And I'm also going to put out there that a show choir getting the chance to perform a concert piece with a conductor is incredible. Most of these kids end up going into collegiate music with no experience of this setting at all.
you guys suck the balance is wrong the timing is dodgy in places and the fact that you have butchered a tremendous work by cutting it in length is frankly criminal, you guys do have a good timbre in parts tho
my goodness man, this is great I mean if these are only high school kids then the balance is incredible (they really got some air support in there, would make some excellent brass players)
i am not disputing the projection which generally speaking is excellant but the balance of the parts is poor which to be honest is a critique of the musical direction as opposed to the singer themselves
you have to take into consideration when listening to this that this is a showchoir, and they are singing and dancing before and after this in a set of songs. Compared to any chamber choir this is nothing, but for the group that this is, it is really decent.
This song is one of Whitacres best, this recording however, sucks. dynamics alone dont make a piece good, theres no feeling in it at all. and you cant edit 80% of the song out, it all leads somewhere, each part is important. listen to a good version on whitacres complete acappella works cd. This is terrible.
And you should take into consideration how this was recorded, the basses are there if you have the ear for it, but the mic placement obviously picked up more of the sopranos.
I think I'll the critiquing to those who know what they're talking about.
Not to be a picky jerk or anything but I would call this a Piece.......... not a song. idk whatev. But anyway, wow I love it. One of Whitacre's best in my opinion. You guys have some great voices in your choir
God I love this song. I sang it in college. It still gives me chills. How horrible to have to sit on the floor and sing...in a skirt no less. Duh conductor! Great singing posture.
It was decent. I can't tell if its due to the recording or not, im sure it was better in concert. Really fast compared to other recordings i have heard as well.
Hm, there's no real balance between the sections. not particularly good directing decisions- long pauses where there shouldn't have been any, and the dynamics have no real dimension. Not really the fault of the choir in question.
I saw the UYC sing this live and it was awe inspiring. Much more life, and you could tell to look at the performers that every word had meaning to them. At the end of the day though, it is a school choir, and i know my school choir wouldn't be able to do it half as well as these guys did, and fair play to them for aiming high song-wise
Not a bad run. however, i noticed a few rests missed out myself. All in all not bad but its too fast. You really have to take this piece at the marked lento to get the full effect. It would also be an idea not to have members of the choir on their knees(not the best position for singing). This is a powerful piece of music, when our choir sung it members of the audience and a few of the choir were in tears by the end, really feel the emotion behind this and you cannot go wrong!
I disgree with some of the complaints over this performance. I do agree that the chopping down of the peice doesn't make me too happy, and that the conductor is taking it a little fast, and that its probably not the best peice for a show choir, but the choir actually performed what they were given well. I only noticed a few trouble spots, and their articulation is fairly well done. The harmonies are good, and it carries fairly nicely. I would like to have seen more inflection though.
he acually came in and worked with the choir that year if i remember... and this was not the best recording of it theres a better one and thats is way better...
considering its a school choir its not a bad attempt, but you can't do a piece like that justice when not standing up and videoing it for youtube in a shortened version.
This is a horrible arrangement. I really hope the director got some sort of permission to cut down a 13min. piece to 3min! Eric Whitacre would probably go catatonic if he saw this!
Furthermore, the subject matter of David mourning his son's death is hardly suitable for a Show Choir! I guess all I can say is thank god the director had a small sense of decency and didn't add choreography!
Does anyone know the name of this Highschool and City/State?
AH! Freak out on YouTube! YouTube is so important! High school is the end-all be-all! Why don't you go talk to Eric Whitacre right now! Since you're such good friends with him! But you can't! Because he died of shock and shame after this was performed! What heathens! Eric Whitacre is God on earth!
What the f**k? What kind of a demented director would choose this piece for a show choir? Do they KNOW what they are singing? Did they get permission to edit the piece that way? And what are the phone booths doing on stage?
Please keep in mind, that this is a high school and that this is at a competition with many other showchoirs that are competing. People don't have time for the full freaking however many minutes it really is. For what they did, it is truly amazing. And to let you know.. Eric Whitacre personally did come to this high School and help them on it. and they've done a variety of other eric whitacre pieces that have been amazing. So please, don't hate on this choir. Many people love this group.
OMG, that sucks. Should I laugh hysterically now or later! Pathetic. Way to butcher an Eric Whitacre peice for freakin' show choir. OMG. The only way to sing this peice is with a full concert choir for 12 minutes and 57 seconds. (Full Piece.) Eric Whitacre would probably have a heart attack if he heard that. Sorry to be so mean, but...
I do agree with you that this performance was horrible however, the full piece is actually 15:00 long. I have the cd, actually the cd length is 15:05 but the 5 seconds is of silence. N E way it is longer than what you say it is. I love the original version of this though... this choir butchered it, BAD!
which cd do you have? i have cloudburst, and this song is only 12:57. i would love to hear the full song if there are a few minutes cut off on the version i have.
some interpretations run 16-18 minutes! i think stephen layton took some parts a little fast on that recording, but polyphony's singing makes up for it lol.
I hate this arrangement...this totally robs the full version...the part that really sucks is the soft tenor solo after first "sobbing", if you will, is missing. It just doesn't have the feel that the original, full version has...too much anger and not enough sorrow.
i thought that this was a bad performance; the vowels werent there, the tenors needed to sing out more than they did and with more support. Granted it isn't an easy piece but that should've been understood when taking on a song like this and should have been properly prepared.
The loud parts sounded very very good, but a little more support is needed in the pianissimo parts. The sopranos did a fantastic job on keeping their high notes in balance with the rest of the group.
I'd love a microphone recording of this. Your groups did a great job. Not an easy song at all.
all or none..... tut tut...
MartyS3000 1 year ago
my drum corps did this as our on field warm up, freaking amazing song
ElPonchoNino 2 years ago
haha! yes we did! :D
RoronoaEmi 2 years ago
And I'm also going to put out there that a show choir getting the chance to perform a concert piece with a conductor is incredible. Most of these kids end up going into collegiate music with no experience of this setting at all.
Jmillzx 2 years ago
These are high school kids. Chill out. The sounds coming out of these kids are far from horrible.
Jmillzx 2 years ago
you guys suck the balance is wrong the timing is dodgy in places and the fact that you have butchered a tremendous work by cutting it in length is frankly criminal, you guys do have a good timbre in parts tho
archiemcbaws 2 years ago
@archiemcbaws
my goodness man, this is great I mean if these are only high school kids then the balance is incredible (they really got some air support in there, would make some excellent brass players)
chaosdude14 2 years ago
@chaosdude14
i am not disputing the projection which generally speaking is excellant but the balance of the parts is poor which to be honest is a critique of the musical direction as opposed to the singer themselves
archiemcbaws 2 years ago
if you're going to take on a Eric Whitacre piece, don't wimp out and cut parts out, do the entire thing
plus, what's with the people kneeling in the front?
atheish 2 years ago
1st. I agree, but this is a show choir doing a concert piece
2nd. This is the ballad for their 2005 show choir set
3rd. ALL Whitacre songs exceed 5 minutes, and there is no possible way to do this full length song for the set without exceeding the time limits.
elderaa 2 years ago
3 then dont do whitacre find sonthing that fits the time rather than butchering a great work
archiemcbaws 2 years ago
its a matter of timing for a Showchoir set... the max. time at this competition is 20 minutes.. so they couldn't do ONE 18 minute song in the set....
they DID do the whole song at a concert they put on at their school.
biz608 2 years ago
The high C is so freaking good!
I don't really like the way they're pronouncing the words. And something is off with the verses....
But other than that I love it! Plus I LOVE this piece.
AshleySwitchhXD 2 years ago
you have to take into consideration when listening to this that this is a showchoir, and they are singing and dancing before and after this in a set of songs. Compared to any chamber choir this is nothing, but for the group that this is, it is really decent.
forkenhimer 2 years ago
This song is one of Whitacres best, this recording however, sucks. dynamics alone dont make a piece good, theres no feeling in it at all. and you cant edit 80% of the song out, it all leads somewhere, each part is important. listen to a good version on whitacres complete acappella works cd. This is terrible.
droxley007 2 years ago
I dont understand why everyone is so hard on this group.
They sound incredible. Their blend is awesome (with the exception of some sections) and they're dynamics are great as well.
Some people just try to sound better than others at singing with out really appreciating what a great choir sounds like.
I thought you guys did an awesome job. I dont like the show sitting deal, but it didnt stray you from singing this piece amazingly.
I liked it alot...made me cry.
JakeyBoii16 3 years ago
because they balance is atrocious...there is no emotion. the basses are not audible
in eric whitacre the most important voice is bass (and alto). They are necessary.
Also they chopped When David Heard...which is...just not allowed.
Their entrances are sloppy and they dont sustain their phrases. Its just sad really.
beccatrmpt 2 years ago
The balance is not even horrible.
And you should take into consideration how this was recorded, the basses are there if you have the ear for it, but the mic placement obviously picked up more of the sopranos.
I think I'll the critiquing to those who know what they're talking about.
JakeyBoii16 2 years ago
man.. maybe no emotion on youtube..
you should have seen this thing live... brought tears to people's eyes they were so 100% into it.
biz608 2 years ago
Not to be a picky jerk or anything but I would call this a Piece.......... not a song. idk whatev. But anyway, wow I love it. One of Whitacre's best in my opinion. You guys have some great voices in your choir
Jeef27 3 years ago
God I love this song. I sang it in college. It still gives me chills. How horrible to have to sit on the floor and sing...in a skirt no less. Duh conductor! Great singing posture.
Shandiinmypants 3 years ago
I just wanted the initial, loud, "Absalom" to be held longer. The acoustics and everything about this peice is very abrupt.
imwithoutwax 3 years ago
i think it was a good arrangement! :D seriously. its hard to cut that song down! it was pretty decent, in my opinion, especially for the age group!
(cept the sops hehe but i always have a problem hearing sopranos sing high and straight...im picky)
xagentzero 3 years ago
It was decent. I can't tell if its due to the recording or not, im sure it was better in concert. Really fast compared to other recordings i have heard as well.
thelentzinator 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
this was real good.
boomboom2009 3 years ago 3
Hm, there's no real balance between the sections. not particularly good directing decisions- long pauses where there shouldn't have been any, and the dynamics have no real dimension. Not really the fault of the choir in question.
Also, what's with the show choir setup?
yelodish92 3 years ago
i'd imagine it's a result of their being a show choir.
perhaps.
S4012351 2 years ago
I saw the UYC sing this live and it was awe inspiring. Much more life, and you could tell to look at the performers that every word had meaning to them. At the end of the day though, it is a school choir, and i know my school choir wouldn't be able to do it half as well as these guys did, and fair play to them for aiming high song-wise
personalidentifier 4 years ago
It was incredible to perform, I can honestly say I was moved close to tears during it, glad you liked it!
peardrop222 4 years ago
This was horrible... does the piece no justice.
denashanicole 4 years ago
I agree 100%.
djtrix003 3 years ago
i agree it rele doesn't
davohan123 3 years ago
Maravilloso... y porque lo cortan...
jechusda 4 years ago
Not a bad run. however, i noticed a few rests missed out myself. All in all not bad but its too fast. You really have to take this piece at the marked lento to get the full effect. It would also be an idea not to have members of the choir on their knees(not the best position for singing). This is a powerful piece of music, when our choir sung it members of the audience and a few of the choir were in tears by the end, really feel the emotion behind this and you cannot go wrong!
rix181088 4 years ago
I disgree with some of the complaints over this performance. I do agree that the chopping down of the peice doesn't make me too happy, and that the conductor is taking it a little fast, and that its probably not the best peice for a show choir, but the choir actually performed what they were given well. I only noticed a few trouble spots, and their articulation is fairly well done. The harmonies are good, and it carries fairly nicely. I would like to have seen more inflection though.
tryxr4kids 4 years ago
he acually came in and worked with the choir that year if i remember... and this was not the best recording of it theres a better one and thats is way better...
poopyhead707 4 years ago
AMAZING!
misssssssme 4 years ago
considering its a school choir its not a bad attempt, but you can't do a piece like that justice when not standing up and videoing it for youtube in a shortened version.
KayGKing 4 years ago
Ah! What are they doing!?
This is a horrible arrangement. I really hope the director got some sort of permission to cut down a 13min. piece to 3min! Eric Whitacre would probably go catatonic if he saw this!
Furthermore, the subject matter of David mourning his son's death is hardly suitable for a Show Choir! I guess all I can say is thank god the director had a small sense of decency and didn't add choreography!
Does anyone know the name of this Highschool and City/State?
waffleweave 4 years ago
John Burroughs High School "Powerhouse" from Burbank, Ca. Check out more of their stuff on youtube. They are quite amazing, vocally and visually.
MariusLives 4 years ago
AH! Freak out on YouTube! YouTube is so important! High school is the end-all be-all! Why don't you go talk to Eric Whitacre right now! Since you're such good friends with him! But you can't! Because he died of shock and shame after this was performed! What heathens! Eric Whitacre is God on earth!
Seriously, get a life.
fredsslacks722 4 years ago
I thought this sounded fantastic. I don't know many high school choirs that can swing this piece. Very nice.
WhisperingAngel1 4 years ago
What the f**k? What kind of a demented director would choose this piece for a show choir? Do they KNOW what they are singing? Did they get permission to edit the piece that way? And what are the phone booths doing on stage?
MompouMadness 4 years ago
As far as the phone booths go... how do you think David heard?
kpp01 4 years ago
ehh, ok for the shorter version, def not a good choice for a show choir tho, this arrangment kinda destroys my interpretation of the actual peice
swimmaggot868 4 years ago
Please keep in mind, that this is a high school and that this is at a competition with many other showchoirs that are competing. People don't have time for the full freaking however many minutes it really is. For what they did, it is truly amazing. And to let you know.. Eric Whitacre personally did come to this high School and help them on it. and they've done a variety of other eric whitacre pieces that have been amazing. So please, don't hate on this choir. Many people love this group.
MariusLives 4 years ago
I wish he would have came to my school because we did the entire thing in a cathedral and we would have loved to work with him.
Ezeikal 4 years ago
@MariusLives then do a different song.
stutzand000 1 year ago
maybe they didn't have time for the 13 minute full version. it's looong. but awesome.
yelodish92 4 years ago
OMG, that sucks. Should I laugh hysterically now or later! Pathetic. Way to butcher an Eric Whitacre peice for freakin' show choir. OMG. The only way to sing this peice is with a full concert choir for 12 minutes and 57 seconds. (Full Piece.) Eric Whitacre would probably have a heart attack if he heard that. Sorry to be so mean, but...
limitlessaviator 4 years ago
go do better. right fucking now. i'll watch.
jesus.
yelodish92 4 years ago
I do agree with you that this performance was horrible however, the full piece is actually 15:00 long. I have the cd, actually the cd length is 15:05 but the 5 seconds is of silence. N E way it is longer than what you say it is. I love the original version of this though... this choir butchered it, BAD!
btownchoirboi 4 years ago
which cd do you have? i have cloudburst, and this song is only 12:57. i would love to hear the full song if there are a few minutes cut off on the version i have.
paperclipgenius 3 years ago
some interpretations run 16-18 minutes! i think stephen layton took some parts a little fast on that recording, but polyphony's singing makes up for it lol.
pianomatteo 3 years ago 2
nice job, but don't belt on forte, it goes out of tune. just support the tone.
Jeconti 4 years ago
I hate this arrangement...this totally robs the full version...the part that really sucks is the soft tenor solo after first "sobbing", if you will, is missing. It just doesn't have the feel that the original, full version has...too much anger and not enough sorrow.
phillysportsgenius 4 years ago
i thought that this was a bad performance; the vowels werent there, the tenors needed to sing out more than they did and with more support. Granted it isn't an easy piece but that should've been understood when taking on a song like this and should have been properly prepared.
btownchoirboi 4 years ago
The loud parts sounded very very good, but a little more support is needed in the pianissimo parts. The sopranos did a fantastic job on keeping their high notes in balance with the rest of the group.
I'd love a microphone recording of this. Your groups did a great job. Not an easy song at all.
unloud 4 years ago
I never would have thought of this being a ballad! Very creative. Very nice. This was beautiful.
tulrich125 5 years ago
nice sound
71603oneday 5 years ago
Wow... well done, but very, very abridged. I would have loved to hear you sing the full version of the piece!
smdante 5 years ago