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From: erialm
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  • The concert took place in February 1994, celebrating Palestrina’s 400th anniversary, filmed in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (Rome, Italy) where the composer sang as a choirboy and later became maestro di cappella. Available under the title »Live in Rome« on CD and DVD at gimell.com.

  • location??????

    anyone knows?

  • thanks for the clear uninterupted video reminded of praying in a church/catherdral with the choir playind HATS OFF

  • 0:30

    looks like a painting

  • Where was this venue? It's so artistic and majestic, along with the marvelous heavenly voices of The Tallis Scholars, it blew me off.

  • Tessa Bonner second from right. R.I.P.

  • Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunderschön!

  • Palestrina may be my favorite composer

  • Beautiful singing, but I wonder why so many are putting such a small narrowminded video with the wrong sized distorting format? Using but half of the possible box.

  • @Romanticdance You understand this video was uploaded 3 years ago? Most of the HD resolutions didn't even exist then.

  • The singing, it's the quality of the singing that makes me want to lift my hands in thanks.

  • bellissimo! grazie!

  • perhaps the greatest soprano sound ever

  • that church is simply breathtakingly beautiful. no words.

  • @amatorynumber - It's all in the eye of the beholder. In the opening shot to me the church looks like the inside of a coffin with the interior decorated like a wedding cake.

  • Pentecostals clap and yell in church all the time. Silence is NOT reverence to them! They think silence means no relationship with God. Their God is hard of hearing. Clapping ones' hands, talking loudly "in tongues," and rolling around on the ground is the only way to get God's attention. They say that silence the church, like this music, is dead. Dead churches don't grow. The louder the clapping and yelling, the faster the church grows! Not a Pentecostal, just playing the devil's advocate.

  • @coxhere1 so funny

  • For those against the applause: it may be a church (and I am a Catholic who understands the importance of reverence), but when such a beautiful piece fills hundreds of people with emotion, it is difficult to hold back (at least for me) the feelings it invokes, and how can one not give these singers some sort of recognition for the work that went into the piece? If I was in that church, I would be just overwhelmed, and that kind of passion is normally welcomed in the church!

  • @kwac88, I would say applause is a wonderful thing, regardless of whatever anyone says. Applause is an expression of joy and love, and it is honorable and decent to give musicians who worked their butts off applause for their efforts.

  • @KhagarBalugrak true, but not when recording

  • @Mr4stringman Nothing wrong with applause at a recorded concert, as long as the audience waits for the conductor to drop his hands, which is the tacit signal that it's okay to clap. After all, as Khagar says they have worked hard to make this music... it would be silly and rude not to show appreciation somehow!

  • @kwac88 There is such a thing as meaningful, content silence. Any singer knows the difference... just as they can tell the difference (if they're sensitive souls) between going-through-the-motions-appl­ause [90%] and i-just-can't-help-it-applause [rarity]. Applause is a difficult thing, because there are so many things that play into why people applaud or not... and why others think the reasons of the applauders/non-applauders are for applauding... and so forth.

    (I prefer silence in church.)

  • @jlaurson There's absolutely meaningful, content silence, and yeah, some of the applause could be considered "going through the motions," but I think most want to clap, but not be first. The immediacy with which applause came after the song was clearly a sign that someone couldn't contain themselves. As a singer, a response that enthusiastic feels pretty good.

    Anyway, some people were calling the audience stupid, etc for applauding in a church, or clapping too early, so I thought I'd respond :)

  • What place is that?

  • This would be better if you cut the first 20 seconds. But a beautiful recording :)

  • What a stupid audience - they clapped as soon as it finished ! I prefer a few seconds pause afterwards to gradually come back to 'reality'.

  • @ bartmariner

    I myself am 6 foot 4, 220 pounds, and take up a lot of surface area. When should I be expecting to receive perspective?

  • One of the world's greatest choirs, unsurpassed in this repertory!

  • Top notch; sublime!

  • This work is a sublime and moving mediation of beauty, which signifies a greater and transcendent Beauty, in and of itself, quite apart from the minds or senses ability to create it.

  • This just reminded me how amazing it was to work with Peter Phillips in Oxford a few weeks ago. This is amazing music executed perfectly.

  • The end is nigh and Jesus will not come.

  • @Fistinator1337 Says YOU, dipshit.

  • @MrLjgroove Jesus will have vendetta upon us,we must change our ways!

  • @Fistinator1337 LOL! Idiot.

  • @MrLjgroove Thou shalt not fear for I antichrist will come and bring justice.

  • @Fistinator1337 Is this your day job or a part time thing?

  • "Most people have a plane-like vision, stuck to the earth, of two dimensions. When you live a supernatural life, God will give you the third dimension: height, and with it, perspective, weight and volume." Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 279.

    Good sacred music really lifts your heart.

  • "Most people have a plane-like vision, stuck to the earth, of two dimensions. When you live a supernatural life, God will give you the third dimension: height, and with it, perspective, weight and volume." Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 279.

    Good sacred music really lifts your heart.

  • "Most people have a plane-like vision, stuck to the earth, of two dimensions. When you live a supernatural life, God will give you the third dimension: height, and with it, perspective, weight and volume." Josemaria Escriva, The Way, 279.

    Good sacred music really lifts your heart.

  • Superb choral ensemble singing. It doesn't get much better than this.

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  • beautiful, divine!!!!!

  • I own this DVD and it is a special occasion when it comes out for viewing. It is a treasure.

  • beautiful. Just stunning 

  • who is the soprano at 1.16?

  • Truly glorious.

  • Senza dubbio MAGNIFICI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­! Tallis Scholars - grande Peter Philips

  • What venue is this?

  • Beautiful. This warms even the darkest day.

  • Shut up I am listening...

  • Voices of Angels. this is perfection.

  • Beautiful Catholic music. Thank you for uploading this!

  • @IlIlIlIlIIlIlIllIlI Whatever.

  • @IlIlIlIlIIlIlIllIlI You take it wrong. I meant what I said: "a well respected source".

    "Well" is being used as an adverb, not as a noun,

    "a well respectively source" makes no sense and is ungrammatical because "respectively" is an adverb and so cannot be used to modify the noun "source".

    We take it that English is not your first language.

  • I'm terribly sorry for having that debate. Every now and then a troll gets ya! I deleted everything because I don't want to distract anyone from the beauty in this video, particularly the wonderful performance from Tessa Bonner.

  • La forma como cantan es hermosa.

  • did they used to sing the entire mass? they should go back to that. take out all the talking. i would go

  • Oh, boy, this is brilliantly composed and beautifully performed music, and I enjoy listening to it.

  • I fuckin love the tallis scholars, if you don't you're dumb

  • remember that hilarious time people were having nasty philosophical conversations on youtube over something they have voluntarily sought out? Hah! That time is now. You people crack meup.

  • I was working under the direction of Peter Philips last night - what a nice guy he is! =)

  • Wonderful ensemble! Wonderful singing! Wonderful recording! Beautiful music! I feel uplifted and enriched by having heard this performance. (Just as I'm sure that Palestrina intended) Bless him and his talent and these performers.

  • o my good good some people are so far up there own ass on here!!! its music,beautiful music, so just enjoy it for what it is, if you were as talanted as these then you would be in this clip!! but your not so shut up with your huge interlect and let the common folk enjoy it!!!( mmmm,i may not be good at spelling but i no good music when i hear it!)

  • Excellent! Great venue, too.

  • meraviglioso.grazie

  • whats to say just listen

  • Beautiful.

  • Wonderful!!!

  • Cara eh lindo.Muito bom

  • It´s incredible what talent and hard work can do...

    Huggs from Amazon Rain Forest!

  • This concert took place as already mentioned in Rome in Santa Maria Maggiore, at the 400th anniversary of Palestrina's death on 2 February 1994.

    The concert was released both on CD and on DVD. This piece was the encore.

  • hehe you can tell "look at the conductor!" has been drummed into them. They've channelled Palestrina perfectly IMO.

  • where is this place in the video...please let me know, thanks.. the music is amazing thanks for sharing it with us

  • Боже ! какая красота!  Огромное спасибо !!!

  • words are not enough to describe  this remarkable preformance .

  • This is wonderful.

  • This is the Basillica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. This is where Palestrina sang as a boy and later taught. This basillica has remained untouched for over 500 yrs. Same acoustics today as Palestrina himself heard over 400 yrs. ago.

  • @kingsmen711 Thank you for that information.

  • Does anyone know wich church is this? its so gorgeous...

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  • Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

  • @violoamore: Then go to church where they consider this music as part of their worship.

  • Clapping after such music is like pouring a tomato sauce on a beautiful painting ...

  • *Not* clapping after such a marvellous performance would be oafish in the extreme. Whether in a church or not, this is still a *performance*, not an act of worship. Applause gives the singers the recognition that such excellent singing deserves.

  • @davidhackston And yet, after listening to profound music I'm put off when I have to listen to the applause (not suggesting that Palestrina is profound music). Imagine hearing applause after each piece from Bach's Matthäus-Passion.

  • Dear Everyone Else: Stop trying to convince each other whether or not God exists, because you know you're not going to change anyone's mind in a youtube comment. If you believe in God and feel closer to Him when you listen, say it. If you don't believe in God, but listening to this piece makes you see and feel the beauty of life, say it. If you thought it sucked and think it needs a better dance beat, then I'm not really sure why you're listening to Palestrina, but to each his own:)

  • I agree with you.

  • @kwac88 Genius comment. Thank you for a brilliant and kind SHUT UP.. I would not have been so gracious. Basically because I am fed up with stupid people who argue about God or no GOD. When in reality the only evidence one requires is the reality humanity is a miracle whether there is a GOD or there is not. It is matter of allowing yourself the freedom to choose to believe that you are an IDIOT and ARGUE ABOUT IT. And that is all it proves. How idiots are idiots. See. I am not so gracious. LOL

  • @jivanmukta7 - It wouldn't diminish its beauty at all, but attempting to belittle the inspirational effect the music has on others certainly diminishes my respect for you.

  • @kwac88 when a contemporary art critic looks at a religious painting, he doesn’t kneel and pray to the painting. Same thing happens with music, even if Palestrina wrote only Religious music it doesn't imply that you listen it or perform it, with a religious attitude, going to a Palestrina concert is not going to church. Any musician can tell you that, I studied Gregorian chant and did not have to become a monk. The group is Tallis “Scholars" are musicians not religious. Get it!

  • Comment removed

  • @jivan - I agree with you 100% :). In fact, I may have misinterpreted what you meant. I thought that you were implying that the people who felt close to God while listening should keep god out of it. I felt that was wrong, because I believe that if music inspires you in a deep way, then that's powerful,and something to be embraced, not ignored.

    Now I see that you were just suggesting a new way of looking at the music, and asking people to consider whether of not it was less beautiful. Cool idea!

  • @jivanmukta7 Yes if you want to perform a new interpretation of this music but in order to capture an original performance then you have to believe in the moment you are playing and capture the emotion, like an actor

  • @franzgrim i've played music (mostly original, so it may not directly apply) for many years and never thought of it this way. this is very interesting and will have to be given considerable though. thank you for the comment.

  • "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --A. Einstein

    It's easy to tell how the Scholars live life.

  • @kwac88

    IT'S EASY TO TELL HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE

  • Music Divine ...

  • These people almost make a deity believable.

    What music was honed for.

    Amazing.

  • That is a lot of sound being put out for such a small ensemble! It is really hard to sing a straight tone consistently. I give them props. They sound wonderful.

  • I seem to find ignorance and stupidity wherever I go on this site, even on the comment boards of the best music ever written performed by the best musicians of our day.

    A shame really...

  • well - it is simply a consequence of bringing great music 'directly' to the masses - no-one has bothered to give them a meaningful opportunity to grow up with, or learn to appreciate, these things

  • @HARMONICO101 Agreed. We now live ina society where every person fancies themselves worthy of celebrity, even if that ephemeral "celebrity" involves writing a stupid outrageous comment on a comment board. I liked the world better when the aristocrats ran things, and made it possible for music like this to flourish. The "masses" I find to be most repugnant.

  • @jivanmukta7 - I'm with you. music is most definitely NOT for the exclusive enjoyment of the pious or religious. But it can bring us together and share in moments of compassion and beauty.

    I have to say though, I certainly feel religious when I listen to this stuff.

  • Humans suck.

    Are we so bent on creating conflict that even listening to beautiful music sets us off into disagreement and argument?

    Can't we just close our eyes and hear this music; let it soothe our souls, or spirits...or minds ? (if you have no such belief in souls or spirits- certainly you believe in minds).

  • @soleil2020 - you rock!, lol! i have been laughing for the past few minutes: another nice youtube member trying to help the mean youtube people understand the error of their ways. but it never works, trust me. yes, it's frustrating but save your breath - or in this case your typing fingers. b/c the mean people will look at flowers and only see a waste of space...even music like this will not change them. ;oD lolololol!

  • @soleil2020 Your wisdom is sound and I couldn't agree more. Choral music (to me) represents harmony of souls. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

  • Comment removed

  • @soleil2020 because the music was written in the name of, is about, and supports something that many people find to be worth disliking, and the truth is that if u on one hand support this music and on the other think poorly of the institution and thought that created it, then you are a hypocrite of the worst kind. it's like listening to a priest chant something at you in another language and you just sitting and enjoying the sound of it, even though he may be saying something terrible.

  • @soleil2020 P.S., most people think humans suck because of people who think like you; just saying. People who glaze over the bad parts for their own comfort, and who cause immeasurable suffering through their negligent and naive opinions and actions.

  • @soleil2020 you are aware that a human wrote this, right? and it's humans who have performed it, recorded it and made it possible for you to listen to it on a machine designed by humans. We don't "suck" - speak for yourself.

    But you're right, this music warms my soul :)

  • @soleil2020 Yeah, and how come youtube is pretty much the worst website when it comes to trolls?

  • @soleil2020 i agree

  • @soleil2020 agreed. Well said. :D I'm studying music at the moment and have just left my position has Head Chorister with my choir but I am in love with this music everyday :) x

  • @soleil2020

    NO.

  • How about considering for a moment that this could be just Music, polyphony and harmony, free from any philosophical or religious connotations, just plain old music, not from heaven but made down here on earth, sung by contemporary men and women in love with musicology. Would that diminish its beauty in any degree? To say it in religious terms, if you have ears, listen.

  • @jivanmukta7 Supreme arrogance.

  • @jivanmukta7

    Excellent point, though I personally don't quite agree with you, it's still an excellent and MOST relevant point. Thumbs up.

  • @jivanmukta7  But to say that would not be a true reflection of the entire composition. It is based in a love of God and was inspired by Palestrinas love and faith in God. One cannot fully understand the piece without the appreciation of the inspiration of the composer.

  • @jivanmukta7 "...sung by contemporary men and women in love with musicology..."?

    Do you really believe they sing this music because their in love with musicology?

    That's like saying people love to read books because they're in love with

    linguistics. 

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  • @jazzpsalti I also perform vocal and instrumental early music in ensembles.

    We do so because we enjoy the music, not because we're in love "musicology", which is the STUDY of music AS A BRANCH OF KNOWLEDGE or FIELD OF RESEARCH as DISTINCT from composition or performance.

    An analogy doesn't have to cover exceptional cases to be apt. Most people who enjoy reading do not do so because they are in love with "linguistics", which is the study of speech.

  • Comment removed

  • @jazzpsalti No. I already gave an accurate definition of musicology.

    I was referring to his use of the term "musicology".

    Your understanding of the term "analogy" is flawed.

    An "analogy" is the inference that if two or more things agree with one another in SOME respects they will probably agree in others."

    So again, my analogy was apt.

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  • @jazzpsalti Just where do you think I got the definitions

    I already gave for "analogy" and "musicology"?

    I quoted them from a well respected source: The "Merriam-Webster DICTIONARY".

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  • @jazzpsalti I'm sure you don't know how to parse a sentence, for if you did, you would realize that the issue is why do these (or any) singers perform this (or any) music, not whether they are musicologists.

    Some people I play with have PhDs in musicology, but they play the music for its own sake, not because they love musicology.

    Many people count. It doesn't mean they love mathematics.

    Since you don't understand what is at issue, you will only embarrass by adding more comments.

  • @jivanmukta7 well i dont see why these point has so many thumbs up when its absolutely invalid especially for the likes of Palestrina. The only reason western harmony developed so much is for the glory of god and their passion to create music through this inspiration in their belief for him.

  • @suffiice Harmony and Polyphony were born from a natural evolution of the instruments and the musical theory not to praise the glory of God, Actually the religious establishment opposed for long polyphony because it distracted from the words. Take all the text out and have the singers just say "aaaaa" instead and it would still be beautiful, because the beauty in this music is not in the words but in the amazing dance of the melodic lines. That my friend is pure cold logic.

  • @jivanmukta7 I dont think its strictly natural evolution, it progressed from deeply inspired monks initially. They were so inspired by God that they progressed far faster than any other part of the world in music and also in other arts like painting and architecture. Even if you dont believe in God personally, that is still fact.

  • @jivanmukta7 fortunately, nothing we do (especially not art) exists in a vaccuum. if you choose to ignore what a piece of art means in favor of your own beliefs and ideas, nothing can stop you. Just don't be surprised when you find that you are actually supporting something you never wished to. Kinda like saying "sure Mohammed was a warlord and a crazy paedophile, but i don't care because i just love the sound of people reciting a book about evil shit in a language i don't understand." THINK

  • This is music from Heaven

  • Peter was never in Rome.

  • Jesus said he will deny you in heaven, if you do not follow "my sayings". He said, call no man "father". He said, "do not bow down to them". He said "come out of her, my people, do not engage in her fornications". For starters.

  • going to an episcopal "church" is a false solution to a real problem.

    As Catholics we have the obligation to require the tradtion in the mass! not leave the faith to some faith which is directed and made by men.

  • The most profound work is the "Kyrie"

  • this is absolutely amazing.. i love palestrina :-)

  • the church is santa maria maggiore in rome -- one of the two papal basilicas. remember, palestrina was the choirmaster for the papal choir

  • what is this incredible interior, do you know?

  • If I am not wrong this is is St Paul's Basilica.

    I might be wrong.

  • think, who killed and stole a lot, you will get the answer

  • tessa bonner´s voice is amazing

  • I want an edition of this!

  • I heard the Palestrina Scholars sing Tallis -- awesome! This is great too.

  • I love PALESTRINA!!! I love the "Gloria-part" the most in this Nunc!!

  • beautiful music.. but a silly question.. what are the tallis scholars?

  • perhaps a group who specialise on Tallis´ music and are much learned about him

  • What beautiful music, reformation music is lovely.

  • "Reformation music"? The one written by Palestrina, Italian and Roman Catholic? I am afraid you are wrong... :)

  • That' the highest point of the CONTRA-reformation!

  • Reformation? This is catholic.

  • reformation???? no. palestrina was a devout Roman Catholic. in fact, he is heralded as perhaps the most important composer in the development of Roman Catholic liturgical music. hardly a "reformation" composer. perhaps you mean counter-reformation? his music is the definition of the counter-reformation style. i researched palestrina for a semester for my music history extended project.

  • heralded?

  • LOL this is Roman Catholic. The Protestants could never make anything liek this.

  • lol indeed. long live the pope.

    him infallible

  • Not only that they couldn't.

    They wouldn't.

    Protestantism isn't as celebratory in their faith as roman catholics.

    But it's true, protestant kingdoms didn't have the needed resources to commision churchbuilding like this.

  • it's a bit of both actually. You are so right, a Roman Catholic composer wrote this, but today it is in the Protestant churches, such as mine, that such music is still sung as worship. We should all be singing it!

    I find the usual unison singing in Roman Catholic churches, and new Protestant evangelical churches, much less inspiring than this glorious traditon of four part, or more, harmony that is sung in Protestant churches. it is your legacy, so sing it!...lol

  • Palestrina wrote many parts of the Mass. We sing the Sanctus on Solemn occaisions and he saved music during that period.

  • Eh? Traditional 4 part choral music is sung ALOT in catholic worship. its still very much a core

  • I'm delighted to hear it. Here in Dublin most RC churches would have singing groups in worship but with no harmony. The Pallestrina Choir in the Pro-Cathedral sing 4 part harmonies however....and beautifully. And as I said earlier, our C of I choir sing four part all the time.

    Sunday Nov 1st a full Pallestrina Mass is going to be sung at our Communion Service by the local choral socieity. Can't wait.......

  • That´s strange, I wonder why that is :S

  • It is unfortunate that you have the right music, but the wrong beliefs. By the way, my Catholic parish still sings these hymns and my wedding was blessed with the Missa Brevis Mass.

  • Hold on there....lol. We worship the same Lord. The rest is tosh on both sides. My own view. That's why although I worship in a Protestant church and sing in the choir I am Christian only. It all started with this one strange, sweet Man who happened to be God. The rest is noise as far as I'm concerned. Except for sacred choral music of course.:D

  • ,,,,and another thing. Tomorrow is the date of a full Pallestrina Mass being sung in our church and I'm going to miss it! Have had a strong reaction to the HINI vaccine and am too wobbly to go. Drats.

  • Also, please note that is was the Reformation and the continuous destruction of tradition as well as the bombardment of modernism that has infiltrated the Catholic Church.

  • Pity that more roman catholic churches son't keep this tradition alive. In the UK only the anglican churches use these harmonised mass settings properly - which is why I go to Anglican churches now - worship much more inspiring.

  • Then I trust you are apparently Catholic? You should not attend the Anglican services, where there is no Eucharist. The Catholic parishes may not have the best image, but the perfect sacrifice on the altar is always there.

  • The Anglican services I attend are eucharistic ones, and they conduct the mass with dignity and reverence - all sung, eastward facing and the angelus is sung too. This is something which the roman catholic church has lot in many cases since Vatican II - almost impossible to find vespers and benediction now whereas this still takes place in the Anglican church.

  • you are correct!

    and as Catholics we have a moral obligation to ask for the tradition in the church!

    not leave the faith and go to someothing made by men

  • I still go to RC mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation and receive communion there. The problem for me is that the music in Roman Catholic parishes is so terrible that it completely detracts from the the mass. That is why I also go to Anglican churches where even in local churches the liturgy is conducted with dignity and with beautiful latin settings and anthems.

    2 weeks ago The Pope invited these anglican churches to join the RC church and bring their traditions with them