"Witness" by The University of Utah Singers

[dodgerdude225]

My choir is doing this song for a concert. I love this recording of it.

[Eichsfelderbb]

What a wonderful and beautiful song. We sang it in Germany too many times. Greetings from Old Germany ...

[senk1234i]

Anyone know any videos that would help a Bass 2 in general? Thanks!

[MamaLuigisOVER9000]

@senk1234i Help them how?

[MarshelET]

The bass had quite problem with the low 'Nicodemus'. I like the "cut it off!" and the ending.

[xxLiZziexx34]

Where the altos?! D:

[LilDP]

They aren't...intense enough... WHO WILL BE A WITNESS!!!???

[SamanthaGirlScout]

Really great! Just wish that "Read" would have been pronounced "red"...

[NikkisSecret]

Awesome!

[starjunk19]

that low g cut off of my air bases are amazing

[mzckaye]

High note- "CUT IT OFF!"

[dudeitsftw]

by far my all time choral piece. I love "CUT IT OFF!"

also, not to be a cliche comment, but that last note was completely unnecessary. Just like in the national anthem. usually people who attemp the 5th higher on the phrase "o'er the land of the free", it usually does not come out well.

[dudeitsftw]

by far my all time choral piece. I love "CUT IT OFF!"

also, not to be a cliche comment, but that last note was completely unnecessary. Just like in the national anthem. usually people who attemp the 5th higher on the phrase "o'er the land of the free", it usually does not come out well.

[Nichristi]

So that was the whitest version of this I've ever heard. Good, but SO white!

[itsmelizzyr]

im singing this song in my high school choir it is a really fun song

[ferociousgumby]

BRILLIANT! I especially love the verse about Samson. I was trying to find the Paul Robeson version, couldn't find it, found this instead. YouTube rocks (and so do they - oh man, those Mormons sure can sing).

[soluvey13]

we are just now learning this song in choir and im happy to find it on youtube so i can practice the notes;) i have to song it in saprano and gosh is it hard lol

[malachitx]

It's too slow

[tdavidray]

I LOVE this performance. The nuances were perfect. Everytime the music went from unison to harmonies it was flawless. This is my first time hearing this choir and I'm a fan. I sang this with my college choir and this interpretation is alot better and the sound is phenomenal. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!

[victiln666]

There is no emotions... I dont like it.

[Varjele]

Best choir in the USA right now!

[DROS373]

The notes are right!!! However the compositional essence and interpretation of this SPIRITUAL are lost. It is entirely too fast when it starts and too loud. There is no "attiude" to this performance...I hate to sound racially biased but unless you are the Robert Shaw singers, spirituals just dont sound right coming from a caucasian group. Overall, I would listen for notes alone and this is coming from a Classical Tenor and Choral Conductor!!!

[mrsjosef1991]

perfect

[mrsjosef1991]

absolutely is great

[zachiase55]

this spiritual is cracker-tastic!

[ReadPsalms1]

Such a great job! (there is however a few breaks in the recording it seems, unless this was an issue with my browser) Beautiful voices and great talent!

[MusicMormy16]

STUNNING :)

[ColonelCupid413]

4 people won't be a witness...

[mrministerofmusic]

This is probably arguably the best I have heard on youtube... That last note was great!!

[thedsdotcom94]

My concert choir is doing this song for our contest show, but we sing it more gospel than choral.

[riceball1759]

you guys were AMAZING!!!!!! i absolutely LOVED the ending<3 my choir's doing this song this semester and i can totally see that you guys had fun while you did it:) keep up the awesomeness:)

[rapin3verses]

WOW!!!!!

[damicshow411]

@rapin3verses i know right

[direqtr]

Very Clean! Balance is great... Fantastic interpretation, the only thing i didn't like it the Picardy Third at the end; but that's just a personal preference. loved the interpretation. Usually I hate a soprano section, b ut they sound beautiful and BALANCED

[crazysquirrel7]

:( I like my high school choir's arrangement better... These people are AMAZING, but in my opinion I don't like how fast they took it. Plus, I miss the solos :( I just think we had a better arrangement

[SOFunnyBFs]

high note at end = jaw dropped! lol crazy high but crazy good

[MusicMormy16]

did this at my school, awesome song!

[macsitou]

Sorry somebody please tell me who arranged this

[MusicMormy16]

@macsitou Arr. Jack Halloran

[macsitou]

@MusicMormy16 Thank you

[tateaustinj]

GOD THIS JUST SHOWS AGAIN WHY I AM IN ABSOLUTE LOVE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SINGERS. I. JUST. LOVE. THEM.

[emilyannmeyer24]

Wonderfully done. The "C" in Nicodemus is marvelous. It gets me every time. And that high G'b at the end is stunning :)

[stewiegriffin31094]

high Gb....yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! :D

[Firemoonsoul]

HOORAY! I'm so glad I finally found someone on Youtube who can sing this well! Awesome job! :) 30/5 stars!

[dragonsword343]

all i do is play, replay, play, replay, until the battery is gone wow.... the blend is fantastic !!!

[WcGirl12]

We are doing this for our varsity choir piece for contest, its a very awesome song! can be very challenging as well. (:

[grendle7]

Hey, I can agree. The whole alto flavour, which really makes this song awesome is like, not there.

[bigblondebeautiful]

Is it just me, or can I not hear ANY altos?

[julezlukey]

@bigblondebeautiful Sometimes, the altos and the sopranos sing in unison.

[Meganrosealto]

@bigblondebeautiful I've sung this song and I can hear the alto's

[dudeitsftw]

what a great song. i am singing this in my high school choir and i cant get enough of it. great job.

[whenthereisfire]

One of the high school choirs I'm in just did this song for sightreading. It's amazing, and I love the way they did this.

[Cbabies24]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA okk great song then the last note. i couldnt stop laughing

[macsitou]

Who is the composer!?

[flamehead17]

@macsitou I believe the arranger of this version is Jack Halloran

[macsitou]

@flamehead17 thank you so much!

[MouseDude20]

2:26 Eargism!

[chicken237]

Singing this in my highschool choir! Fun song :)

[y2j1235]

we sang this last year for region my faveorite spiritual song

[crystaleevee13]

I'm singing this with my fellow 8th graders tonight! O.o wish me luck!

[Tashwampa]

i have to sing it for All West, but i can barely hear the Altos! Be stronger ladies!!

[jackson3tears]

im in 7th grade and i have to sing this for my all south west try out

[VanSensei]

@jackson3tears 7th grade? O_O This song sounds way too advanced for 7th grade. In 7th grade, the baritone voice is just developing and this song has high F# and low F#. I don't get how 7th grade is doing full 8 part mixed choir. O_O

[tunaunit3]

@VanSensei not to mention the low D

[bluepunk95]

@VanSensei I was hitting lower than F sharp in 7th grade, and then tenor 1 notes. It's really not too big an accomplishment. Depends on the voices at hand.

[jackson3tears]

@VanSensei it was a mix of 7th,8th, and 9th grade

[GuitarDimitri]

we're doing this in my highschool choir! :D

[sylvg]

amazing work guys.

[JmoulFrancis]

EXCELLENT!!!! This is the BEST rendition of this peice on youtube... I did not have to stretch my ear to understand what they are saying. Good job!!!

[Morl99]

No matter what the folks say down there... i really like this version, very great singers and a good interpretation of the song. Maybe a little more "life" would not hurt... but I feel they performed well.

[realconnection8718]

the last note ruined the whole performance....

[logaboya]

Soul is a witness, and where was the soul?

Really!

Yes, you all are good singers. But, it isn't singing without soul! Style! Interpretation!

What you ever want to call it.

My choir is performing this song, and I wanted to go on the internet to see other choirs perform it and this is dissapointing. Really.

When I saw the words "The University of Utha Singers" I became excited, because hello! University singers. Singers without any soul, if anything. Just sad, if you're at that level

[awesomej1998]

im singing this song in 7th grade:)

[LauraStorm18]

my highschool choir is learning this song for competion

[TegaBear07]

BAHAHA white people! no offense but you guys crack me up! Where is the "Hmmppphh" sound in this spiritual?

[letterx7]

That last note almost sounded like a trumpet hitting a C... nice!

[Curveytoothpick]

my highschool did this song fall '09 and we loved. impressive F#

[Rj10008]

stunning! they did wonderful! i love it

[eclecticscot]

Far and away the most eye- and ear-appealing rendition I've yet seen on YT. This is a great arrangement, and this choir acted, and sang, like they were happy to be singing it! Great dynamics, tempo, pitch- wonderful job! Kudos to that unnamed soprano for nailing that high F#- she had it, and Dr Allred flaunted it (it's not in the score- who would expect to have someone who could hit it?!) Many thanx for sharing this!

BTW- 2yawk: Right on! Took the words right outa my head!

[bemahfriend]

i totally miss choir wow

amazing

[101makoe]

Beautifully sung.. love it

[isohardcore]

@theseshoes, the high note is written in, as a solo

[bigbluewhales7]

We sang this song this past year in choir and I absolutely love this song. They did a wonderful job on this song.

[pianist1972]

Nice...a little pokey on tempo, and wish that it could feel a little less measured and more spotaneous. Great voices and tuning.

[pageohara16]

wow! almost perfect! i could really feel every dynamics...so energetic and never refuse personal attachment to the song...all parts are united...keep up...GOD BLESS!!

[MegaTomboi]

awsome arrangement :D good good

[SamanthaAshlyn7]

awesome!!!!!! love it!

[dahulkable]

not a good as school choir excellent.; LOVED IT EVERY MINUTE AND SECOND!!! Ya'll rock. not a mediochre performance thats for sure.

[BeeVan19]

That is bloody impressive! Nicely done guys!

[chelsFERSURE]

absolutely beautiful

[bigmanbass09]

nice job but where is the expression and excitement and the note at the end could have been saved.. Great jod enjoyed this!

[TheseShoesSoDontFly]

Please inform me of the point of the very last high note....why are you trying to show off? you're a good choir! that note is unnecessary...

[tdavidray]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly It didn't come across as showing off to me at all. It went perfectly with everything the song was doing. That choir is blessed to have the voice to sing that note, on pitch, and just lite enough....and a straight tone at that. I thought it was Fantastic!

[lea597]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly LOL! I've sang this piece and, if I'm not mistaken, it's in the score. I remember our Sopranos trying to belt it out but it didn't work so well! LOL!

[TheSynthice]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly I believe that note is in the score, is it not? I have seen the note sang in all capable versions of this song.

[xdivinebladex]

@TheSynthice I dunno man. I'm looking at the score now and it doesn't have it (at least in my version)

[Tashwampa]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly The director might have heard her make a note like that, and told her, to do it, because he may have liked the effect. Directors,(for choirs anyway) like to add things to music. It adds personality ;)

[idinaBALLET]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly Nope it is not... it's in the designated in the music for the choir arrangement of witness

[mariusvoltego]

@TheseShoesSoDontFly That note is in the original score; it sounds abrasive on this recording but is actually quite pure and brilliant when heard live :)

[dancinbabe864]

amazing bass on this! lol

[hunendi]

Except the last note it's a very nice and clean interpretation of the song. Good job :)

[thiskidd1]

Gah! Who heard the high note at the very end on "Lord!!" ?!

[mdassatti]

@thiskidd1 Literally...an impeccable rendition...and then that...

[Tan1723]

@thiskidd1 I could have done without the high note at the end. It was too shrill and it felt kind of out of place. "There are notes you can hit and there are notes you can sing. Never hit a note."

[rgold11]

nicely done, our high school is singing this for uil.. nice example.. last note is iffy.. but who would complain.. it's like an f#

[Marshillboy]

One of the best performances of this version on youtube, great tenor section!

[HadesJr9001]

I like this version, very nicely done

[22maestro]

for the most part this a fairly good interpretation. But you speed up terribly.

[ABStaley51008]

hahaha I like this rendition, (mostly).... whats up with the screaming on the last note??? not needed.... nice sound... spirituals are always fun to do, and yes, i can understand the "sounding too white" every SINGLE choir isang with was different dempending on the director and what THEY wanted it to sound like...:)

[ninjatenor17]

i wish that people wouldnt do the whole race thing .if u wanna look at a non black choir that sounds good check out ust elijah rock.btw amazing job on this piece,i dont care what race it comes from, good sound is good sound.

[GMnemo]

Im so sorry guys but this the most clean rendition absolutely correct interpretation of this song. It doesnt matter who compose it and arrange it. what is important that this group give justice to a song. far from the interpretation of the blacks ^^,. NO OFFENSE PLS..credit to the conductor... " Music is a vain art".

[bhreann4544]

i have never heard this song with that last note sung by a soprano..... sounds painful...lol

[erudofker]

why do all gospel arrangements have the same endings?

[fiercejarret]

This is not gospel.

[Nykeshoxxs]

This is a fantastic rendition!!!! sound so great!!!!

[ClassicXmple]

BRAVO....IT WAS WONDERFUL

[kperry316]

I've checked out just about all the other links and videos of this song. Looks like the singers from Utah have the best version on YouTube. Love the vocals, the musicanship...fantastic job.

[MADiSONx201]

Agree wholeheartedly.

[issraelissy]

An African-American spiritual and not one African-American in the group. At least there is an Asian guy there.

[jcirmsa]

haha, isnt that funny? and they sound great anyway.

[issraelissy]

It was just an observation guy, white folk kill me, they don't want to be black, but hey let's dress like them, talk like them, sing like them, and dance like them - but hey thats what happens when you have no identifiable culture of your own.

[bassrob2]

Alright, so we're hypocrites when we perform black music, but racists when we DON'T perform black music? Give me a break.

[issraelissy]

Thats correct, but what you have to realize is that these songs were not born out of a need to entertain, but to help endure, the existence that as a people, Afro-Americans, suffered at the hands of your forefathers (or at the very least people who looked like you). So the music, the lyrics, they are all sacred text and not there for the bemusement of white audiences. So if I had my way, and you should be glad that I don't, our songs would not be butchered by white choirs, plus that Asian kid.

[bassrob2]

Did I ever say that they WERE born out of a need to entertain? I understand what the significance that spirituals held for African Americans (during the time of slavery, it's not like you sing about holdin on to the gospel plow while you're at work today). However, I do NOT believe that gives African Americans the exclusive rights to performing MODERN DAY CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS of them. No choral music is written for the "bemusement" of ANYONE. It is written because the composer felt a connection

[bassrob2]

to the text. And to say that this choir "butchered" this song is not only a completely untrue statement, but it's an insult to the group AND the composer of the music, and by extension, YOUR forefathers or people who look like you.

[bassrob2]

You think there has to be an African-American in there to be allowed to perform it? What about a black college? Do you think they should do only spirituals?

[220chrisTian]

I LOVE this song! Thanks for uploading! :D

[U195386]

that last note...ya....not so pretty

[thepieman46]

Love the tenor section, not too brought out, but yet you can still hear it, excellent work

[DeLoddeee94]

ich find wir könns besser^^

[sweetJesus1234]

very very good, good balance

[2yawk]

This is a choral arrangement of a spiritual. Very good performance. Experts take the voices they have to work with and make the intentions of the composers / arrangers appear from the printed pages to the listeners. This is what your director and your choir has done. It is what the arranger wrote. Unfortunately everyone doesn't know what to listen for, yet  they are so quick to make comments. Please disregard all pointless comments. BRAVO!!! Oh and by the way, I'm an African American.

[Music4everInUs]

Its sung right. perfect. TOO Perfect. The definition is Negro Spiritual. That doesn't mean i don't love it. Just in comparison to even other Hogan songs done by this choir its too nice. I think if people are taught good diction and different pronunciations in other languages this should be treated the same way. with the same authenticity.

[kickflipkb]

We did this last year and I think they did well too but I disagree with people who say it looks too proffessional. I think it's quite the opposite: I think they look too relaxed and kind of..."Yeehee! I'm singing and being filmed!"

The end "lord" there was a soprano who was WAY too high and should've gone with being too low instead of too high.

I hope I wasn't too mean by saying all that. And I hope I'm not being a hypocrate now. Umm...sorry again..

[manookin]

We sang this in highschool and i think we did it better only because we were not so proper. We workshoped with Dr. Staheli and even he told us not to bite the t in witness so much!

[tiernan87]

please forgive, i hate this expression, but it must said....it's too, uh...."white"....

[krissy4nik]

They did great in every aspect except the fact that spirituals require little or no diction. It sounds too proper... they did a great job on the slides on "sampson" at 1:49 but they should have had that same kind of soul in the entire song

[PhantasmaArtist]

I like it a lot, we did this when I was in high school.

I feel like they're lacking energy, though. I mean, yeah, it's on their faces, but they're voices just sound too.......pretty? Especially the ladies, it just sounds too clean, I guess. It needs more soul.

Like my director says: Put some stank on it.

[NoOnesBussiness]

i agree completely. they have a nice sound but i dont think its the sound for this song. but it is pretty.

[alfredosauce4661]

Very Good... We are singing this in 8th grade Chior

[diffromother]

can you share a copy of the arrangement of this song????/

[utoober143]

does anyone else find that the high soprano note at the end (2:26) is sharp?

[MikeyAC86]

sounds right to me...

[Jiffybob47]

just a teensy bit!

[PhantasmaArtist]

It just felt unnecessary.

[blasianFMA]

That note sounded like one of those little rings that you blow. You know what I'm talking about? You blow into it, and it slides up to a really high pitch and then goes back down?

[achichfuhls2010]

It goes sharp then goes back in tune.

[carolynXxXrose]

We're singing this song in our Mixed Group for our spring concert... I'm so excited! We've got a decent group. Our sopranos rock, our altos [HECK YES] are pretty dang awesome, our basses kick ass, but our tenors need some work. Lol.

[kiterunners2]

Hi Carolyn! :D I think our Alto 2's at the best.

[jamiekid91]

We are doing this song in May for one of our songs for our Spring Concert. It is such a fun song to sing!

[shimoozo]

we sang this in our high school choir.

i expected a whole different level from a college choir but... wow

that was amazing

[mrcoolguy2010]

WOW for a white choir...yall sure do know how to sing a spiritual....!

[JairajGeorge]

Bass 2 for this song is such a fun part!

[3stratz3]

yea it is but i have two other bass 2s that cant go near as low and they throw me off

[meablood]

I love this song!!! 1:18 is the best part (her)

[QRRBRRBLLBL]

That's actually "earth", but oh well

[joedtheok]

damnit tanner

you sing counter tennor

[hailtanner]

I sing the bass 1 part for my highschool

we sang this at a local chorus competition, and got Superior! :D

[DeeDeeteehee]

holy shit

you guys are AMAZING!!!

[bimiz2]

i sing the soprano part of this in my choir. but our altos are awful...

i love this!

[itachisgurl4ever]

wow...we're singing this for our choir...we're horrible compared to them!!!

[Tee324]

i absolutely love this.. their blend is fantastic even singing this loudly

[golden1tiger2elite]

sounds like a screaming trumpet at the end!

[luckdude000]

My chorus class sang this song today at small ensemble festival NC

[Licia84]

Woah.

[Compooky121]

Great descant at the end. Not over bearing at all.

[shortnikkah]

phenoooomenal!

[redhotxxchili]

this song is extremely hard for my choir becuase our sopranos arent very good. im a bass 2 and the only one in the choir that can hit a low D

[golaxo]

Well done.

Do that F# or not... everybody! Thats a spiritual :) As they want...

If they sung Bach I would say totally different...