This KS line-up was, in my opinion, unequaled, and truly the Dream Team. Sheer perfection of sound and blend. I have this Cadogan Hall CD and it is a treasure. I really miss this wonderful line-up and am grateful to have seen them live quite a few times. The outer sonorities of David's and Stephen's voices was thrilling, even more so in person. Those were the days.
I realise that this work by Byrd refers to HM Queen Elizabeth I, but it could just as easily be applied to our own Queen Elizabeth: May the Lord bless and keep her, AMEN! Oh, and superb singing, as always!!
The words are: O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth our Queen, to rejoice in thy strength; give her her heart's desire, and deny not the request of her lips; but prevent her with thine everlasting blessing, and give her a long life, even for ever and ever. Amen.
What a heavenly performance to brighten an otherwise cool day here in Melbourne. Simply divine in fact and the words and sentiments equally apply to our current monarch too!
We're singing this in choir this term, as part of a Jubilee concert, and oh my goodness, it's SO beautiful. And we're nowhere NEAR as good as the King's Singers, obviously! Byrd was an absolute genius. The Amen nearly makes me cry every single time. Also, thank you very much Mr Byrd for writing lovely interior lines. I sing 2nd alto (Paul's part in this), and it's gorgeously rich and melodic all the way through - something that's very rare for us! We even get the melody for half of the Amen.
I now know this was written originally for Queen Elizabeth 1st, by William Byrd, but how apt it is, because our Queen Elizabeth in in her 60th year, of glorious and continuous reign... Well done Ma'am.. LONG LIVE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2nd .. :0)x
Although this wonderful composition was composed for Queen Elizabeth I, it applies fully to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, a great servant of God and one of the great British queens, along with Queen Mary, Queen Anne, and Queen Victoria.
@MerlindaDragon ... Oops.. I defer to your well grounded knowledge... but it does fit our Queen too... And it is exquisite and the harmonies are wonderful, so deep and full... I have listened a good many times now, just to try and follow each voice... But because of the stunning beauty I just end up listening and smiling... Long may The Kings Singers continue to produce vocals like this... *sighs*... The very best of regards... :0)x
@samoanchick15 ... Stephen Connolly is one of the best basses they have had in Kings Singers and he has been there for 22 years.. He is leaving in Sept 2010 and his replacement is called Johnathon Howard.. Big shoes to fill, but I'm sure he will be very able indeed... Just as Tim Wayne-Wright did when he replaced Robin Tyson as 2nd 'counter-tenor'... The Kings Singer's sound is so uniquely beautiful that whoever is actually in at the time it always sounds PERFECT... :0)x
You know, you have to think this work wouldn't have gone over very well Mary.....she must have been SO pissed at Byrd. At least he got his way in the end :)
@especkss Hmm, as musically refined as TS are, they have no personality whatsoever unlike these guys who seem to inject a bit of light-heartedness into their shows.
![[June] Jonathan introduces a performance of 'O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth' #Byrd2023](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/B2BCl4Slqls/mqdefault.jpg)
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This KS line-up was, in my opinion, unequaled, and truly the Dream Team. Sheer perfection of sound and blend. I have this Cadogan Hall CD and it is a treasure. I really miss this wonderful line-up and am grateful to have seen them live quite a few times. The outer sonorities of David's and Stephen's voices was thrilling, even more so in person. Those were the days.
How fitting to listen to this today, on the day of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
I realise that this work by Byrd refers to HM Queen Elizabeth I, but it could just as easily be applied to our own Queen Elizabeth: May the Lord bless and keep her, AMEN! Oh, and superb singing, as always!!
Stunning.. simply stunning... A fitting tribute to Our Glorious Queen Elizabeth the 2nd... Long may she reign... :0)x
That has to be one of the finest amen's ever written.
The words are:
O Lord, make thy servant, Elizabeth our Queen, to rejoice in thy strength; give her her heart's desire, and deny not the request of her lips; but prevent her with thine everlasting blessing, and give her a long life, even for ever and ever. Amen.
What a heavenly performance to brighten an otherwise cool day here in Melbourne. Simply divine in fact and the words and sentiments equally apply to our current monarch too!
We're singing this in choir this term, as part of a Jubilee concert, and oh my goodness, it's SO beautiful. And we're nowhere NEAR as good as the King's Singers, obviously! Byrd was an absolute genius. The Amen nearly makes me cry every single time.
Also, thank you very much Mr Byrd for writing lovely interior lines. I sing 2nd alto (Paul's part in this), and it's gorgeously rich and melodic all the way through - something that's very rare for us! We even get the melody for half of the Amen.
i cry tears of joy every time i hear this song because its so beautiful
Indeed a fitting tribute for Her present Majesty, despite being written for Elizabeth, first of that name.
That English cadence though
I now know this was written originally for Queen Elizabeth 1st, by William Byrd, but how apt it is, because our Queen Elizabeth in in her 60th year, of glorious and continuous reign...
Well done Ma'am..
LONG LIVE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2nd .. :0)x
Mary was already dead when Byrd wrote this, it is a prayer for what was the current Queen, "O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth our queen to rejoice"
Although this wonderful composition was composed for Queen Elizabeth I, it applies fully to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, a great servant of God and one of the great British queens, along with Queen Mary, Queen Anne, and Queen Victoria.
And at this time (September 2022) when QE2 is in poor and possibly failing health, deserves to be played. GSTQ.
Why does one keep on returning, maybe because it is such a fine performance(!). Sheer listening pleasure of which one can never tire. Enjoy!
r.i.p.
i love those cross relations - so specific to english renaissance period music
I agree.
BEATIFULL, FANTASTIC!!
I admire you. Love you. Especially Paul :) Thanks for making me happy
You really get the true shining dissonances through here. wonderful :D x
False relations crunchier than a box of Maltesers :) This is one of the all-time great KS line-ups, too.
@MerlindaDragon ... Oops.. I defer to your well grounded knowledge... but it does fit our Queen too... And it is exquisite and the harmonies are wonderful, so deep and full... I have listened a good many times now, just to try and follow each voice... But because of the stunning beauty I just end up listening and smiling... Long may The Kings Singers continue to produce vocals like this... *sighs*...
The very best of regards... :0)x
Exquisite.
@samoanchick15 ... Stephen Connolly is one of the best basses they have had in Kings Singers and he has been there for 22 years.. He is leaving in Sept 2010 and his replacement is called Johnathon Howard.. Big shoes to fill, but I'm sure he will be very able indeed... Just as Tim Wayne-Wright did when he replaced Robin Tyson as 2nd 'counter-tenor'...
The Kings Singer's sound is so uniquely beautiful that whoever is actually in at the time it always sounds PERFECT... :0)x
absoloutely divine! :D
@especkss so true. I am stunned about how high paul can sing! They are trully incredible! :D x
@bigjdc close. the amen in Buxtehude's "Der Herr ist mit mir" is A-MA-ZING! and the amen in Dominico Scarlatti's "Stabat mater"!!!!!!
Whoever is singing T2 is missing the moving line at the very end of the piece--the G-natural isn't there. Unless I'm just not hearing it?
J.A.Hiller's Die Friede Gottes is also a candidate for final honours
watch?v=0o5kF-12NQw ,
The amen starts at 3:56 and lasts almost a minute.
i swear to god that bass is a human subwoofer.
You know, you have to think this work wouldn't have gone over very well Mary.....she must have been SO pissed at Byrd. At least he got his way in the end :)
I know! It is amazing, it's a shame the sopranos get onyl 1 note though lol :)
this was my attempt... I tried my best to do it justice
watch?v=uss9hoepNrQ
0:53 wtf?
Oh.....oops :D
@especkss Hmm, as musically refined as TS are, they have no personality whatsoever unlike these guys who seem to inject a bit of light-heartedness into their shows.