TorQ Percussion Quartet plays Sleep, by E.Whitacre, arr. D.Morphy, B.Duinker

[EvanWaggerman]

Wonderful.

[Pollux4814]

I would love to hear you guys perform Whitacre's Lux Aurumque.

[Pollux4814]

I think I just died. Wow.

[ajhoncantara]

Masterful performance.

[SingInTune]

WOW! Nice touch guys. I'm way impressed.  Fav!!!

[bgmcmichael]

Wow, that was stunning. I had a chance to sing Sleep in the GMEA Allstate senior mixed choir, and it was a life-changing moment. I had never experienced an audience reaction like that before, and you provoked that same feeling in me again. The crescendos were just as powerful, and the perfect tone of your instruments made me hear new and more subtle overtones. Thank you for setting such a standard of excellence.

[trp8155]

@bgmcmichael I was in GMEA all-state Chorus this year! I was looking at the peices choirs had done previously in the past and saw that you guys did this piece. I became extremely jealous. I'e always wanted to perform this piece. I wish I could of heard your performance...

[msowinski64]

Fantastic work guys. Man that sounds so good. Mr. Whitacre would be honored.

[korobushko]

this is beautiful!

[WorthAy]

I really love what ya'll did with this beautiful song. I know ya'll probably don't take requests, but could you also arrange Water Night (another Whiticare piece) on marimba. I've always wanted to see what that would sound like.

[sirhcsta11]

you guys performed this brilliantlyi remember seeing this live before. i hope to see it again

[jthameschoir]

Damn......

[bluelogsforever]

beautiful

[ilovebandcamp]

I'm a mallet player, and have sung this before and lovelovelove it... SO much respect for everything you've done... its just awesome

[LilChoikang]

Saw you guys today at the Playhouse in Fredericton. You blew my mind. :) I adored "Earth", and when I got back to school all I wanted to do was go home and listen to music and write. ~ You're majorly inspiring, hope you make it big because I need to see more in the future.

[llamalord89003]

@GameLord64 When you play at the very edge of the bar, it produces the same tonal quality that you would obtain by playing in the center of the bar. Especially in a piece where all notes are rolled, it is hard to obtain a sustained quiet roll by playing in the same position in the middle of the bar since their heights are so low to the keys. In order to have the optimal dynamic range, they playing in the center and the edge where the sound is the same. But really it is a players preference...

[leonard03]

we did this! except it was 4 people with 4 mallets each =)

[atflanagan2010]

So everything is straight off the score, no changes in the original voices?

[atflanagan2010]

What would one have to do to get the score to this piece? This is amazing, and I would love to be able to do it on our percussion studios recital!

[torqpercussion]

@atflanagan2010 It is lifted from the original score

[GameLord64]

I'm only in high school percussion and my directors always tell me to play in the center of the bars. I noticed that in this video, at the beginning at least, they play outside of the supports, near the end of the bar. Is it simply to make it quieter, or is there something else? Can someone explain?

[amistrymister]

Eric Whitacre recommended this video. I like it.

[mikekat93]

This sounds amazing. I like this version even better than the original SATB!

[DaTMarks]

just phenominal. ive never heard "Sleep" quite like this. amazing job guys!

[tubamarc8891]

You all play really well together

[exohamber15]

amazing job guys!

even better when you played it live at DIAC! :)

[mysteryx294]

Awesome! And thanks for coming to Green Glade!

[MattWeisher]

WOW. What else can I say? Brilliant.

[yofoghorn]

This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen!

[mbbs777]

I have a serious man crush.

You guys are amazing! =) =) =)

[InfantAnita07]

Awesome. I almost cried when i listened this version of Withacre's choral piece... It's my favorite!!!! Very good job, guys!!!!

[Leviathan552]

I love this piece in general. And the marimba is hands down my favorite percussion instrument. It is one thing to play a B.A. drum break down, or a blue devils grade snare solo; but to be able to communicate the emotions you feel so completely with an instrument is amazing. The only one better is piano.

And for all looking, it looks like they just took the SATB choral arrangement and transitioned it to mallets. =)

[FrenchFry1016]

I've always loved the sound of the marimba =]

[Adamowilloughby]

number 100 rating! wow thats lame

[ChrisMahan05]

Beautiful playing! Did you guys arrange this yourself or have any idea where I could get a copy of this version?

[musicman8493]

this is fantastic! i never expected to hear an arrangement like this, but it's awesome! great job fellas

[elkers101]

This is quite amazing. I believe it could be done with 2 players with 4 mallets though, could it not? I don't mean to be rude, I am merely curious.

[marfanskid]

i think it could but they probably didnt want to since they are a quartet

[torqpercussion]

I think the range makes it possible, although there are some mallet lines that would need to be brought out with one mallet that could be problematic. As well the roll speed would be completely different and therefore the sustain effect would change

[elkers101]

@torqpercussion

That is very true, good point. It'd be interesting to see the differences.

[MisterHowe]

The original SATB breaks into more than 4 parts, so they need the 8 mallets involved.

[BeritYentlSchumann]

That sounds just fantastic!! Awesome!!!

[TheFlutegirl15]

I think the part starting at roughly 2:15 is even more haunting on marimbas...its got more of a surreal sound to it..interesting. Then it gets beautiful again.

[TheFlutegirl15]

this is great, i love marimbas, and it sounds so awesome on them. you can really hear each part too which is great.

[TheFlutegirl15]

thats freaking awesome!! love it

[loflanda]

good work gentlemen. very good.

[nejihyuga665]

its a little too quiet. I couldnt hear half of it on my computer.

[theSAXman76]

so turn your volume up - the piece is called Sleep what do you expect? They performed it brilliantly

[Sniper257]

Amazingly talented! Great job, it was awesome seeing you guys at my school!

[hoodie1954]

this is my new favourite piece...thank you...

[MasterCjay]

But on the other hand, i get shivers at that A flat chord towards the end... YES.

[MasterCjay]

Beef #1: At "and yet my limbs seem made of lead", the 'soprano' marimba part is a bit overpowering. i think the other parts are a bit more important--just my opinion.

Addendum to Beef#1: It's the E flat that's just too... resonant. it's very powerful.

[MasterCjay]

This is brilliant. i'm not a percussionist, but i've always loved marimbas. i am also in love with this song done chorally and as a band piece. i've done both, and it's breathtaking with good musicians. ^^

[JeNnI9523]

YAY

I have finally found you! There is a poster of you guys in our percussion room at school and i have always wanted to hear you play. Now I have I am soo happy

X

[goodguy630]

SLEEP

The evening hangs beneath the moon.

A silver thread on darkened dune.

With closing eyes and resting head,

I know that sleep is coming soon.

Upon my pillow safe in bed,

a thousand pictures fill my head.

I cannot sleep, my mind's a flight,

and yet my limbs seem made of lead.

[bull912000]

If there are voices in the night

a frightning shadow, flickring light,

then I surrender unto sleep where

clouds of dreams give second sight.

What dreams may come both dark and deep

of flying wings and soaring leap

as I surrender unto sleep

as I surrender unto sleep

(I think)

[LuxAurumque]

Breathtaking.

[TheFoxSorcerer]

Any news on the publication of this piece?

[LuxAurumque]

...it's simply the Sleep choral score being split up into 4 marimbas. In that sense, it's already been published for years.

[DrumlineArchives]

The beginning part, in the lower register, is almost indistinguishable from human voice. Very nice job. :)

[kappaleague011]

0_o w o w. you guys are so amazing. ive only heard it done by choirs ! this is awesome. GREAT JOB !

[adamapple10]

that was mesmerizing! absolutely breath taking!

[redstew93]

SWEET DEAL!!!

They came to DIAC this year (Durhams Integrated Arts Camp) and played for us and one of them was there for the week for the percussion ensemble! A truly amazing experience we will never forget from DIAC

[Percussionizer]

Thank you so much for doing this. As a percussionist who has also gotten the opportunity to sing this I appreciate this so much. I'll definitely be buying this when you get it published!

[thankheavenohseven]

still get chills when i listen to it. :) I think the marimba was the perfect instrument to use in this arrangement.

thank you for sharing your talents with us!

[ilovegodandmusic]

beautiful, you guys are clearly very involved in the music you play.

My band director actually made a very similar (if not practically identical) arrangement of this piece as well, for two marimbas and two vibes that I played in.

Absolutely beautiful.

[MarkVll]

This is crazy.

[TheFoxSorcerer]

I watched your other two videos, and I was about to go to bed. I decided to click on this one, and I was really REALLY glad I did. I adore Whitacre's work, and hearing it on marimba is absolutely amazing. I have two questions, though. What mallets are you using, and is it possible to obtain (possibly purchase) the arrangement?

[torqpercussion]

The mallets are Innovative Percussion, James Ancona series. 2001, 2002, 2003's. We are currently in the process of getting the publishing rights. We will let everyone know asap.

Thank you, and everyone for such great feedback!

[Hrdcorellamas]

This is just.... phenomenal!

[hardporecorn]

You guys are HOT

[Aubrodizzle]

Absolutely amazing.

[BosPercussion]

Amazing - love the suspensions about 4:40 - reminds me of Nanae Mimura's Canon in D. I have been thinking about doing Lux and some other whitacre stuff and this just reconfirms what I thought about putting these parts on mallets. Did you rewrite it or just play from the SATB score?

[torqpercussion]

It was rewritten.

[kayla1234chellin]

Wow...

[frogjumpsout]

killer, dudes.

[31337SlaX0r]

I loved the "upon my pillow" and the "if there are voices" parts. The blend is amazing.

[CaseyCangelosi]

great! I love it

[phamiegow]

This really is so so moving and captures exactly what it feels like to be asleep..and in a dream..by being alive you are allowing us to savour the subtle sounds and qualities you guys have made together..such sensitivity in your playing, and altogether as well..it also makes me feel very sad as its almost like saying 'sleep' to someone, giving them that permission to pass away and leave the planet..that is my interpretation anyway..happy music making from a fellow muso and composer..

[maestrodimusic09]

Interestingly I don't think it could have been sung better on instruments like this. That was thrilling. When instrumentalists make this kind of music really sing it's breath taking.

[weesamin]

i wish the sound was better! this is amazing...

[kamaakestad]

hey- were those overtones around 1:45 ?

[goodpeter31]

ya they were

[jm958924]

yes they were :)

[tambolizta]

excellent! I love it! It has a different feel played on an instrument than singing it in a chorale... :D

[broadwaycutie3]

This is amazing! I have never heard anything like it ever

[wendisoup]

Wow.  I'm blown away. You guys rule!

[stevtomato]

This is amazing!

[kivawolfspeaker]

Is this on vibriphone or a marimba?

[torqpercussion]

These are marimbas

[carina621]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TORQ.,

they came to my school cawthra park a month ago and I can't stop listening to their music. I wanted them to play flight of the bumblebees sooo bad but they didnt have enough time. :(

anyways. tehy're just amazing, and their music is cleverly written, (except this one since they got the rights to arrange it).

LOVING IT! keep up the amazing work. :)

[ZDrums24]

is there published sheet music of this?

[bdunks50]

nope. not yet anyway

[photoeditingchicken]

I will never dismiss the marimba again! I have already Facebook'd it, hoping to get you guys some more hits!

[kivawolfspeaker]

Aren't they playing Vibriphones and not marimbas?

[BosPercussion]

No this is 2 marimbas - vibraphones are metal and you generally do not roll near as much as the sound sustains on its own like handbells.

[ericwhitacrefan]

Yeah I agree, I typically really dislike every choral piece arranged for another medium but this is exceptional. Great work guys.

[Mitochondriosis]

Usually I'd agree with your first statement, but Sleep for Wind Ensemble is also spectacular. Must be the song?

[dbrockbassoon]

I think so. I'll always be a fan of the original choral, but I also like the string transcription Whitacre's done on the piece.

Sleep is a great piece of music, one I hope finds it's way into some history books. :)

[loquaciouslyme]

Absolutely beautiful.

A few of my colleagues and I are starting a percussion quartet, and watching this is so inspiring. Great job!

[bandislife]

This is incredible!

[eternalbliss34]

Haha I saw this on Whitacre'd blog too!

This is really amazing! I didn't think I could love this song more...

[FluteStar09]

wow!!! that sounds like a choir singing

[Barikiel]

Holy Jesus Christ!! This is amazing!! I always hate when choral pieces are converted to instruments but this is a huge exception. This is just frickin amazing! Great job TorQ, and thank you for a great rendition of one of my all time favorite pieces.

[theoneintheyellowhat]

All I have to say is WOW !

[mystrongestsuit]

This is breathtaking, I love it as a percussion piece, very well done!

[Amanderina]

AMAZING!!!!

seriously. I just went to Eric Whitacre's blog to look for something, and I saw your video, turned it on- and seriously couldn't do anything until it was over. I went to turn it off like three times, b/c its finals week and I have a million things to do- but I couldn't.

...and that draw is what music is about.

[drummerboy1138]

This is beautiful.

[BeaBea2000008]

Brilliant job! I love Eric Whitacre and I think you guys did him proud! This piece of music is truely beautiful and I think a lot of people would appreciate the different approach to it, being percussion, I know I do. Excellent job guys, keep up the good work

[AoAPC]

This is really excellent. As a fellow percussionist and Whitacre fan, I've often wallowed in sadness over not being able to sing his choral works, and worried about the potential problems of transcription of his works for percussion. You've overcome any possible difficulties; though I don't know what Whitacre would say, I think this is a really lovely adaptation. Kudos!