

[natinotes]

I really like this version! You can tell that the piece was written for these words. As blasphemous as it sounds, I like this more than Frostiana's SBWOASE. and @clauclau33 I think it's just a note is sticking out more?

[mstrTHEO1]

Oh man! I've been dreaming of this version for months now!! Im so glad i found this =) I think the original words fit the song perfectly. The song was written for this poem, and I can't imagine any other words sung to this to make it better. No offense Silvestri. =D Thank you so much for posting this!!!

[LittleLotte1410]

My choir performed Sleep my senior year of high school and it still gives me chills. I've never heard this original before. Both are great. Silvestri had a tremendous job on his shoulders to create a text to this music in the same meter and I LOVE Sleep, but the original is really wonderful too.

[clauclau33]

Being so familiar Silvestri's poem as well as the Frost, it's both strange and magical to hear "Sleep" as it was originally written. I must say though, I do prefer Silvestri's poem to Frost's for this piece. Also...whoa at 3:17! Different chord?!

[nlmnml]

Beautiful. It's amazing to hear this song as it was meant to be performed... <3 Eric Whitacre; <3 Robert Frost.

[postville67]

As performed by The Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota and conducted by Rene Clausen.

[jasoncarson97]

I much prefer this original text by Frost. Nothing against Silvestri, I just prefer this text.

[thunku1]

@jasoncarson97 Sleep with Silvestri's lyrics is amazing, but compared to Whitacre's original intent with these lyrics Silvestri's seem almost bland

[guitarman14339]

@jasoncarson97 Before I say this, I see your "Nothing against, Silvestri". He actually did a fabulous job because Eric asked him to write another poem with the same syllable value (can't remember the "actual word" for that) as "Stopping By Woods on Snowy Evening" because he didn't want to change a single note or note value of the music. And he did.

Random Fact: Silvestri's inspiration for the text was trying to get his young child to go to sleep.

[blythebee1987]

The male voice parts at the climax of the piece resonate with a mid-twentieth century choral sound, like in disney movies or cartoons. Very dream-like or nostalgic.

[amistrymister]

Wow 3:17 is mega different and nowhere near as satisfying as the newer one!

[amistrymister]

This is so great! Weird to hear it like this. Very weird. But amazing to think that this is how sleep started!