We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Well, The Voices of Ascension sang a bunch of Renaissance motets, and some Christmas carols too, in front of the Met Museum's Neapolitan Christmas tree last night. It was a sold out crowd, of course. We had the whole darn museum just to ourselves, too. Remarkable.
A 24-person a capella choir can sound just like an organ. There is nothing better. Anchoress would love this. They did Lauridsen's Magnum Mysterium of course but not the great Palestrina's Sicut Cervus, which is one thing by The Voices which I could find on YouTube:
Here's King's College choir doing Lauridsen's transcendent version of Magnum Mysterium:
The words of Magnum Mysterium:
Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!
A motet can be almost any compact choral work with complicated interactions of voices. The Voices of Ascension are the world-famous choir of the Church of the Ascension on Fifth Ave and 10th. Not amateurs!
No pics of them allowed, but I did snap a few at the museum:
The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended, The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury. my personal choice of the best rendition of this evensong or compline hymn.
The Voices of Ascension are wonderful - amazing choral work. Thank for posting that - I haven't seen them in person, but I would love to sometime.
The motet has something in common with modern music in that it uses the strophic form in which lyrics or phrases are laid over the song's repeat construction from one stanza to the next.
Blohm is something special. I've seen him up close and personal - he looks like he is just going through the motions, but he really gets into it - the tell is that little thin smile when things are really rockin'.
Tracked: Dec 21, 03:24