Whitacre had it very, very easy. He was originally going to use the Robert Frost "Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening", and didn't hear until much later (recordings of the original setting exist) that the Frost estate didn't allow settings of it back then. This was 2001 or so. One of Whitacre's best friends just happens to be a renowned poet, Charles Anthony Silvestri. He is in demand in the choral world for his prose and a fine musician in his own right. He was asked by Whitacre to write something that conveyed the feel of the original Frost and Sleep was born.
I will never get tired of this song, no matter how many renditions I hear. That climax (about 4:00) always brings me to tears. I swear those are the most beautiful notes I've ever heard,
I had gone so long having not had music hit me that hard that I almost forgot it could. Was just listening, enjoying it, when suddenly found myself crying. Beautiful.
Sleep by Eric Whitacre is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIECE. To VOCES8 and everyone involved in this work: you have done such an amazing job in bringing this calibre of music into the world with such immaculate audio recording and cinematography. We are all indebted to you for this truly moving and God-glorifying production of such a passionate piece of music with so many talented artists from so many different backgrounds. This coalition of powerful performers can truly make music that penetrates the soul and tunes with every sense of the body. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AND A THOUSAND TIMES MORE, THANK YOU. p.s.To Barnaby Smith: you are my role model. I am a 16-year-old choral conducting enthusiast and I hope to start my first year of college early (2024-2025). I hope and pray that I can train to conduct choral music, even at a small level, and make music for God's glory. You are an inspiration.
It is hard to improve on a song that was conceived to be A cappella and then orchestrate it and not be redundant but this setting adds another level of depth to this exquisite music. The tubular bells on the pedal that moves through the voices gave me goosebumps. The performance is what we come to expect from Voces8 and sends us to another world, if only for a moment.
This orchestration is so well done, it frames and supplements but never steals the show from the vocal arrangement… chills. Also must add the sound engineering crew absolutely crushed this, it sounds phenomenal
Well, just when I thought the choir version of Sleep was already amazing, this choir/orchestra combo legit almost brought me to tears with how beautiful this was to listen to. This video is criminally underrated, and I'm so glad that I was one of the lucky people that got to listen to this.
My daughter sent me the Voces 8 video of this piece. It evokes so much emotion, I love it when music does that to me. Outstanding arrangement performance and recording. Just WOW!
Always love the /f/ /f/ sound at "flickering light" as it really paints the image and makes the sound of candles flickering. Sleep is necessary but can be cumbersome and vulnerable. Such poetry about a normal human experience.
Always loved this piece performed by only Voces8. It is interesting how adding the orchestra and foundation choir to it makes it sound like soundtrack music to some epic movie. Love both versions - they are both amazing ❤️
If you ever come to Missouri please tell me lol. You all have been a source of great happiness in my life. thank you soo much! I could only dream about singing with you, or even meeting you for that matter, I still hope one day I can at least see you live. THANK YOU.😊
Unbelievable! What a masterpiece. What's the most beautiful part? I don't know. The choir? The whole setting? The perfect voices, especially when the dissonants sound? The end? Figure out yourself and enjoy. Thank you.
I'm tempted to say this is ear candy, but it is so spectacularly engrossing that it can't possibly just be ear candy. Sometimes things that sound empty, thought beautiful, are not.
Thanks for bringing such beauty upon the world. We need it
Utterly stunning. This is as good as it gets. God bless all of you.
I have loved the Voces8 performance of this piece since it came out. This version with more voices and the orchestra adds a new dimension.
Whitacre had it very, very easy. He was originally going to use the Robert Frost "Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening", and didn't hear until much later (recordings of the original setting exist) that the Frost estate didn't allow settings of it back then. This was 2001 or so.
One of Whitacre's best friends just happens to be a renowned poet, Charles Anthony Silvestri. He is in demand in the choral world for his prose and a fine musician in his own right. He was asked by Whitacre to write something that conveyed the feel of the original Frost and Sleep was born.
@@carloscamejo7532 It's strange, but without knowing this background story I did think of the Frost poem. It has that same mystical feel about it.
1:27 the notes on "my head" are so freaking beautiful i get the chills every time
Nothing short of pure surreal magic. The Orchestra dynamic is absolutely amazing. ✨
It's refreshing to hear a contemporary American composer who can recognize good poetry and write real music.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Yes indeed, it become very rare nowodays!
Whitacre times Voces8 gives goosebumps squared. Absolutely stunning, and thank you again for continuing pure joy in life, with this piece of art
I will never get tired of this song, no matter how many renditions I hear. That climax (about 4:00) always brings me to tears. I swear those are the most beautiful notes I've ever heard,
I had gone so long having not had music hit me that hard that I almost forgot it could. Was just listening, enjoying it, when suddenly found myself crying. Beautiful.
I completely agree. Eric Whitacre's music awakens the soul.
The whole thing, so beautiful.
Sleep by Eric Whitacre is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIECE. To VOCES8 and everyone involved in this work: you have done such an amazing job in bringing this calibre of music into the world with such immaculate audio recording and cinematography. We are all indebted to you for this truly moving and God-glorifying production of such a passionate piece of music with so many talented artists from so many different backgrounds. This coalition of powerful performers can truly make music that penetrates the soul and tunes with every sense of the body. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AND A THOUSAND TIMES MORE, THANK YOU.
p.s.To Barnaby Smith: you are my role model. I am a 16-year-old choral conducting enthusiast and I hope to start my first year of college early (2024-2025). I hope and pray that I can train to conduct choral music, even at a small level, and make music for God's glory. You are an inspiration.
Best of success to you, lad.
The best performance of this piece I have ever heard. Exquisite!
Beautiful. Everything about this is beautiful.
C'est vraiment magnifique. Bravo à vous. On sent vraiment que vous goutez pleinement la musique que vous interprétez.
Lovely to see alumni (Eleonore, Jonathon) appearing in the constellation of stars here. We are so fortunate to have such luminaries favour us!
and Molly
Gorgeous sound. Love the unexpected dissonances.
Nothing seems appropriate to describe what I just heard. Bravo.
Gorgeous. I loved the deep resonance of the bass singers.
This is so profoundly beautiful. Thank you.
It is hard to improve on a song that was conceived to be A cappella and then orchestrate it and not be redundant but this setting adds another level of depth to this exquisite music. The tubular bells on the pedal that moves through the voices gave me goosebumps. The performance is what we come to expect from Voces8 and sends us to another world, if only for a moment.
Absolutely extraordinary ❤ pure magic vocals and orchestra ✨️😍✨️
This orchestration is so well done, it frames and supplements but never steals the show from the vocal arrangement… chills. Also must add the sound engineering crew absolutely crushed this, it sounds phenomenal
Well, just when I thought the choir version of Sleep was already amazing, this choir/orchestra combo legit almost brought me to tears with how beautiful this was to listen to. This video is criminally underrated, and I'm so glad that I was one of the lucky people that got to listen to this.
That music and performance was stunningly beautiful. Thank you.
That quiet timpani roll starting at 1:52 adds so much.
Beautiful beyond words. So let’s just smile. ❤
Bravo! Epische Musik vom Feinsten!
This sounds amazing played loud on a good pair of headphones. The orchestral crescendo is magnificent!
No words are necessary! I'm in HEAVEN!!!
This version is the most powerful of any I've listened to.
My daughter sent me the Voces 8 video of this piece. It evokes so much emotion, I love it when music does that to me.
Outstanding arrangement performance and recording.
Just WOW!
I've never heard this orchestrated before. Rich and gorgeous.
Still the best vocal group on the planet. Bravo 👌
That orchestration!! 😍😍😍
Glad you like it!
This was incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us.
This has to be the best adaptation of an already amazing composition, Bravo!
Always love the /f/ /f/ sound at "flickering light" as it really paints the image and makes the sound of candles flickering. Sleep is necessary but can be cumbersome and vulnerable. Such poetry about a normal human experience.
Incredibly powerful and beautiful!!
When I first began listening I was not sure I liked the slower tempo, however as it built it gorgeous!
Wowww! What a fantastic performance of this beautiful song. So full of musical and emotional expression! It really touches me. Thank you so much!
This should have a billion views!
Beautiful!
Très très très belle direction par le " haute contre " de VOCES8 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! . Une version magnifique ! !
Always loved this piece performed by only Voces8.
It is interesting how adding the orchestra and foundation choir to it makes it sound like soundtrack music to some epic movie.
Love both versions - they are both amazing ❤️
If you ever come to Missouri please tell me lol. You all have been a source of great happiness in my life. thank you soo much! I could only dream about singing with you, or even meeting you for that matter, I still hope one day I can at least see you live. THANK YOU.😊
this is so beautiful. OUTSTANDING the best from the best. What a great sound. Unique in the world. Bravo Voces8
Extraordinary. Thank you.
Stunningly touching & grandiose.
I heard this piece on classicfm as part of the dawn chorus segment with lucy coward, Great arrangement.
Stunning composition and execution. Whitacre and Voces8. Simply, the standard.
that was amazing, i was waiting for the suspended cymbal and it came! glorious climax ❤
Gracias infinitas, absolutamemte maravilloso ❤
Wow, wow, wow, welcome in heaven !
Quelle puissance merveilleuse... bravo à tous !
Of course the singing is otherworldly -- it's Voces8, after all. What really stood out to me was the use of the percussion.
Glorious! ❤️🌹
Stunning! 💖🙏
Unbelievable! What a masterpiece. What's the most beautiful part? I don't know. The choir? The whole setting? The perfect voices, especially when the dissonants sound? The end?
Figure out yourself and enjoy. Thank you.
A fun take on the original. Impeccably executed, as always. Bravo.
A wonderful masterpiece
Thank you for my morning meditation :)
Beautiful, such harmony and control😎
Mwah! 😘 Exquisite
The climactic chord in this piece, an F minor 7th, 9th, is the most dramatic moment in music I've ever heard.
Such beauty! Love it! I
So needed. Thank you for this beauty....
I never heard every single part so crystalline clearly before. Ravishing beauty!
Absolutely amazing!
Sublime ...♥♥♥♥🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Phenomenal performance 👏 ❤
❤Voice8
niet te doen, wat perfect is dit en zo prachtig
Fabulous, thanks again, all of you.
Thanks for such beauty!
Absolutely magical ❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful! Thank you.
Stunning
Thank you 🙏
Gorgeous
Enticing
Magical
Wonderment
so good.
Lovely!
Awesome.
Good night ❤
Very beautiful ❤️
Wow! that was so cool
🇮🇩
wow luar biasa voces8❤
Nicht von dieser Welt...wundervoll!
Wow....
The orchestration made me feel like I was listening to a movie soundtrack.
I think the Eric whitacre singers should of been there that would of been very cool very good singing guys and the orchestra
Nice to see several of the "graduates"! When was this filmed? Blake looks great!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
❤❤❤🙏
Sometimes 8 voices expands to somewhat more voices. Also wonderful.
🤩🤩🤩🙏🙏🙏
Amazing. If only it could've been sung to the original text, "Stopping by Woods..." by Robert Frost. So much more profound.
This is hitting all the right neurons perfectly 🤌🏻🩵
💖
I'm tempted to say this is ear candy, but it is so spectacularly engrossing that it can't possibly just be ear candy. Sometimes things that sound empty, thought beautiful, are not.