The New York Times published a story yesterday about "the chord" and left me wanting something less historical and more hands on. And here it is! Thank you!
I _highly_ recommend the 2018 recording by King's College Choir (of which Willcocks was the director for many years) of the Centennial Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. They shorten the carol to four verses, but the last two are the ones in question here, and The Chord is performed so dramatically it will blow your mind.
Like a lot of others came here via the NYT article. I always thought it was just me noticing this special chord. This video is great, thank you for your informative and entertaining analysis.
Great observation that the tritone moves down a half-step! Another important element is what the melody has moved to from the measure before - up an octave, "crowning" the chord - while the bass, having just drawn up from a very low D has dropped just a half-step. It sounds as if the harmonic structure has not so much changed color as rotated on its axis...
Thank you for this, but I’ve always said that there’s more to it. We have V6 with its great descant. Then we start V7 with the organ opened up with the unison melody and the organ just gets “fatter” (you have “crunchy”!) as the verse progresses. Then we get to *that chord*. Now I have the explanation of what it is. Merry Christmas!
TL;DR: ii half dim 7/ii -> V6-5/ii -> ii (iv/vi) -> V/ vi no 7 in chord 2! how silly of me! Great video! Enjoyed your breakdown. I had this song stuck in my head all day today.
Shout out to members of the Northampton Bach Choir, who let me know that there's a long-standing tradition of using this chord at this point in 'O Come, all ye faithful' that goes long before Willcocks, including Boris Ord (director of Music at Kings in the 1950s), and even before that, John Stainer used it back in the 19th century in his anthem 'I desired wisdom openly in my prayer', which concludes with 'Adeste fidelis'. Thanks for the heads-up!
I absolutely love your analysis of this section in the Willcocks arrangement. As someone who has learnt the piano but didn't take theory, I found it easy to understand. Now I can identify the chord. Could you tell me where I can find the full version of the Stainer anthem? Although his music is supposed to be public domain, I can't find readily available scores or even recordings.
Been there, sung that, got the T-shirt (and the socks for my favorite organist!!!). Thanks for explaining my unexpected tears every time at this chord and in the Mariah Carey anthem as well.
Just thinking about this chord a bit more. It’s really a dominant (5) minor chord with 6th added in the bass. There are many songs with a minor chord with 6th added in the bass. Example: moon river (“some day”). And there are many songs with a minor dominant 5 chord. Examples: Tie a yellow ribbon (“i’ve got to know”) or Why by Donnie Osmond (“No broken hearts for us”) But I don’t know of another song that combines both. Maybe that’s what makes it sound unique?
The graphic says key of C but it’s not, it’s G. If the key were C then this chord would not be as unexpected. Also, in terms of naming it, you described it as a half diminished or a diminished with a major tinge on top. Would it not be simpler to describe it as a Dm6 with the 6th being on the bottom?
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The New York Times published a story yesterday about "the chord" and left me wanting something less historical and more hands on. And here it is! Thank you!
THEY DID?!?! Do you remember the title, I MUST read it!!
I play this chord every year, and it never fails to give me goosebumps.
That Messiah clip has always absolutely destroyed me. Incredible.
Lmao the organist accidentally transposed it
I _highly_ recommend the 2018 recording by King's College Choir (of which Willcocks was the director for many years) of the Centennial Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. They shorten the carol to four verses, but the last two are the ones in question here, and The Chord is performed so dramatically it will blow your mind.
The NY Times recently published an article about this chord in Willcock's arrangement. Curious for more, I searched and found this video: thanks!
It's a very good article!
I came here after reading the New York Times article that made reference to “The Chord”, luckily ran into this video.
Thanks for featuring my shirts! (I design the Thread Underfoot tees. 😊) Agreed: it's the best chord.
Like a lot of others came here via the NYT article. I always thought it was just me noticing this special chord. This video is great, thank you for your informative and entertaining analysis.
Great observation that the tritone moves down a half-step! Another important element is what the melody has moved to from the measure before - up an octave, "crowning" the chord - while the bass, having just drawn up from a very low D has dropped just a half-step. It sounds as if the harmonic structure has not so much changed color as rotated on its axis...
My aunt played this on a pipe organ - never forgot it - spine tingling and so thick, strange word to use, but that's how it felt at the time.
Thank you for this, but I’ve always said that there’s more to it. We have V6 with its great descant. Then we start V7 with the organ opened up with the unison melody and the organ just gets “fatter” (you have “crunchy”!) as the verse progresses. Then we get to *that chord*. Now I have the explanation of what it is.
Merry Christmas!
TL;DR: ii half dim 7/ii -> V6-5/ii -> ii (iv/vi) -> V/ vi
no 7 in chord 2! how silly of me!
Great video! Enjoyed your breakdown. I had this song stuck in my head all day today.
Great analysis and video!
Shout out to members of the Northampton Bach Choir, who let me know that there's a long-standing tradition of using this chord at this point in 'O Come, all ye faithful' that goes long before Willcocks, including Boris Ord (director of Music at Kings in the 1950s), and even before that, John Stainer used it back in the 19th century in his anthem 'I desired wisdom openly in my prayer', which concludes with 'Adeste fidelis'. Thanks for the heads-up!
I absolutely love your analysis of this section in the Willcocks arrangement. As someone who has learnt the piano but didn't take theory, I found it easy to understand. Now I can identify the chord. Could you tell me where I can find the full version of the Stainer anthem? Although his music is supposed to be public domain, I can't find readily available scores or even recordings.
I hadn't heard the Hallelujah Chorus chord and now I want to hear the entire thing! HAHAHA!
Merry Christmas - a great chord!
Been there, sung that, got the T-shirt (and the socks for my favorite organist!!!). Thanks for explaining my unexpected tears every time at this chord and in the Mariah Carey anthem as well.
0:47 - Kitteh!!!!!
Just thinking about this chord a bit more. It’s really a dominant (5) minor chord with 6th added in the bass. There are many songs with a minor chord with 6th added in the bass. Example: moon river (“some day”). And there are many songs with a minor dominant 5 chord. Examples: Tie a yellow ribbon (“i’ve got to know”) or Why by Donnie Osmond (“No broken hearts for us”) But I don’t know of another song that combines both. Maybe that’s what makes it sound unique?
That was fun! I’m signing up to experience music in a new way ( fortunately already read music)
Brilliant video 👏
Oh come all ye faithful is the best Christmas song period
Interesting, thanks!
Just came across your channel, thanks for the chuckle at the end!
So interesting !
So the Word of the Father chord is the Tristan Chord?! Wow.
The graphic says key of C but it’s not, it’s G. If the key were C then this chord would not be as unexpected. Also, in terms of naming it, you described it as a half diminished or a diminished with a major tinge on top. Would it not be simpler to describe it as a Dm6 with the 6th being on the bottom?
Thanks for such a wonderful demo and explanation. If there is a God, this chord is proof. hord
I'm listening to list using earphones. Is it my computer's fault that I'm hearing your voice 100% in my left and the piano 100% in my right?
Nice video. Where do I find the shirt at 2:16? :)
Hi - you can order them from Thread Underfoot - threadunderfoot.co.uk/
I think I’m in love with you
1:53
I thought I was the only one who called music crunchy