O Quam Gloriosum est Regnum - Victoria

[ji9845]

i think this is a great recording but there is definitely an average tenor sticking out

[thomasythan]

Yes, the pronunciation of 'quam' clearly places this performance in England. That hard vowel is horrible, but so would be the opposite, a long vowel to make the world sound like the English word 'qualm' (which some choirs will do, wrongly thinking it's high class). Something neatly placed in between would suit. NOW I understand why classicists look like they're listening to nails down a blackboard when they hear church Latin!

[beda9876]

for all folks bitching bout vibrato:

vocal vibrato is result of a correctly placed voice.

Of course u can control vibrato by giving more or less resonance of your body, so from only head voice to full body voice, where u use your whole body for resonance.

In former times people were used to silence and not exposed to so much noise than we are nowadays, so there was no need to play music so loud like today.

At low volume it is possible to sing with less vibrato, thats the secret.....

[awyliu]

@beda9876 There is a time and place for vibrato. This is not one of them.

[mzungumedicineman]

The first and last time I hope I hear 'Quam' in Bar 4 pronounced to rhyme with 'Spam'. We used to get a glass of sherry after singing, but that wasn't enough to make us rush through this glorious piece. True pitch though....

[margotlorena1]

I always have the feeling that all choirs perform this motet too fast

[austreneland]

effing awesommmmeeeeeee

[PrestigiousSail]

Operaandchant90 and apercrumble you are both correct:

In the early Christian churches, vibrato was merely decoration. In the 18th Century, musicians started looking for the healthiest ways in which to sing, which gave way the full vibrato (Opera) sound.

When choirs sing traditional music without vibrato they are attempting to make it as authentic as possible, regardless of the unhealthiness. Besides, it is lovely to listen to.

[Operaandchant90]

@apercrumbie then explain the sound of Hebrew choirs in synagogues.

[MrCimiciotto]

Very nice, pleasant and equilibrated execution. I recently sang this wonderful piece with my choir: it's not so easy...

[Operaandchant90]

@choirboyfromhell1 vibrato-less singing is actually profoundly unhealthy. 

[apercrumbie]

@Operaandchant90 However the use of vibrato didn't become popular until the 19th century and was only used as ornamentation before then. Most choirs sing this style of music without vibrato because choirs of the period wouldn't have either and the music doesn't suit vibrato at all. The beauty is in the purity of the sound.

[Dauphin35]

@Operaandchant90 But it doesn't sound like crap, so that's one advantage. Vibrato in polyphony or chant is disgusting.

[Operaandchant90]

@Dauphin35 ....westminster cathedral choir. thankyou

[Operaandchant90]

@Dauphin35 vibrato arguments are dumb. do you know what it actually is?

[Dauphin35]

I think I just died.

[Ramiel4]

@Dauphin35 and went to heaven?

[Dauphin35]

@Ramiel4 Precisely.

[choirboyfromhell1]

The vibrato-less sops is indeed glorious. Note to downloader, please advance slightly the frames. We singers are used to reading ahead....thanks.

[morphthing1]

@choirboyfromhell1 ah yes but then there is the question of how far ahead, I like when singing to be over the page a good time before the actual turn but other singers will do this later or earlier depending on how they read the music. I did try originally to time page turns in the video but it just frankly looked wrong and in my opinion would cause confusion to any casual viewer.

Morphthing

[FlyingPenguin10]

i sang this for the first time yesterday. nothling like a bit of sight reading on a sunday morn to keep you on your toes, I wish I was better at counting though lol

[nonnopirro52]

molto bello:bellissimo:wonderful:wun­derbar:tsubarashi

[madeleine588]

hi you guys!!!!

[enajamme22]

or Dave?

[enajamme22]

Ben? Hi!

-Emma R.

[harveyd222]

CDMH 2009! Yankees, Ben R.