Sleep - Eric Whitacre

[2015PSU]

WOAH I thought this was the recording from his "cloudburst" album at first...talk about perfection.

[cocokangatripp]

Once again BYU singers amazes and brings a feeling of awe and amazement to hundreds. The music of Eric Whitacre is beautiful.

[TandyRunsThis]

Im performing this song with the NC All State Honors Chior tommorrow, its been an honor working on this peice and others with such talented people.

[klx125cross]

this is great! i had the privilege to sing lux arimque. amazing experience!

[TheOriginalEmoEmu1]

His harmonies are so different and interesting. I sang "this marriage" as a freshman, and now I'm going to sing Seal Lullaby as a Junior. Off all the songs I've ever sang, his are the most beautiful.

[Alun134679]

How can you dislike this yet choose to listen to it?

[tasteyrottingchrist]

Name The composer first. people who like sleep dont want this.

[beautifulbecky89]

My singing group sang this song in high school and performed it at one of our classmates fathers funeral... pretty sure there wasnt a dry cheek in that room.

[UnderwaterDrumming]

this is beautiful. It sums up without words why I love being a musician.

[coleen2972]

eric whitacre has got to be one of the best music writers i've learned in my years in a choir. he's not afraid to use dissonance to accent harmonies. his writing is beautiful and gives me chills every time! we've done Lux and Sleep in our choir, this year we're doing the Seal Lullaby :)

[freakystylntime]

This song isn't about falling asleep. It's about the final moments of life before falling into an eternal sleep... AKA the moment before death.

[WaffleZzHD1]

I absolutely love this song, but 4:00-4:30 is just the best thing ever.

[rippinsteo]

@WaffleZzHD1 : I wholeheartedly agree. That is 30 seconds of just sublime, amazing music.

[thesexisousa]

67 people don't know how to enjoy truly beautiful music. bless em, maybe they can figure it out sooner or later.

[TrumpChazz]

great job matching the pictures to the song! :)

[hohman6]

@xoxoCheer12345 I couldn't have said it any better myself.

[xoxoCheer12345]

And over half the population is sitting listening to shit like Sexy and I Know It and here we are, listening to a masterpiece.

[SoccerSteveS]

@xoxoCheer12345 I hate that stupid song! I can't even listen to it. It's got nothing on Eric Whitacre.

[icyteen123]

Singing this for school :D.... We are screwed

[shabamflam]

Our choir is singing this for festival! So excited! Eric Whitacre is a GENIUS

[SoccerSteveS]

And tri-tones ftw!

[SoccerSteveS]

My High School's Chamber Chior is going to sing this!!! I can't wait to do it!

[johnk1006]

@SoccerSteveS you aren't from MBHS are you?

[SoccerSteveS]

@johnk1006 Nope. Northern Lebanon HS. Why, are they doing it too? Where is that?

[johnk1006]

@SoccerSteveS Our choir teacher showed us this song, and I think our chamber choir is doing this for state. (Alabama)

[jessbeam1]

no matter how many times I've listened to this song, it still gives me chills

[trp8155]

Does anyone think that thier transition to the second chord when they sing, "The - evening..." sounds wrong. I don't mean wrong notes. My friend and I are having this argument. I don't believe there is anything wrong. But she does. i think the BYU singers have the best versions of all of Whitacres' songs. I would like to know what others think.

[Hittocere]

@trp8155 What exactly does she think is wrong with it? Is it the pronunciation of 'evening' she doesn't like/thinks is wrong or is it the pitch of each note side by side? Also have you had her listen to the 'band' version of it to see if it is just this version she doesn't like?

[trp8155]

@Hittocere "Sleep" is her favorite choral piece. She has probably heard all the versions that are on Youtube. So when we were listening to this one she started complaining about how the very beginning is wrong and terrible. she says that she can't really explain what she thinks is wrong. I think she is talking about the slide they kind of do there. I don't find it to be a problem. But apparently, she does...

[trp8155]

@Hittocere the dissonance isn't the problem .Because it's just going from an Ab major chord to a f minor chord. But she loves music with dissonance.

[Hittocere]

@trp8155 I suppose it's her being nit-picky then... Unless of course she has perfect pitch or something and can hear the one flat singer in this group that none of us can. *shrugs* I however second your opinion, I don't really hear anything wrong with it. Happy holidays.

[Jastro88]

@trp8155 Maybe get a clarification from her. Surely she could be more specific...

[trp8155]

@Jastro88 SShe says that she doesn't really know.. She just feels like something is wrong...

[StillLifeWithMangoes]

@trp8155 Maybe its their pronunciation, sounds a bit like 'theeevnening' in this song when it should be 'The - Evening'

[madmadouc577]

@StillLifeWithMangoes Technically, when singing the word "the" followed by a word beginning with a vowel, it is meant to be pronounced "thee."

[viago2]

@StillLifeWithMangoes yep, i agree with madmad it is definitely thee evening, or even in thee afternoon!

[wroughtirondude]

Very Peaceful=). Nice. Could be a movie soundtrack

[bassmajor]

It's weird to even think about it... but, wouldn't this be the perfect piece to hear while passing away? So amazing...

[mcalsup]

My choir did this in freshman year.. I have never forgotten it. I love this piece so much, sometimes the only thing that can calm me down when Im too upset to do anything

[Mooseluver8]

These pictures don't fit the song at all!

[uNoproblema]

Hey uh... if the evening hangs beneath the moon.. a silver thread on darkened dune. why are bright sunny ocean sides a fitting imagery for this song? while a lot of eric whitacres music, this song too. Is taught to be sung with 'dark vowels' with a sort of luminous feeling to it.

[WhatDePiiii]

I wanna listen this song during my funeral... or the last 5:39min of my life.

[H2Zman]

I feel like I see the entire cosmos in front of me, and I'm just floating through this blissful, infinite void, watching the galaxies drift gently by.

[AllMuttGirl]

This song reminds me of when I was in shock after my car accident. In reality I was screaming and crying, but I was peacefully dreaming. I remember not remembering falling asleep, and that I kept saying to myself in the dream "You fell asleep in the car. You were in the passenger seat, and you fell asleep and it's all ok..."

[klx125cross]

this is by far the best music there is and that there while ever be!!

[BigPappaDL]

My grandfather, one of the greatest men I will ever know has just succumbed to pancreatic cancer. This music is the the thread that is still holding me to my faith.

[bethalexandrapotter]

@BigPappaDL My grandfather also died from pancreatic cancer just in the last week and listening to this music makes me feel sad but full- kind of happy. It's difficult to explain how something can be beautiful yet heart-breaking at the same time. You're in my thoughts.

[BigPappaDL]

@bethalexandrapotter Thanks. You are in mine as well.

[KSteeleify]

-3

[FrediaZulemapv347]

well Share ur dreams and thoughts with me

[BaconMuffinz313]

4chan sent me here lmao

[guitargod874]

for the lulz

[LordSaxyness]

4chan has man-boobs with cancer spread on them

[vegasjamie1]

4chan brought me here, trololololol

[MiniMeehan]

4chan brought me

[TheGamePlanners]

4chan linked me here!

[xXcookersXx]

@TheGamePlanners you're welcome

[tiedyeraybans]

I cry every time i hear this. You are not alone.

[321ARobby]

Easily one of my favorites. We sang this in our high school's concert choir for one of our concerts and when we went on tour. We loved it and others loved it as well. It's just so beautiful!

[Blytheyboy92]

Bootiful

[StrawBeriLuv95]

Not the best song to listen to when trying to write a research paper on The Women's Rights Movement.

[rakerlad]

@StrawBeriLuv95 i lold, nearly rofled

[ProBadSing]

@StrawBeriLuv95 xD I'm trying to do a lab report on MatSci. I feel you're pain.

[StrawBeriLuv95]

@ProBadSing lol. Good Luck!

[TrevorRocksOn]

I wish Eric Whitacre was my father. I know I shouldn't say that. It's just that he is so successful and my father is drunk all the time. Can't hold a job either.

[agentsmith11]

@TrevorRocksOn I'm sorry you feel that way. Be sure to use that as motivation to make a name for yourself so YOUR kids will be proud to call you their parent :)

[xXfalken16Xx]

@TrevorRocksOn did he take an arrow in the knee? i hear that can put an end to some jobs. such as adventuring.

[euph11]

@TrevorRocksOn Maybe your father drinks all the time because his son is an attention whore. 

[stevefx14]

@euph11 what was the point of that? he's calling out for help from the world, not your ignorant bullshit. what is it about the internet that make people so heartless? quit trolling you useless asswipe.

[euph11]

@stevefx14 I don't really care about the feelings of someone who doesn't think the people who bombed the world trade are terrorists, takes the westboro baptist church as a reason not to believe in religion, and thinks frank ticheli is a good composer ^^ also, welcome to the internet :D

[bjkdAnc3r]

@euph11 JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC YOU ANUS

[777Chulda]

@TrevorRocksOn Sorry to here about your dad, I used to drink, smoke and some other things untill 3 years ago

[lalalalalalalalal461]

@TrevorRocksOn I feel the same way. When things are bad at home I get lost in this music.

[guyanesesk8ter]

@TrevorRocksOn music is my place to get away

[s2broadwaybabys2]

@TrevorRocksOn crazy, i kinda wish he was my husband.

[harafun]

@TrevorRocksOn Hello Trevor, I know u wrote this tow months ago. I hope u know that there is support for u, around having a parent who drinks.... Look up the health unit near where u live, or look up AA or children of alcoholic groups (and they can be for any age!). There is probably lots of online stuff too. Take good care of yourself, you deserve a life of peace.

[SoccerCFJ4171]

@TrevorRocksOn i have a similar father :P lol

[lexnlizrock]

It sound wonderful... Just a little bit slow

[alexlevi80]

the build up to 4:08 is AMAZING :D

[malletmaster88]

This is by far my favorite performance of this song. It is absolutely amazing, with no small amount of focus on the little details and nuances that make this one stand out above the others.

[shibh100]

hmz Be ready to jump to the world full of pleasure

[samkilledthelamb]

Magic. Pure magic. Gold. Pure gold.

[cboal1]

Oh...if I could have been the lryrics, if I could have been the conductor,

oh,,,if I could have been the choir,  if I could have been the music,

oh...if I could have been the moment,

Oh...if I could have been all those things, I think I would have gladly died,

[pyramidhead125]

66 people have no soul

[Michaelspinksful]

@pyramidhead125 This interpretation is a bit slow. I love it, but it is still a bit slow. So, I can see where they get that they dont like it. The dystopic dissonances in this interpretation are made great because it is slower. But, yes in essence, you are right... people need to learn to understand wonderful music

[adeleisnofail]

Like this if you get chills listening to this song.

[SilverAgeSupes]

For less than a split second, at exactly an ass hair before 4:10 and before 4:11 rolls around - the most stunning and stirring harmony! That's the sound that the worthy are welcomed into the Afterlife with, except on a Celestial level that our mortal perceptions can't comprehend. I wish to be worthy of that sound at the end of my life.

[ejshelton13]

@SilverAgeSupes love the ass hair imagery

[kaity714]

4:03- 4:09 is God's sneak peak to what the gates of heaven look like when they're opening up to you. The light barely escaping through the crack in the doors is what that is.

[Kitti779]

I love the ending. My chamber choir at Richland High School in Washington did this piece. Its just.... amazing...

[ZentetsukenVII]

1:16 absolutely one of the most amazing chords ive ever heard.

[guidetoanything]

@ZentetsukenVII i also like 1:20 ... hell, the whole song is amazing!

[CODMACBOY]

66 people need sleep

[RecklessWolf13]

i remember my choir class sang this :D

[sofiaphilippi]

Amazed

[moonbeaches]

THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!!! I AM IN AWE!!!!!



[IHeartLegendaryFrog]

4:03 to 4:09 is just...words cannot even explain that moment of the piece.

[rittapang]

It makes me tear up every single time! Eric Whitacre is a GENIUS.

[AlexisNMusic]

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[Heathydog]

Beautiful, beautiful music and stunning images. I just found the panning in on every image distracting & annoying. Took away from an otherwise perfect blend of music & images.

[Apharque]

Sorry, but this song was performed by Polyphony, a small choir from King's College, a part of Cambridge University, not BYU. If you're going to credit someone with this incredible piece, at least credit the right people!

[zippygumdrop]

@Apharque Polyphony has a GREAT recording of this song and they are SO similar. There is only 6 seconds difference in run time. Play them simultaneously and you'll hear this version is a little more tenudo in the passages and a little shorter at the ends of phrases. Both are stunning. Also, Polyphony has a bigger room too.

[Apharque]

@zippygumdrop This is the most... I've listened to Polyphony's recording nearly a hundred times... They are almost identical. When I play them at the same time they play exactly at the same tempo, pitches and chord changes lining up perfectly... but individually one after the other you can notice the difference... That's one of the most incredible things I've ever heard. To think they're different recordings...

[rippinsteo]

@Apharque : The performance in this particular video is most definitely by the BYU Singers. I have the CD from which this recording was taken. Polyphony also does a great job on this piece. Both recordings are sublime.

[modkva]

I'm making a dubstep remix of this!!!! It'll be beautiful for when I join the devil's ranks!!!

[tweenfairy]

oh my gosh. i cannot describe that. i love to write, but after i saw this, i couldnèt describe it, it just made me want to watch it over again. i could listen to this for hours.

[sanam486]

mmh uk rules

[jakefnovak]

Jaw dropped. Mind blown. Chills everywhere. These Mormons really know how to sing. Just beautiful.

[tankabito]

did this song with Forte Drum and Bugle corps this last summer...... we all cried every performance and most of the crowd would too :)

[maria244able]

eric whitacre= musical genius.... so touching if you listen to his music over and over..

[xoxoDayDreamingxoxo]

The Honors Band I was in played this piece at the summer music camp I went to this year! It was all I could do to not cry while practicing. I've never felt so moved while performing before!

[BunnyNissa11]

best songg ever!!

[KiyoshiMizuka13]

This is the music we're using for my marching band show. Its so beautiful and peaceful. We actually sing some of it. Nothing like these people, but we do.

[FutureUSMC12]

So, this is actually about death? Now it's just that much sadder to listen to...

[kathwadd]

get goosebumps literally everytime i listen to it

[GodzillaBarneyballet]

why the HELL would someone dislike THIS?

[tohrukisame]

we did this song last year....it was honestly the best song we did all year.

[Vadersown]

This has been my get to sleep quick method for the past few weeks.

[kruzdawg88]

I cried a little bit just now. This was exactly was my mind and soul needed.

[SplishSplashKoi]

Our Chamber choir is singing this currently <3

[bohemianbabe21]

Like this if you've literally fallen asleep listening to this piece.

[Kasket1006]

@bohemianbabe21 it's really too much of an emotional outbreak for me to fall asleep. the last thing I do during this song is become sleepy.

but i definitely cry often listening to it. magnificent dissonance resolutions

[ChemicalEnglisheer]

@bohemianbabe21 Like this if it's too beautiful to fall asleep to

[ahhspectacular]

I forgot how completely beautiful this is. The alto part is fun. While you're singing, too, if it's just right, the sopranos will make you want to break down and sob during the "As I surrender..."'s.

[akowns]

@ahhspectacular the whole thing is so moving. The tenor part during the chord section is so unbelievable. As is the baritone, both of which I have sang. It never fails me.

[DrowDrizzt1]

@ahhspectacular while I was singing the soprano part I had to try very hard not to cry. Eric Whitacre is a genius.

[maiwork6666666]

when i murder eric whitacre this song will play in the background

[xjroseexxo]

Singing this piece, you really get into it, as if you understand and feel the pain of the writer behind the text. The harmonies and melodies grab you in, bringing you through something you've never experienced before..

[taskupanda]

i googled "sleep" for other reasons, but when i saw this, i had to click and... darn this is beautiful and lovely o_o

[luisparismorales]

every time i hear this of music my eyes just automatically shut and i cant help but lather the music over every inch of my soul... the music along with the lyrics are just too perfect. and the climax...!?

[iLoveJoyFuLnOiSe]

I think I listen to this piece everyday. Absolute amazing, sends chills down my spine. The clashes are perfect. My choir did this song and I must say, we did it real well :)

[katieandkatieshow]

This is such an incredible piece to play. I had the honor of playing it with the All-County band. It is comprised of the best high school musicians in the county. The difficulty is great, maybe the hardest thing I've played, but to pull it off, has been one of my greatest achievements. To have the opportunity to play it well and with a good band, is an experience like no other.

[Bezzie00]

i want this song to play during the exact last 5 minutes and 39 seconds of my life...

[91BROWNIE91]

@Bezzie00 ditto

[EBE246]

@Bezzie00 Wow, that's deep bro. Sick comment, and i mean sick in a good way. Peace.

[oomjos]

@Bezzie00 this is the background music to Chuck Norriss' dreams...

[ironmankop]

@Bezzie00 I SOO agree!. It's like being enveloped into the arms of God. Tears are streaming down my face as I write this. Thank you Eric Whitacre!

[AVerbene]

i played this song for marching band one year... i know... wtf. i still think its awesome, but terrible for marching band

[Cnidocytes]

The voice is such a powerful, magnificent instrument. <3

[MusoukaMegumi]

I loved this piece when my choir sang it and I still love it. :)

[MrStudmuffinjr]

63 Dislikes? WTF Mates

[lixdexical]

How can i buy this song ?

[abstractGBAM]

Played a marching band arrangement of this my freshman year (the ballad for a show called "Pandora") and will be singing it as pre-show material for a show titled "Dream Out Loud" I just had to hear this done professionally...beautiful and haunting.

[sorstyle]

you guys are scary really LOL

[TheEliminator16]

God, I love this. It's like a machine designed to tickle my spine and make me cold with shivers.

[musicnomad94]

Eric Whitacre is such a talented composer. Awesome.

[jaketheenglish]

i have to agree with arcturian627. the process of building music around tensions is a beautiful thing. it carries your ear all the way to the end without any resolution to make you feel complete in what you hear until its over. sometimes i feel its even better to end somewhere other than where your ear carries you.

[pandagirl9711]

58 people are insomniacs:P

[mindbodylightsound10]

best version. i don't know how eric whitacre can think the faster tempo he conducts it at is the right tempo.

[blumennnn83]

@mindbodylightsound10 i agree, its the best, but i mean, whitacre can do whatever the hell he wants, he wrote it :P

[Netshark2003]

@mindbodylightsound10 Eric Whitacre comes to BYU when the Singers record his stuff. It's just that most choirs cannot have such a sustained sound at a slower tempo, because they can't breath often enough. Thus, Eric (yes, I have worked with him and he preferred we call him Eric) would rather conduct at a faster tempo than loose that full, connected sound.

[xoxoDayDreamingxoxo]

@mindbodylightsound10 Um, since he wrote the piece, I'm pretty sure he knows the best way to conduct it...

[Luke876678]

Why does there need to be rules anyways?

[onerepublic12345]

i am in love with this song :)

[AnAmericanComposer]

My marching band is playing an arrangement of this piece, absolutely stunning, drop dead amazing!

[AbbyVanGilder]

if you like this... you should check out Earth Song by frank ticheli. He is a lot like whitacre in certian areas... :)



[tensax13]

@AbbyVanGilder Thats because they are best friends! :) 

[AbbyVanGilder]

@tensax13 whoa!! really? I had no idea! lol

[theend42347]

Did you slow it down because every time i look it up on iTunes the tempo is much faster. I want to get a version at this speed.

[louiedestructs47]

We sang this song in choir this past year... we sucked it up. Couldn't match up to Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

[TheEmbertiger]

eric whitacre has to be the person who writes the beautiful songs in the world

:)

[generalbenson]

57 people need some sleep.

[flutefann]

I'm not really into this type of music...but MAN, I could listen to this all day!

It's so beautiful!

[madder36]

we sang this in my high school advanced chorale almost two years ago, and it was both the most challenging and most beautiful song i have ever sung (i'm a baritone). i wanna meet mr whitacre and thank him personally for this freaking amazing piece of music.

[akowns]

@madder36 baritone power!!! I am in the exact same position as you my baritone brother...



[daphuckyoutalkinbout]

I remember singing this back in High School 5 years ago...this is a very beautiful song...Eric Whitacre is simply amazing.



[ilive2write]

Eric Whitacre is made of something amazing, truly amazing <3

[BlOwMeThRoUgHtHeRoOf]

can i just talk about how excited i am that he is coming to MY SCHOOL in October for three days to teach and conduct us? i really hope we sing this piece.

[alreadytakenthe3rd]

Just listening to this makes my voice tired.

[CherokeeSheWolf15]

I Swear. This Is The Most Beautiful Song I've Ever Heard. <3

[spacecowboy95]

This is sort of... cheesy, on its own. It needs to be sampled and turned into something a little less pretentious.

[TheVeggiegirl326]

57 people have insomnia.



[Spoonman455]

Imagery sucks and is not complex enough to describe this song.

[DefyingNoodles]

@Spoonman455 Then close your fucking eyes.