I loved the operatic treatment of this song, and the soloist was wonderful. While the song was a little rushed toward the end for my taste, I thought it conveyed the message well.
As much as i love this song, i don't believe his voice really fit the part. This song is a gospel/praise song. I don't think that stylistically, an operatic voice should sing a solo for a gospel song. Especially when it's so specifically trained in the art of Opera. It's a big voice with tons of vibrato and power, and it's GOOD, just not stylistically for this song.
@TitusBrownMusic I'm going to have to disagree. The operatic voice, though not necessarily a grassroots component of traditional black gospel music, is surely part of the history of the spiritual. Consider Paul Robeson or Marian Anderson.
I think a Soprano is a better fit for the solo part. My choir did this last year, our soloist did a great job. This guy's good too, but not a good fit for the song IMO.
This is a nice job here. Of course there is room for stylistic polish, but you can't expect absolute perfection from somebody who hasn't had lifelong experience with Spirituals.
Heard this young Oakland voice on KPKA this week. Seeing him at the Paramount theatre tonight, with the Oakland Symphony OPENING CONCERT: NIGHT AT THE OPERA, t h e n ... at Yoshi's tuesday night! I LOVE OAKLAND!! Go ahead on, young man!!
well I'm not american so spiritual is not my cup of tea ( XD ) and in italy, my friends and I, sing this kind of music very differently. He is extremely good and he has a powerful voice. I know opera, he sings like opera, so my question is: spirituals are intended to be performed in this way? I honestly can't answer. May I ask what "detachedly" means in this case? [I apologize for my english..I haven't spoken it for a while]
A full voiced tenor like Kalil here is perfectly stylistically appropriate for spirituals. The only people who can really speak with some authority on these spirituals are people form the American South, where these songs come from originally and where they are still sung today. The most educated musicians even generally just don't get it. Usually jazz musicians don't even understand it nearly as well as they think.
OMG....the tones are so rich...fast, but rather good. Really seems to catch the spirit of this..they actually emote, rather than just detachedly singing.
Unfortunately the sound quality of the recording is very bad, but I think he does a wonderful job singing this. Reasonable people may disagree about how such songs should be sung or how the voices should sound.
Contrary to popular belief, this is an original song IN THE STYLE OF A SPIRITUAL composed (not arranged) by Hall Johnson. It has been argued that it is an original spiritual.
Many conductors, choir members, and even audience members make that mistake. Many think that because it "sounds" like a spiritual, then it HAS to be a spiritual arrangement. While there aren't many, there are actually original songs by African-American composers that are in the style of a spriitual or, arguably, an original spiritual. It's a rather common mistake.
i love it! my choir sight read this piece and we did ok but we are not sure if we are going to do this piece. but if we do i can only hope we sound as good as ur choir did. it was awesome!
Kalil Wilson just won 1st Place in the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Auditions, and will sing on the Metropolitan Opera Stage in February for the Nationals.
eeeeh
Zacurafire 2 months ago
I loved the operatic treatment of this song, and the soloist was wonderful. While the song was a little rushed toward the end for my taste, I thought it conveyed the message well.
PEPtrailbuilder 8 months ago
As much as i love this song, i don't believe his voice really fit the part. This song is a gospel/praise song. I don't think that stylistically, an operatic voice should sing a solo for a gospel song. Especially when it's so specifically trained in the art of Opera. It's a big voice with tons of vibrato and power, and it's GOOD, just not stylistically for this song.
TitusBrownMusic 9 months ago
@TitusBrownMusic I'm going to have to disagree. The operatic voice, though not necessarily a grassroots component of traditional black gospel music, is surely part of the history of the spiritual. Consider Paul Robeson or Marian Anderson.
brizzoke 3 months ago
I think a Soprano is a better fit for the solo part. My choir did this last year, our soloist did a great job. This guy's good too, but not a good fit for the song IMO.
AndyHanturd 1 year ago
WOW !!!!! --- God is Great !
YeyeOlomitut1 1 year ago
this song can be performed in a modified operatic manner, but kalil's interpretation is too influenced by classical training. good effort UCLA....
bchaoui12 1 year ago
Comment removed
bchaoui12 1 year ago
Very powerful vocals. Excellent presentation. Love it!
JazzSoul1000 1 year ago
Sound quality is horrible. I bet it sounded better live. My high school ensemble sounds much better than this when they sing this song.
iamjackson4life 1 year ago
This is a nice job here. Of course there is room for stylistic polish, but you can't expect absolute perfection from somebody who hasn't had lifelong experience with Spirituals.
BelCantoBoy 2 years ago
Heard this young Oakland voice on KPKA this week. Seeing him at the Paramount theatre tonight, with the Oakland Symphony OPENING CONCERT: NIGHT AT THE OPERA, t h e n ... at Yoshi's tuesday night! I LOVE OAKLAND!! Go ahead on, young man!!
searchless1 2 years ago
Kalil! This is Reggie from YMP. I was looking at one of my videos and YOU know up on my related videos. We indeed are related. You sound great!
violisto 2 years ago
I love the rich intonation of his voice...would love to hear him sing "Porgy & Bess"....
MinistahB 2 years ago 2
well I'm not american so spiritual is not my cup of tea ( XD ) and in italy, my friends and I, sing this kind of music very differently. He is extremely good and he has a powerful voice. I know opera, he sings like opera, so my question is: spirituals are intended to be performed in this way? I honestly can't answer. May I ask what "detachedly" means in this case? [I apologize for my english..I haven't spoken it for a while]
memazappa 2 years ago
A full voiced tenor like Kalil here is perfectly stylistically appropriate for spirituals. The only people who can really speak with some authority on these spirituals are people form the American South, where these songs come from originally and where they are still sung today. The most educated musicians even generally just don't get it. Usually jazz musicians don't even understand it nearly as well as they think.
BelCantoBoy 2 years ago 2
OMG....the tones are so rich...fast, but rather good. Really seems to catch the spirit of this..they actually emote, rather than just detachedly singing.
mysticalrose1888 2 years ago
Unfortunately the sound quality of the recording is very bad, but I think he does a wonderful job singing this. Reasonable people may disagree about how such songs should be sung or how the voices should sound.
Myxtylplytix 2 years ago
well it doesn't sound as a spiritual...does it? maybe he's good at singing operas...but spirituals..
memazappa 2 years ago 2
Yeah, I agree. He doesn't sound right fro this part. He's more of an opera sound.
BassGloria234 2 years ago
I love this song!
UTCMOC2009 3 years ago
We are singing this sone in our choir right now and i am the soloist but my voice sure cant beat his.
fugernut 3 years ago
Same here. It's the first solo I've done - I'm like OMFG!
PackYaBag 3 years ago
(That was a reply to fugernut)
PackYaBag 3 years ago
haha oh my goodness.. det här är verkligen ett minne för livet XD n3b/s3a ni vet vad ja snackar om!
pinayACL 3 years ago
WOW! Great job young fella...Good luck with your career.
-Emile
ejworthy 3 years ago
Negro Spiritual arranged by Hall Johnson.
smartalent 3 years ago
Contrary to popular belief, this is an original song IN THE STYLE OF A SPIRITUAL composed (not arranged) by Hall Johnson. It has been argued that it is an original spiritual.
HUComposer 3 years ago
I can buy that! The CD liner notes I was looking at when I originally posted does not have "arr. by". Interesting.
smartalent 3 years ago
Many conductors, choir members, and even audience members make that mistake. Many think that because it "sounds" like a spiritual, then it HAS to be a spiritual arrangement. While there aren't many, there are actually original songs by African-American composers that are in the style of a spriitual or, arguably, an original spiritual. It's a rather common mistake.
HUComposer 3 years ago
who composed this?
satBASS 3 years ago
Haha! Love this clip!
lelletocka 3 years ago
I don't know that this is the UCLA Women's ensemble. I think it's the UCLA Collegiate Chorus.
MarshallVoit 3 years ago
i love it! my choir sight read this piece and we did ok but we are not sure if we are going to do this piece. but if we do i can only hope we sound as good as ur choir did. it was awesome!
raeofsunshine15 3 years ago
oh jesus... this song was pretty fun to sing. we looked great :)
rockergirlie 3 years ago
Wow, such a dignified young man and such warmth in his voice. Bravo, standing ovation!
kashfields 4 years ago
We were rooting for Kalil at the recent Met Auditions and last year. Haven't meet Kalil but we are very proud of him.
Bill & Jean
7Marcopolo11 4 years ago
Aw, Kalil, gee...what a wonder you have become! Ain't Got Time to Die is right!
Hugs from the bush,
Fataah, Lucky's mom
fataahEwe 4 years ago
Kalil Wilson just won 1st Place in the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Auditions, and will sing on the Metropolitan Opera Stage in February for the Nationals.
kaokulolo 4 years ago
amazing. is he in high school? if so, MAGNIFICENT!
jerely04 4 years ago
HAHAH SANG KALIL!!!
detroitsinger02 4 years ago
Excellent singing and wonderful stage presence!
piano6861 4 years ago
Wonderful! One of the few spiritual recordings on Youtube that is true to the form.
mrstudent191 4 years ago
he was an incredible albert herring
redsox2213 4 years ago