St John's College Choir Cambridge -Wise - Prepare ye the way

[liberavieve]

Excellent job by St John's, and stunning solo work all around. It's performances like these that make me pause and think: 'King's who?'

[brianway3]

I may be wrong, but I don't think Christopher Robinson was at St. John's. He is the current Director of Music at Kings College, Cambridge.

[tortfeasors]

@brianway3 He was at St. John's for about 11 years, followed by David Hill and Andrew Nethsingha (who currently holds the post). The current DoM at King's is Stephen Cleobury.

[will01253]

Really Beautiful.

[Mischafour]

Absolutely wonderful!  Thank you for posting this!!

[mrjamesbomb1]

Cambrige you have good singers but SJC in southsea sang in frount of the Queen! has your's

[hiroshi2020]

Absolutely beautiful!

[TJATJA1982]

I was there man. Well, not there during that recording. But I was a choral scholar between 2001-2004.

Yes, we smacked it every night. And I loved it.

[DonRaphel]

well then I guess you know lester lardenoye? He's one of my drinking friends;-)

[TJATJA1982]

You've picked someone that has much experience in drinking, haven't you.

Say hi to Lester from Mike.

We visited Breda (his hometown) on tour many times, thanks to him. Those were good times. I wish i remembered more of them... ;o)

[albanman]

@TJATJA1982 You sicko.

[expostfactum]

Fantastic....just amazing kids doing some amazing things.

[WiseMonke]

2010.

[CousinShmoo]

holy crap thts high!

[loupblanc26]

Magnique! Merci

[Knappa22]

The treble who sings first sounds as if his voice is on the brink of breaking.

His swansong?

Great singing - I think the bass has an awesome voice. John's always has a strong bassline :)

[jennywren413]

I agree- the first treble's catches a little right at the beginning, and it really does sound like his voice is just about to change- but his solo is beautiful anyways. His voice is so rich! It's perfect. I wish treble voices could last forever.

and the bass -is- awesome. I want to kidnap him for my choir, we desperately need basses. ;)

[gehaktmolen]

love it

[markdavinobenza]

That bass is amazing.

[birdonet]

Que la contemplación de sus rostros y sus melodiosas voces acreciente tu fe, luis.

[vielliebphilipp]

Is the tenor james Oxley?

[swordsandretoric]

No he's Simon Wall

[jibberjabber]

that bass is ridiculous.

[choirboyfromhell]

In what way? He stands out in both the solos and verses, blends well when in chorus and has by the way excelled in his career as a singer in Europe's largest city. I'd say your comment is much moreso ridiculous.

[Stcoty]

I think jibberjabber's comment was a compliment, not an insult.

[kpp01]

I concur with Stcoty. It's like saying something is "crazy." The bass cranks!

[swordsandretoric]

he's called Dan Jordan and he's awesome

[jibberjabber]

ridiculously good... dan jordan. i know him. he's fantastic even now. compliment, k?

[leahlovex02]

i like this song its pretty

[saintandrews83]

One my favourites ! Truly wonderfull .... brings back memories

[TheConquerMentality]

Prepare Ye The Way - Isaiah 40:3-9

"Music is a prophecy of what life is to be; the rainbow of promise translated out of seeing into hearing."

~Lydia M. Child

"Music is the child of prayer, the companion of religion."

~Chateaubriand

"Music is the language of praise; & one of the most essential preperations for eternity is delight in praising GOD; a higher acquirement, I do think, than even delight & devotedness in prayer."

~Chalmers

[TheConquerMentality]

Source: The New Dictionary of Thoughts

[conglieteri]

I forgot my lack of faith and thought, This is pure beauty.

[milliehetherton]

Wow - fantastic.

This isn't a recent recording is it? Anyone have a year?

I knew someone who used to be head boy at St Johns back in his day (: keep looking out for him haha

[kikivolauvent]

totally awesome..... what stunningly beautiful and touching voices! I've lived in UK for some 8 years and one of the biggest blessings was to learn much more about English Choral singing.

Thank You so much for posting this! It makes us better people just listening to it... :)

Kiki

[bluecrossbow]

I go to the school but only recognise the boy at the start :P nobody else tho

[choirboyfromhell]

WHO is that bass soloist? He's wearing a doctorate academic hood, so probably a professor. He is really, really, REALLY good!

[DonRaphel]

His name is Dan Jordan, he's now a professional singer. He sings in the choir of St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London. A great voice indeed!

[swordsandretoric]

he's just a postgraduate, that's just a BA/BSc hood that you get from cambridge after a normal degree, nothing special

[mak1685]

a truly stunning performance

[choirboyfromhell]

It is at St. John's that I cry my hardest. Not even at that school two quads upstream. Beyond incredible, especially in the era of George Guest. Thank you.

[saintandrews83]

One of my favourites pieces of church music. Sang this back in the early 80's as second saprano (cantoris). AWSOME MUSIC ...... Well sang guy's ! . (TY Wise)

[monkeydodo34]

omg..am i the only true American freaked out about this?

[MGR1900]

Freaked out about what? Music coming out of a church? Don't see that much in America, do you? The ACLU woulnd't stand for it!

[OMM06]

There's nothing to be freaked out about. It is an all-male choir. No more freaky than an all-female one. Maybe we Americans are too accustomed to rock bands, or even mixed church choirs. Our way is not the only way.

Expand your experience. (That sounds like a commercial, but it's true.) You can do that on You Tube, you know. Ain't it great?!

[choirboyfromhell]

No, you've lived a sheltered life thanks to the NFL, NASCAR, Bud Lite and George W. Understand that there are those of us who were raised upon better things in church music than Beagle Wings, Awesome God and Kumbya. Deal with it and discover it in a major city Episcopal Church near you.

[bestiaccia]

Incredible

[RUNTHERECOMING]

WOW male soprano

[kharlitoz]

yeah, he is just a kid, it's normal.....

i cannot deny he's awesome

[ThatIMayUnderstand]

I have lost track at the number of times I have listened to this holy song performed by this beautiful choir. Their voices are so heavenly. Meditating upon the words I find myself awaiting in joyful hope for the Second Comming of the Messiah.

God bless us all.

[EdericEDDY]

why greatness risen upwards a graceful performance nothing less wud be expected from St John's

[EdericEDDY]

why greatness risen upwards a graceful performance nothing less wud be expected from St John's

[mworpole]

This was in 1997 as the first treble soloist, Nick Worpole is now 22, and he was in his last year in the choir. Takes me back............

[DonRaphel]

Is he still singing now? As a treble he had a very beautuful voice!

[mworpole]

Somewhat differently- post SJC in the chapel choir and in his rock band- 'Park and Ride' at school, now at University composing and recording music of a slightly different sort- he and his co- director in 'Featherbrick Productions' have just won the UK xbox competition for the best soundtrack to their new game- prize:- lots of publicity and recording studio time. This may well be his career and could support his old dad in his dotage!

[EdericEDDY]

i know ur mworpole so that makes u n's brother, father or grandad, right? too bad he moved to rock he had such a pleasant and strong voice. It is very common nowadays. Altho, as for me, from a very yung age to this day I've hated guitars loved violins, hated pianos loved harpsicords

[mworpole]

Father........

[bakdgreat]

yes, son?

[DonRaphel]

Excellent performance, by the way.

[Knappa22]

Who said this was Kings?!! It's definitely Johns! It's pre 1999 though because I don't recognise anyone, besides Dr Robinson, who looked far older when I was there 1999 - 2002. Also, the lectern in the middle of the nave had been moved to the ante-chapel in my day. By haircuts I'm guessing this is very early 1990s! Beautiful singing; most evocative.

[EdericEDDY]

it couldn't be!

[denni2579]

Absolutely WONDERFUL Singing!! Thanks for posting this.. x

[GemWhiteman]

anyone know when this was recorded? My boyfriend was in John's choir until 2004, but i can't see him in this...

[md95065]

Since the choir is directed by Christopher Robinson it must be sometime before 2002.

[DonRaphel]

The second treble soloist in this video is Peter Morton and he is now a tenor in the same choir, so I guess he's about 20 years old now, so this must be recorded about 9 or 10 years ago...

[EvelynCor]

This is really greeeeaaaat :) The piece, the choir... especially the 1st treble soloist, he's got a very nice mezzosoprano timbre. But I agree with holgerqueck that the lower voices' soloists are too loud. Oh and I have a question: Why are boys in English choirs not trained as altos? They only sing treble, right? Why?

[Knappa22]

... because the traditional 'sound' of an anglican choir dictates that. The alto parts are sung by adult male counter-tenors who produce a very potent sound. Boy altos would sound "breathy" and you'd need a lot of them. In this choir (St Johns) there are only 4 counter-tenors.

[DonRaphel]

Westminster Cathedral Choir has boy alto's together with counter-tenors. I think that combination works very well. In most of their renaissance-polyphony recordings like Palestrina and Victoria they used only boys for the alto parts. That's the most authentic, Palestrina wrote his music for trebles and boy alto's.

[JJ77TTUU3]

this choir knows their stuff. i have a Durufle recording by them under George Guest conducting, unbelievable. It's not that usual dry kind of thing, but it has so much spirit! thanks for posting.

[bakdgreat]

And the voice said, Cry.

What shall I cry?

All flesh is grass,

[bakdgreat]

ive just got to say the first soloist has an incredibly beautiful voice. Are there an other videos of him?

[bran4805]

The first soloist appears in the choir that sings in the "Ave Verum" DVD which merseymoo mentioned.

[holgerqueck]

Die Klamotten sind der Burner:)

Die tieferen Stimmen machen zuviel Sound, aber sie wissen es wohl nicht besser.... die hohen Stimmen sind ja toll!

[merseymoo]

This video seems to be in the same format as their earlier dvd "Ave Verum." Is this from a more recent dvd?

[bran4805]

To my knowledge this clip wasn't from a DVD... Several months ago the choir asked for help in locating the rest of this recording - because it may now in a position to undertake a DVD production, if only the complete recording could be located. If anyone has information, please reply here (we're all interested to know) or let someone at St John's know. I think most would agree that the quality singing here merits a DVD production!

[paulbrd]

@bran4805 I have just written in to St John's (17/12/2010). The Advent service from which this comes was made in 1997, and concludes with some utterly marvellous Gorecki. It was broadcast in the UK on a satellite channel called Artsworld on 25 December 2002. I made a VHS tape of it. Duration 45 mins. I do not have a second copy, but have offered my original to the Choir if they can still use it. If memory serves, the original film migt have been German-made. Douglas Brooks-Davies

[OMM06]

Very pretty....

[weesamin]

they're so angelic, i wish i could see them live. all the great sacred choirs are in europe *pout*

[bsarnold1]

this is gorgeous. they look young eh

[weesamin]

how old is the first soloist?

[SJKoreman]

The trebles in English boyschoirs are usually 8-13 years old. This boy is one of the oldest I guess, so I guess 13 years. Btw, The second boy soloist you see and hear from 1:31min is now singing Tenor in the same choir.

[omglookwhoitis]

That's my old school, lol, He would be 13 years old, the head chorister is always in the 6th form. My best friend was head when our year came around. xx

[stpaulphillip]

Beautiful!

[cjdbass]

That's definately St. John's College. I've not heard much Michael Wise, but everything I have heard, I've loved.

[loveinmusic]

no it's not kings college. This is the choir at the St. john's campus of cambridge uni not the kings college campus. They're two different choirs.

[greyowl666]

I believe this is the choir of Kings College Cambridge.

[omglookwhoitis]

That's the St. John's uniform.. I used to go there.

[omglookwhoitis]

Plus I know that's the St. John's inside of the chapel.

[Jairdan]

Beautiful. Thanks, all four soloists are great. I'm not familiar with british choirs, but guess that this is one of their top choirs...