Olivier Messiaen - O Sacrum Convivium / KosovaPhilharmonic Choir / Rafet Rudi, cond. / REMUSICA 2008

[Tony00M]

Seriously, can that conductor keep a steady rhythm?? NO

It is way,way,way too slow

[BearAZ]

They should be commended highly for singing it at Messiaen's tempo!

[valeriealmamarie]

Merveilleux.

[robbcarson]

Sorry, I don't think this is one of the better recordings of this composition on YouTube. There are many much better.

[robbcarson]

I prefer this with a smaller choir, not so much variation as not everyone in this group quite got the right notes and it is noticeable to to a trained ear. Not quite the blend either once you hit the 3:35 mark, at the 4:12 mark on to the 4:35 mark they are way off tone from each other. It's not until around 4:57 they finally pull it back together. The sopranos especially seem to have a struggle with the top notes at this marking and I suspect being a Phil. choir they usually sing louder.

[britandveg]

What wonderful sensitivity to his harmonies! Excellent job!

[yourforte]

This is beautiful.

[1401JSC]

My ears are hurting!

[EdiEllerymissing]

Then you should go to a doctor or to the school, because or you're so stupid, or so ill...

[jamesaellis]

this seems to be messiaens only work for solo choir. i adour all his work. his opera is one of the greatest events you will ever encounter.

[jockboy69]

There is also the fiendishly difficult "Cinq Rechants" for 12 part a cappella singers.

Totally different style, and in several languages, incl., I think, made up language, words; Hindi, etc. Very few groups in the world are capable of singing this piece.

BBC Singers did it at the Proms last summer I think.

John Alldis Choir recorded it for Argo back in the 70s.

[smeeeeed]

@jamesaellis I agree about Saint Francis, but he has other solo choir works! Look up his 5 Rechants.

[Quadrupelfuge]

Gut gemacht! Das ist ein sehr schweres Stück. Das Ende war noch sehr unsicher - ihr seid auch gesunken. Macht weiter ihr seid auf einem guten Weg!!!

[NiallMS]

Excellent!  Thanks for that.

[djreject2]

simply beautiful, i remeber this was the first piece my choir used to play, no an easy job...

[P38Jim]

Well done. Well done. Speaking from experience this piece is ethereal and enigmatic. This is not easy stuff folks. It is critical that the choir stays right in the middle of the pitch or the bass part will fall completely away, and then it devolves into a muddy mess. Sounds simple to stay in tune, but nothing about Messiaen is simple. Wonderfully done.

[Shea354]

This was great! I wish I could sing the soprano part well...but I'm only good at the alto part...haha

Anyway, I really like it! The harmonies were great.

Thanks for uploading!

Do you think that you could send me the sheet music to this song? I can't find it anywhere!

[ikmarchini]

The printed music is copyright and available only from Durand in Paris or its agents. You can buy a copy on the net cheaply.