Absolutely lovely, lilting, heartening! Have sung other VT music and many versions of Psalm 23, but what a fabulous meeting of the two performed by a talented choir that reminds me of my four happy years in my own top notch choir in college. Thank you, and May blessings abound in the lives of all associated with this! 👏🏻🎶❤💐👏🏻
Probably my favorite rendition of this particular arrangement. Sadly, some conductors feel the need to slow the tempo... that just doesn't work for me.
Wonderful choir, beautifully reminding us that when Virgil Thomson was not composing operas with Gertrude Stein librettos or soundtracks for Farm Security Administration films--or writing intelligent and witty music criticism for the New York Herald Tribune--he was making these beautiful arrangements of old Southern hymn tunes (that were a part of his life from an early age in Kansas City, Missouri).
@@jeanpauljhI would love to use your video at my funeral some day for the Psalm. As an alto, I sang this often in my community choir. It was my favorite piece. Your choir sang it beautifully at the tempo was dead on.
Nice singing! I could slap the conductor, though (lol), for not taking the dramatic "Maestoso" final verse, well, maestoso. Its supposed to be a full 20-25% slower (120bpm down to 94, according to Thomson), and it's so beautiful and dramatic when this is done - "The SURE PROVISIONS OF MY GOD..." Also, the tender "Dolce" last line and final rallentando...mostly ignored. I realize it's the conductor's or ensemble's privilege to interpret as song as they see or feel it...but what were they thinking?? Again, beautiful singing, however!
Has to be the best interpretation of this Virgil Thomson anthem I've heard in years!!....Wonder how it would sound pitched at least a half step higher..... Great performance!
+l rufus Thanks for your kind comments. Be sure to share the video :-) Regarding changing the pitch... I must respectfully disagree. As a low bass, I like it where it is (because I can hit those special notes!) ;-)
I Disagree. Its nicely sung and emoted, but the tempo is so fast and choppy, it doesn't sound "pastoral" at all. The idea behind the teaching of Psalm 23 is the ability to rest, be still, and know that God is in control and that you should worry for nothing. This sounds agitated and worried, and to me at least, doesn't convey the amazing profoundness of God's strength and peace. This (to me) appears to be an example of wonderful musicians performing something with no spiritual connection to the source text. Since the kids must simply follow the conductor, I lay the fault at the conductor's feet.
I'm glad that you think we sang nicely -- thanks! :-) I agree largely with your comments on tempo, but I think you place the fault in the wrong place. Thomson's score says the arrangement should be sung "Allegro ma sostenuto" and gives the bpm as ♩= 120... I am not sure why he wanted this to be such a speedy song, but we respected his decisions as composer.
According to my tempo checker, you guys are going about 128-130 (of course it varies through the texts, but the beginning of the first two verses through the halfway point is at that 128-130 tempo). I would be more comfortable with an actual 120, though I personally prefer conducting it at around 112 for the first verse, about 110 for the second, and about 108 for the last (due to the text), When getting my postgrad in choral conducting, my professor would check our tempos when we conducted pieces for a grade. every 3 clicks on the metronome OFF the requested tempo was a letter grade lower :)
Very nice recording! I LOVED the brisk tempo: all others have a tendency toward too precious, or stodgy. A little string intro lifts the acapella arrangement with a touch of spice. Who is this conductor? First rate! Lucky Bowdoin to have him.
@@jeanpauljh Robbie is an old friend of mine. My partner, Greg Miller (whom we sadly lost in 2018), was a member of the Bowdoin Chamber Choir from 1982-5 (and a music major). Robbie is an amazing musician: the best Evangelist I've ever heard, brilliant organist and incredible musician. If you're in touch with him please tell him I said hi! I have played a harpsichord recital in the Bowdoin Art Museum many decades ago. What a beautiful place!
I like the brisk tempo for the first verse, but each verse is supposed to be a little slower than the one before. That last verse should be a good bit slower than what this conductor chose to do.
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Absolutely lovely, lilting, heartening! Have sung other VT music and many versions of Psalm 23, but what a fabulous meeting of the two performed by a talented choir that reminds me of my four happy years in my own top notch choir in college. Thank you, and May blessings abound in the lives of all associated with this! 👏🏻🎶❤💐👏🏻
“Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.”
― Virgil Thomson (born November 25, 1896)
Wonderful truth in this song.
Probably my favorite rendition of this particular arrangement. Sadly, some conductors feel the need to slow the tempo... that just doesn't work for me.
Perfection. One of my top 5 choral pieces. I would love singing with that conductor.
Wonderful choir, beautifully reminding us that when Virgil Thomson was not composing operas with Gertrude Stein librettos or soundtracks for Farm Security Administration films--or writing intelligent and witty music criticism for the New York Herald Tribune--he was making these beautiful arrangements of old Southern hymn tunes (that were a part of his life from an early age in Kansas City, Missouri).
Thanks for your kind comments and historical insights, quercus! Much appreciated :)
@@jeanpauljhI would love to use your video at my funeral some day for the Psalm. As an alto, I sang this often in my community choir. It was my favorite piece.
Your choir sang it beautifully at the tempo was dead on.
Nice singing!
I could slap the conductor, though (lol), for not taking the dramatic "Maestoso" final verse, well, maestoso. Its supposed to be a full 20-25% slower (120bpm down to 94, according to Thomson), and it's so beautiful and dramatic when this is done - "The SURE PROVISIONS OF MY GOD..." Also, the tender "Dolce" last line and final rallentando...mostly ignored.
I realize it's the conductor's or ensemble's privilege to interpret as song as they see or feel it...but what were they thinking??
Again, beautiful singing, however!
Yup. The conductor is annoying. Could evoke much more music by getting out of the way and letting these people sing.
Absolutely healing and wonderful. What a stellar interpretation!
Beautiful and artistic rendition. Thank you for sharing!
The pleasure was mine to share it!
Has to be the best interpretation of this Virgil Thomson anthem I've heard in years!!....Wonder how it would sound pitched at least a half step higher..... Great performance!
+l rufus Thanks for your kind comments. Be sure to share the video :-)
Regarding changing the pitch... I must respectfully disagree. As a low bass, I like it where it is (because I can hit those special notes!) ;-)
I Disagree. Its nicely sung and emoted, but the tempo is so fast and choppy, it doesn't sound "pastoral" at all. The idea behind the teaching of Psalm 23 is the ability to rest, be still, and know that God is in control and that you should worry for nothing. This sounds agitated and worried, and to me at least, doesn't convey the amazing profoundness of God's strength and peace.
This (to me) appears to be an example of wonderful musicians performing something with no spiritual connection to the source text. Since the kids must simply follow the conductor, I lay the fault at the conductor's feet.
I'm glad that you think we sang nicely -- thanks! :-)
I agree largely with your comments on tempo, but I think you place the fault in the wrong place. Thomson's score says the arrangement should be sung "Allegro ma sostenuto" and gives the bpm as ♩= 120... I am not sure why he wanted this to be such a speedy song, but we respected his decisions as composer.
According to my tempo checker, you guys are going about 128-130 (of course it varies through the texts, but the beginning of the first two verses through the halfway point is at that 128-130 tempo). I would be more comfortable with an actual 120, though I personally prefer conducting it at around 112 for the first verse, about 110 for the second, and about 108 for the last (due to the text),
When getting my postgrad in choral conducting, my professor would check our tempos when we conducted pieces for a grade. every 3 clicks on the metronome OFF the requested tempo was a letter grade lower :)
Love the song although the time says allegro, it should be slowed down some to hear and feel the understanding of what the song says to us
Very nice recording! I LOVED the brisk tempo: all others have a tendency toward too precious, or stodgy. A little string intro lifts the acapella arrangement with a touch of spice. Who is this conductor? First rate! Lucky Bowdoin to have him.
Thanks for the kind words, Fred. The conductor is Robby Greenlee, who retired at the end of the last academic year.
@@jeanpauljh And was THE BEST EVER!!!!
@@jeanpauljh Robbie is an old friend of mine. My partner, Greg Miller (whom we sadly lost in 2018), was a member of the Bowdoin Chamber Choir from 1982-5 (and a music major). Robbie is an amazing musician: the best Evangelist I've ever heard, brilliant organist and incredible musician. If you're in touch with him please tell him I said hi! I have played a harpsichord recital in the Bowdoin Art Museum many decades ago. What a beautiful place!
Beautiful! Just beautiful! Thank you!
Very well done. Great blend and balance.
Thanks!
beautiful...👌👌👌
Thanks so much!
I like the brisk tempo for the first verse, but each verse is supposed to be a little slower than the one before. That last verse should be a good bit slower than what this conductor chose to do.
Entirely too fast