St. Olaf Choir "Beautiful Savior"
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- Опубликовано: 7 ноя 2024
- The 2006-2007 St. Olaf Choir singing the Choir's signature piece, "Beautiful Savior", at the 2007 Commencement concert in May 2007. Soprano soloist. Anton Armstrong, conductor. Joined by St. Olaf Alumni.
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (February 13), I played this for Sunday School assembly. I did so because our Sunday School lesson was taken from Mark 9:2-13. This is a good hymn to sing if that is your scripture for the day. Another hymn is Shine, Jesus, Shine, written and composed by Graham Kendrick.
I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (February 19, Transfiguration of Our Lord), we sang this (Beautiful Savior) as our Opening Hymn. It is #838 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
My year singing in St. Olaf Choir in 1990-1991 was the best year of my life. (I wasn't good enough to sing in the touring choir as a Sophomore and Junior!) I miss the friendships, the music, and especially the backrubs (do they still do that?) I have kept up with my singing, and sing tenor and solos in my local Episcopal church choir, who have premiered the Agnus Dei from a mass I wrote. I love and live sacred music. Uff Da!
Churchcantor I would have to agree with you there !! Nothing else compares. Life post Olaf is vastly different and is has been a distracting blur. Hopefully when Jesus returns, we will all be singing in Heaven with the angels.
The notes don't mention that the soloist is Megan Drew. And I loved having the alumni join us for this concert, but to get the true feel of the song, you've gotta hear the 70 voices of the St. Olaf Choir singing it alone. Sitting in the audience and listening to them - it's simply immaculate.
I attended Howard College(now Samford University) in Birmingham,Al. Dr. George Koski, a graduate of St. Olaf and a student of F. Melius started the well known A capella Choir there. The choir has always finished their concerts with Beautiful Savior. I was listening to a cd of the Samford Alumni A Capella choir doi9ng this song and I believe it is the best I've heard. It has more energy and excitement. However, the St. Olaf choir is outstanding and they are the originals.
I was a member of the Midland college choir
from 85 to 86 they use this song as a closer to each concert and invite alumni to join.
Look like that was done here too. This is a beautiful song. This is one of my best memories from Midland
D.Johnson
I sang in Concordia Choir and we held hands to concentrate, but the recent ACDA F. Melius Anniversary concert had St. Olaf going waaay over the top with the head bobbing and the arm swinging. I was in the audience at the concert and could see it sitting way back in Orchestra Hall. You really see it on the video.
St. Olaf is the finest choir of all time without a doubt. These young people are just beautiful and the direction is outstanding.
If you ever get the opportunity to hear this choir live... run don't walk, to the ticket counter...Live for the Tour Calender
"I think this must be Heaven with Shaw letting Armstrong Rehearse his Feeder Choir"
Thank You for Sharing This Memorable Treasure
Hearing this reminds me of my days in the Samford University (Birmingham, AL) A Cappella Choir. It's been a tradition of the Choir for over 60 years to close every concert with this arrangement of "Beautiful Savior". And just like at St. Olaf, Samford choir alums are invited to come on stage and join in singing. My first two years in choir I sang 2nd bass, but my last year I sang baritone. The 2nd bass part is better.
Awsome song! This song is such a blessing we sang it in our church!
This is the song that "Dutch" would have us close each concert with...San Bernardino High School I remember so well the HOURS of practice we did for Acapella choir...Oh How I wanted the second soprano solo, but I was only a junior and Dutch gave it to a senior as was his rule...brings such wonderful memories
My college choir used to sang this on our European tour. This song is so beautiful and brings back some wonderful memories.
My niece just graduated from St. Olaf, like her mother before her. I'm sure this arrangement of Beautiful Savior will be with them forever.
they played this at my mom's funeral. she was in the choir in '41. i hated the organ sound due to an extreme case of synesthesis. too annoying of a sound. it healed my pain at the funeral. this song with the organ,imean. thanks God and mom.
Peaceful. Just...so, peaceful.
What a wonderful gift to be shared. Music.
Praise God for creating such beauty. Sid Bennett
"Majestic"--yes, that's the perfect word for this music and choir performance.
I think bourdon misses the point. There is extreme joy in watching the st. olaf choir sing. They move, breathe, and truly sing together. This is a huge gift and contribution this group has made on the acapella choral tradition. while all the lutheran choirs are excellent, I think concordia is just jealous that they are second best...
I love this soloist! such a pure, even tone! BRAVO!
please dont forget about the savior when admiring the wonderful singing.
This is my old choir's traditional number to close the season. It brings a lump to my throat every time I hear it.
We're singing this in choir right now! And Dr. Armstrong is the shit!!! I sang with him in Prague this summer and he is soo cool, funny, down to earth, and really a great musician! You guys are lucky you get to work with him year round!! = D
they are so good.
sooooooo good.
The Db was a tradition started with Olaf Christiansen, and continued through Dr. Jennings and now Dr. Armstrong. The hand holding is huge for the tone (and syncronicity, more than tuning!)
I tried to find her on Facebook--no luck. Can you tell her how incredible her voice is for me? Absolutely breathtaking. Brings tears to me eyes and chills down my spine every single time I hear her sing it.
The arrangement was written by F. Melius Christiansen who was a former conductor of the St. Olaf Choir.
that's because st. olaf is THE standard for collegiate choral technique. and, choral technique in general, really. we use them as the standard in our choir as well. dr. armstrong was the conductor for the michigan high school all-state one of the years i was in it back in...2005 i believe...
I am especially glad to St. Olaf's, the BYU choirs, the MoTab, and the other choirs out there who let us worship through music in their unique styles.
As the description has always indicated, this is the St. Olaf Choir "Joined by St. Olaf Alumni".
Yes. I was in the audience atteniding the graduation cerimonies of my sister. She was one of the members of the officual chior at the time of this performance and all the robes people had done a really amazing concert. At the end they brought people that were alumn up to the stage in their regular clothing and it was really amazing because it felt like the air was buzzing with love and respect for the audience and pride in their having been memebers of the chior. And eveyone knows the song in they are in the chior. I was quite impressed and had tesrs because it was impossible not to.
The soloist is chosen through auditions. Dr. A listens to any altos (and low sopranos) who wish to sing the solo, and picks the one who best fits with the sound of the choir and his vision of the piece. It's rarely a non-senior who sings the solo, but I know of one or two who have been so talented.
@arough69 "Beautiful Savior" is part of the St. Olaf Choral Series published by AugsburgFortress, Minneapolis, MN. It was first released January 1, 1920, according to the A/F web site, and yes it is still available for purchase.
@choirgeek4 Oh! You are so right. Several times in my life I was stopped cold in my tracks; it was if God was speaking to me through the music. When I heard a black man sing "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord." I was totally cured of racism. It all happened 35 years ago in Torrance, California. The man's name was Cecil Doty. He has long passed from the Earth, but I still hear that beautiful bass voice calling me.
The arrangement evokes aphirmation ov one's belieph in Jesus. No matter who sings it, it will convey the pheeling and emotion to whomever hears it.
Good luck with your application - I hope you get a chance to sing this under Dr. Armstrong! The man is truly a gift to music.
rich and beautiful
This anthem arrangement they are singing is indeed titled :Beautiful Savior." It was arranged by one of their long time choir directors and is still to this day (I believe) published by St. Olaf. I have sung this arrangement myself so can vouch for the title and info.
This brings back memories...
E. Oppen, '83
Having grew up in Orem, Utah and now living here in Northfield, MN... where St Olaf is located, I will have to say that BYU does have a larger choir, yet this smaller choir has better diction and pure sound than I have even heard from Mo-Tab. (Mormon Tabernacle Choir). ;-)
The best version.
Love Dr. Armstrong!
@greenbelter123 The tune was originally an old Silesian folk tune to which several hymns have been set, including both 'Beautiful Savior' and 'Fairest Lord Jesus'.
Check out the classic 1937 MGM movie "Boy's Town" with Spencer Tracy, which uses this great hymn throughout, especially at the very end, when the full chorus is augmented by a fine boy's chorus, full orchestra and bells; it's the same basic arrangement as this beautiful St Olaf perfromance. Very moving. There's also the Fred Waring Chorale classic 1940's recording of this same arrangement, with soloists and orchestra. Great stuff!
Yup...it's more than just tuning though; I think we experience a deeper connection with each-other when we hold hands, both in and out of performances.
@BigBingFan
Must be a very local/secular Roman Catholic tradition, because the universal Catholic song set to this melody is used for Eucharistic glory, entitled "O, God of Loveliness" also most often song on the Sunday after Pentecost (Trinity Sunday).
OH and also this is not just the students, but the alumni as well. Many of them studied under another director which may be why they aren't all together at some points. We sopranos get louder as time goes by too because we just can't hit those high notes softly like we could when we were younger... I'm 41, so I know it sadly.
I went to school in a little Lutheran school on the southeast side of Chicago. The hymnal had it listed as Beautiful Savior. When I started attending the Baptist church, it was listed at Fairest Lord Jesus. To me, it's the same song, different title. Not yelling or condemning, just telling you my experience.
Different translations of the same ancient hymn. Lutheran version came mostly through Northern European linguistic traditions (Germany and Nordic nations). Other US version through United Kingdom. I too was surprised when as a youth I first became aware of the difference.
@mlw8993 F. Melius Christiansen, the founder of this phenomenal choir and the author of the greatest choral legacy in the country.
F. Melius Christensen Created this Arrangement of Beautiful Savior for St. Olaf Choir.......therefore.......This is the Most Regarded Version of Beautiful Savior in my Opinion!!
@OleFan03
And in the Roman Catholic tradition, "God's Blessing Sends Us Forth," as I knew it growing up. Whichever is the title, it is magnificent and sung so beautifully by your choir.
Well... On the vowels thing. This IS a Minnesooooota choir after all. Yah Shore, yuuuu betcha! (It's 15 below right now. I think it's because we here cannot keep our lips together for too long or they freeze in weather like this, donchano?)
He's chosen to tune it back down to Db because it tunes better.
How is the soloist picked? Audition?
We sing this every year, and all the choir members pick a senior to sing it. I was wondering if we stole that tradiation from St. Olaf :)
and i got to throw the Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale into that.....
@OleFan03
What about the more universal hymn with words set to "O, God of Loveliness"?
@greenbelter123 Beautiful Savior uses similar words, in fact a couple who verses, of Fairest Lord Jesus, replacing the line "fairest lord jesus" with "beautiful savior".
The tune and words of Beautiful Savior work better for a choir than a whole church, in my opinion.
I prefer to shop the old way. In a store, next to someone I love. Like my mom. 😙
yes, performing a new 30 minute concert weekly and having over 200 members tends to detract from the exactness which a well-rehearsed, smaller choir can bring to a piece.
I'm glad I'm not in the MoTab--that schedule would be murder for a volunteer with a career and family to think of.
I am very glad, however, that they have Mack Wilberg around to breathe a new vitality into choral arranging.
@liqicen St. Augustine said "singing is praying twice"!
I agree with the previous statements attributed to Robert Shaw. While the choir sings beautifully, I would prefer to sing or listen to a choir that opens it up and sings all the way to the heavens. This is not Renaissance music. I don't mean to be critical, just my own preference.
Megan Drew is the Sololist, Beautiful!
Well, the Catholic version is "Beautiful Savior" with the hymn tune named "St. Elizabeth" instead of "Crusader's Hymn."
3 people were rejected from the St. Olaf Choir.
@greenbelter123 of course I know now :) Thanks for informing me. Beautiful sing anyway
Olaf aproves
Sorry, I have not had the pleasure of hearing the Concordia Choir and will make a point of doing so. I feel the error of my conclusion was due to St. Olaf having more exposure through the media. No slight was intended to anything I have not heard.
@choirgeek4 AMEN!
Tempo too fast!! Mr. Armstrong has relinquished the original graceful beauty of the formerly-glorious F.Melius rendition of this beautiful traditional hymn, that I felt privileged to sing under the direction of Olaf C. Christiansen in 1967-68.
haha. that's hilarious. i don't know why you got thumbs down on that....
Personal opinion: the piece sounds so much more beautiful in German. Curse of being from the Augustana Choir, I guess....
This hymn is Fairest Lord Jesus not beautiful saviour
I dont understand why you would look-up another fantastic choir and compare them to your own.... sounds a bit arrogent to me. Agreed that BYU is a fantastic choir, so is St Olaf, and Concordia, and PLU... everyone makes great music. Did you write on here just to tell everyone how much better BYU is than everyone else? Cuz thats sad...... I thought you said that you sing to express not impress anyway?
No, I don't think that Mo-Tab has very good diction at all. I added that about Mo-Tab because everyone thinks they're the best... and although they are good, they do not enunciate very well. Especially consonants at the end of phrases. A big pet peeve of mine. ;-) I have heard the BYU singers and even had many friends who were part of that group. They have the same opinions when compared to St. Olaf. St. Olaf simply is better. Anton Armstrong demands it.
All I needed to know, came from Disney.