The only word I can think of is "sublime". Gibbons was a genius. Listening to this motet is an incredible experience: the theology is great, the music goes straight to the heart and brings tears. Those old English virginalists never cease to amaze me. What a gem this is.
I thank you for your kind comment. I try to post music that I like and hope others like and which I can't find elsewhere on youtube or at least not to the standard I would say is sufficient.
The music indicates this phrasing, and was the local dialect of educated people at the time. C of E cathedral choirs are generally staffed by people deeply aware of the history of liturgical music (often a prerequisite of the job). For the most part, local parish choir directors are often very talented musicians but not academics. Nothing wrong with that unless academic purist get involved. And no version of phrasing really compromises the message, beauty, or intention.
Frankly, they are two books of two different religions and, from what I can tell, two different gods. You are fortunate to have people you can talk to about this sort of thing, as most of the time people go very silly about these matters. A good stroke of inspiration, too!
Thanks - interesting. This piece came in useful in a pub theological debate the other day (always dangerous to combine beer and religion...) A friend was asking what the main difference was between the Old and New Testaments was...I had a flash of musical inspiration and said 'the law is cancelled'. I didn't try to sing it though.
Sublime presentational mode of Holy Scriptural Truths: Glory be to our Living Saviour: Jesus Christ! ` "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Cor.15:3-4
For Gibbons and those who wrote compositions during this period of time, they were following a form of English that would have been very different from our own. English wasn't standardised as is ours today. Spelling was not deemed important so one word could be spelt in a different number of ways all of which would have been correct at that time. The choristers are singing the words as they would have been spoken during the 1500's and before.
What is the general feeling on the singing of all the syllables in words like 'motion' (ie, 'moh-see-on') ? Is there a 'correct' way to do this - some choirs seem to, especially the more traditional 'high' CofE cathedral choirs, but others, especially at parish level, don't seem to. Is it a traditional v 'modern' dispute?
Another thing I've noticed is that on RUclips some secular early music is sung in an 'oo-arrrr' mummerset accent presumably supposed to be authentic for the time, but I have never heard sacred music sung in this accent - it's always sung in RP.
Woah! 7 minutes (plus) of power..superb performance, minimum vibrato and authoritative tempo. And they smash it out at the end in no uncertain terms whatever. Ingmar Bergman or his disciple Michael Haneke could have done or could do something with this.
It depends of course on your definition of God. To me the inherent beauty of music (and related things like mathematical and geometrical theorems) points to a 'higher power' outside and beyond the individual human consciousness. I would call such power 'God' and would find it hard to appreciate this music without such a concept. It doesn't mean I have to have some childish belief in Father Christmas sitting on a white cloud...
The only word I can think of is "sublime". Gibbons was a genius. Listening to this motet is an incredible experience: the theology is great, the music goes straight to the heart and brings tears. Those old English virginalists never cease to amaze me. What a gem this is.
Sublime; thrilling; transcendent; music to make the spiritually deaf to hear.
One of Gibbons's greatest verse anthems. The passage beginning "See the fresh wounds" is mind-blowing. Thanks for posting.
one of the most beautiful things and God honoring things I have ever heard
Yet again another excellent piece of work.
It is useful to have the lyrics accompanying this fantastic rendition.
I thank you for your kind comment. I try to post music that I like and hope others like and which I can't find elsewhere on youtube or at least not to the standard I would say is sufficient.
Would be nice to know singers and group.
The music indicates this phrasing, and was the local dialect of educated people at the time. C of E cathedral choirs are generally staffed by people deeply aware of the history of liturgical music (often a prerequisite of the job). For the most part, local parish choir directors are often very talented musicians but not academics. Nothing wrong with that unless academic purist get involved. And no version of phrasing really compromises the message, beauty, or intention.
Frankly, they are two books of two different religions and, from what I can tell, two different gods. You are fortunate to have people you can talk to about this sort of thing, as most of the time people go very silly about these matters. A good stroke of inspiration, too!
Thanks - interesting.
This piece came in useful in a pub theological debate the other day (always dangerous to combine beer and religion...) A friend was asking what the main difference was between the Old and New Testaments was...I had a flash of musical inspiration and said 'the law is cancelled'. I didn't try to sing it though.
Awesome. Too funny.
You could do worse than this motet as a theology primer.
Sublime presentational mode of Holy Scriptural Truths: Glory be to our Living Saviour: Jesus Christ!
`
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Cor.15:3-4
kate_loves_Christ amen
For Gibbons and those who wrote compositions during this period of time, they were following a form of English that would have been very different from our own. English wasn't standardised as is ours today. Spelling was not deemed important so one word could be spelt in a different number of ways all of which would have been correct at that time. The choristers are singing the words as they would have been spoken during the 1500's and before.
What is the general feeling on the singing of all the syllables in words like 'motion' (ie, 'moh-see-on') ?
Is there a 'correct' way to do this - some choirs seem to, especially the more traditional 'high' CofE cathedral choirs, but others, especially at parish level, don't seem to. Is it a traditional v 'modern' dispute?
Another thing I've noticed is that on RUclips some secular early music is sung in an 'oo-arrrr' mummerset accent presumably supposed to be authentic for the time, but I have never heard sacred music sung in this accent - it's always sung in RP.
any idea who this is performing? The tenor who starts has a fantastic control of his head voice and chest voice
Fraser K a countertenor (alto) singing in falsetto. Still a good sound!
Woah! 7 minutes (plus) of power..superb performance, minimum vibrato and authoritative tempo. And they smash it out at the end in no uncertain terms whatever. Ingmar Bergman or his disciple Michael Haneke could have done or could do something with this.
It depends of course on your definition of God. To me the inherent beauty of music (and related things like mathematical and geometrical theorems) points to a 'higher power' outside and beyond the individual human consciousness. I would call such power 'God' and would find it hard to appreciate this music without such a concept. It doesn't mean I have to have some childish belief in Father Christmas sitting on a white cloud...
Is it PCA (with ladies)?
DO you truly believe that finding deep beauty in amazing music would necessarily facilitate a belief in a god?
@cousinjk
I would like to invit you all to texas soon we well ope. A new musice hall.
@hazzac1234 Yes stupid answer to a stupid question. You are obviously a heretic.