VocalEssence - What Sweeter Music by John Rutter

[SixStringSolid]

this song gives me a feeling i cant describe, I feel as though something is pulling and retracting in my chest with each cadence. from time to time i had to remind myself to keep breathing :)

[OLEGLASTOCHKIN]

After listening that song i can't listen pop - music anymore ))

[catholicreader2010]

A lovely rendition of this beautiful composition!

[SakuraMochiKitty]

I remember singing this in choir!

[justMeLavy]

feel like crying listening to this...it's such a peaceful song

[megnut12]

LATTA SENT ME. ;)

[taraskat]

Beautiful!

[TheCTConservative]

One of Rutter's most beautiful and sublime choral compositions. I first heard it on one of the St. Olaf Christmas festival broadcasts and was blown away by it. Glad I taped it because I kept playing it over and over. It always brings a tear to my eye.

Philip Brunell and vocalessence have done a fine job with it.

[kkaattyyzz]

Memorizing can be helpful to choirs, especially ones with younger members, but professionals often need music. Having the music can actually be vital to a performance since groups often perform the same music twice with different interpretations. The markings in the music help a performer adjust to the conductor's stylistic preferences.

[donpkra]

THis is a really beautiful piece of music and inspiring at any time of the year. They're acapella singing is first rate and sensitive. I agree put down the music and sing you always get the best singing that way - D

[Eurofrank1]

St Olaf Chapel Choir and the University of Utah Singers clearly show that learning the music from memory and throwing away those scores is the way to go. What do you think, dear readers?

[OrangeSodaKing]

@Eurofrank1 When you memorize music, it does help you be less distracted with what's on the page and more about making music. In addition, you usually know the music better, so you can focus less on "reading" it and more about making the music from within your heart. As a choir singer, I will not make a definite "yes" or "no", simply because I am not very experienced in choral singing yet. But as a classical pianist, memorizing solo music is the way to go!

[Icyveins906]

@Eurofrank1 Memorizing one's part written on a page isn't even half the work nor the hard part. In all-state we held our music except for a couple pieces simply because it meant that one could watch the piece evolve. Without seeing the other parts interract, memorizing your part is useless. That said, if you don't memorize your words and pitches, you shouldn't call yourself a dedicated musician. My point: always strive to be better and make the group better.

[donpkra]

Anything John Rutter has written is always inspiring and moving at anytime during the year. THis interpretation is quite stunning and sensitive. AS a musician and singer this isnt easy singing at all but this group does such fine justice to this beautiful Christmas piece DK

[sssabooo]

@donpkra Very True, this song is incredible... But i think the lyrics were taken from Robert Herrick's poem : A Christmas Carol... Never the less, john rutter made it even more incredible i guess...!

[fgbowen]

As American choirs go - This is a beautiful performance.

Thank you for giving it room to breathe and voice to speak.

Be ye not selfish at heart as we across the sea have grown

And welcome him, welcome, whom selfless songs have longer known.

[lavelle8686]

Perfect! Just beautiful in every way! at 1:56 when the orchestra stops playing, it gave me goosebumps!

[RaexChan]

Our school is performing this for Macy's on Friday. ^-^ I love it.

[lapmarty]

this particular piece benefit by being played really slow..some how having the melodic line spread in time give it more of a heavenly sound...personal opinion here but i do find it to fast...

[crazycellist973]

:48 I love it!!!! and Dr Wilkerson's expression.

[bus114]

Beautiful.

My church choir director sometimes signals us to smile while singing. I think that is overrated; there is one soprano here whose smile is distracting, making her stand out from the crowd -- and standing out from the crowd is not a good thing unless you're singing a solo.

[mposterFV]

@bus114 I don't think so, I just think because she is blonde. but I also think the requirement of this choir for a woman is that you have to be beautiful! There are a bunch of cuties in there for sure... Love the orchestra. This group is just awesome.

[bus114]

@mposterFV You're not looking at the same soprano I'm referring to. Freeze the video at about 0:35. I think you're looking at the blonde in the lower right. I'm referring to the singer between upper left and upper center, with the enraptured look on her face. A bit too enraptured, is my point.

[kiltlvr]

@bus114,

I sure wish you hadn't pointed that out....... Sheesh! All the same, I'm in total agreement.

[ilaffmusic]

we're singing this in my school choir right now :)

such a beautiful song!!!!!!!!!

[mposterFV]

When a choir sounds this good it can point to a great choirmaster. These people look like they are disciplined,

[crystalwolfberri]

wow, beautiful chorus and orchestra! =) love this song, yet love the way it's sung here even more! <3

[toc1955]

This is wonderful! Thanks for this bit of happiness.

[TheBaddestBrod08]

Simply Beautiful.........

[mikemcgibney]

A wonderful version of a beautiful piece! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

[theodorehui]

i hate the beeping sound that's preventing me from enjoying the nice music

can you record the video again using a better computer or device??

[chandarlee]

this piece is so beautiful!

[bimmerboy87]

Furthermore, using the score is often times used as a point of reference, and staring directly at your score is never advocated by choir conductors. As a singer in a choir that utilizes scores during concerts, i can attest that I have not digested music any less cuz i didnt have the music memorized and our choir conductor ALWAYS told us to look up as often as possible and to place the music in such a way as to be able to see her as well as read the music.

[bimmerboy87]

I think its absolutely ridiculous that many of you are saying to "lose the scores because it looks unprofessional". I know MANY world class and outstanding professional choirs that read from the scores during the concerts. Reading from scores doesnt equate to not "digesting the music". U can read from a score and still be able to digest the music just as well as if u didnt have a score; digesting a score depends on how well ur conductor conveys the music to you.

[cari0514]

We perform this song in our college choir. I gotta say I love this song but it should be better without the scores, it looks better & more sofisticated. But anyway... awesome job! Love it!

[netterstyl]

"It has a great beat and it's nice to dance to."

Yep, you just need to lose the scores, folks. It's a pain holdin' them things up, anyway. Just envelope yourselves with this, while you to try to control your tears.

Only change of any substance I would've made would've been to the dynamics at 2:51. *IMO* it kinda fell flat there, and should have a broader, bolder, more declarative feel. Sort of mousy as is.

But...still gorgeous, and still a great job.

[allenmusicman]

I love the warm tone of his choir!

[markogustav]

Really, is there any group better than VocalEssence?

[Eurofrank1]

There are several groups in the world that are bettere. However, just concentrating on similar American choirs, the Universit of Utah choir is better, as they sing from memory, which means that the pieces they sing ar truly "digested" by each choir member. The difference is clearly discernible-check them out!

[pantonality]

Much of Rutter's music was composed with the intent of having boys sing the treble parts. I do like the Kings College video a bit better than this one for that reason. Still Vocal Essence does a very nice job and I don't believe singing from music diminishes this performance in any way.

[Eurofrank1]

ANY musician will perform better when singing or playing from memory than reading the score. This would equally apply to Vocal essence. Look at all them staring at the score and even turning pages instead of looking at the conductor. Nevertheless, they "do a nice job", as you say. They would do even better, hands down by their side, looking only at the conductor and knowing the piece "inside out".

[BarbershopHero]

Reminds me of a miniature Mormon Tabernacle Choir! They sang this song a few Christmases ago and it was simply amazing! You certainly do it justice as well! Great job!

[FTWandstuff]

Fantastic performance. Our school choir is doing this very song. Wonderful work!

[lacelu713]

I love this piece, thank you so much for posting this!