To speak to recent comments here, it sounds like the tenor finished with a major sixth of the chord, possibly a G in a Bb major chord - altogether fitting. Only in the last year have I been exposed to and have started working with Dawson's arrangements, and I am pleased with their trueness to the spiritual genre, their facility for a choir to learn and their harmonic and creative beauty. Bravo, Morgan State!
omgoodness i went to states for harford county festival and we had to sing at morgan state university and we stayed after to watch them rehearse and this was one of the songs they rehearsed ..........tore it up
Again, since most African-American Spiritual music is based on the Pentatonic Scale (pitches 1-2-3-5-6, in other words, all the black keys of the piano if you were to start on F-sharp), that final note of the soloist makes perfect sense - he slides from pitch number 5 to pitch number 6. In fact, if I remember this arrangement, which I sang 20 years ago in high school, it may actually be written in there. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" utilizes the same Pentatonic Scale.
The solo note is absolutely correct to form a tonic sixth chord. In other words the final chord of this arrangement is exactly the same chord as the end of the Beatles' "She Loves You." The choir and soloist are in tune. End of story.
tenorbear60: sorry ... although the tenor's vibrato may fluctuate outside of the realm of what you consider to be "in tune", you are "woefully" incorrect. His voice is bright and he has a full vibrato. That said, I agree with PrazHymn83 - he landed where he needed to - no question about it. None.
@PrazHymn83 You're right. The chord IS in tune @ 2:14. I think that tenorbear may be thrown off because of the vibrato used by the whole group. And the last note sung by the soloist is correct (ends on a G). I conducted this piece back when I taught HS a few years back and have heard several choirs perform it (and I have the music memorized). People who are unfamiliar with the piece (specifically this arrangement) will always have opinions.
The tenors fine. It's a six chord. There's just no blend at all. I mean, stylistically for a spiritual it's okay to be wild. But this is insane. Way too much vibrato for a style that already allows a ton.
OUTSTANDING! I performed this song in the California All-State Honor Choir in 1985. This is what the song is supposed to sound like! Great job!
To speak to recent comments here, it sounds like the tenor finished with a major sixth of the chord, possibly a G in a Bb major chord - altogether fitting.
Only in the last year have I been exposed to and have started working with Dawson's arrangements, and I am pleased with their trueness to the spiritual genre, their facility for a choir to learn and their harmonic and creative beauty.
Bravo, Morgan State!
OVATION! OVATION! & OVATION! OUTSTANDING CHOIR!
Wow! Its been a while since I sang in that clip..Good Gosh I look so different back then!
This is awsome...the Holy Spirit if flowing!
I love his voice..........
omgoodness i went to states for harford county festival and we had to sing at morgan state university and we stayed after to watch them rehearse and this was one of the songs they rehearsed ..........tore it up
Having sung this a zillion and one times, it is exactly correct. Not all choral music embraces simplistic harmony, heh.
Wow! My choir is singing this song in a concert on Sunday. It will be amazing if we sound at least as half as good as this choir. Great job!:-)
Incredible bases. Awesome rendition. Great soloist.
Again, since most African-American Spiritual music is based on the Pentatonic Scale (pitches 1-2-3-5-6, in other words, all the black keys of the piano if you were to start on F-sharp), that final note of the soloist makes perfect sense - he slides from pitch number 5 to pitch number 6. In fact, if I remember this arrangement, which I sang 20 years ago in high school, it may actually be written in there. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" utilizes the same Pentatonic Scale.
I'll say it again: That IS how it's done! Great great great job!
@tenorbear60 I totally disagree. They're in tune, and Frederick's note at the end is EXACTLY where he was supposed to land.
Love this choir.
@tenorbear60 they did sing it in tune, did this for All New Jersey Choir. It was correctly on tune with the original composition.
The ending was crisp.
AMEN to that!
Excellent!! Thank you for posting this. God bless.
GREAT BASSES, I LOVE IT
The solo note is absolutely correct to form a tonic sixth chord. In other words the final chord of this arrangement is exactly the same chord as the end of the Beatles' "She Loves You." The choir and soloist are in tune. End of story.
This is a big choir. Sounds great.
tenorbear60: sorry ... although the tenor's vibrato may fluctuate outside of the realm of what you consider to be "in tune", you are "woefully" incorrect. His voice is bright and he has a full vibrato. That said, I agree with PrazHymn83 - he landed where he needed to - no question about it. None.
@aschw1121 exactly right. not to mention that the 6th is WRITTEN in the ARRANGEMENT in the tenor 1s
loved the choir and the arrangement ! the soloist did not end so perfectly !!!
Excellent!
Yessuh!
@tenorbear60 i agree with you about the soloist at the end but the cord you refer to i believe is a suspended cord
@PrazHymn83 You're right. The chord IS in tune @ 2:14. I think that tenorbear may be thrown off because of the vibrato used by the whole group. And the last note sung by the soloist is correct (ends on a G). I conducted this piece back when I taught HS a few years back and have heard several choirs perform it (and I have the music memorized). People who are unfamiliar with the piece (specifically this arrangement) will always have opinions.
WOW
AWESOME
This is great! Good job guys
well i can now hear a slite strain...but he was on the right note tho :) i did need more altos tho....
great
Very good performance!
The DVD has much stronger audio quality.
ah man, i wish it was louder.
This a wonderful rendition, but the audio needs to be amplified!
@tenorbear60 You're entitled to that. No harm, no foul....
@aschw1121 Thank you!! I know I was right. I don't know what everyone else is hearing.
@enforcer9292 That's interesting. I'm of the impression that this piece is better the faster it is.
Why do you say that?? That last note?
Wow.
beast
The tenors fine. It's a six chord. There's just no blend at all. I mean, stylistically for a spiritual it's okay to be wild. But this is insane. Way too much vibrato for a style that already allows a ton.
lol...we r doing this in my choir dis yr...and its monotonous
You have every right to be absolutely wrong, and you are.
so the real problem is not the note. its the bad balance within the choir there. and too much vibrato.