The Smith Ensemble

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@stephenfarthing1522 12 күн бұрын

I think back to the 4th January of last year! And my heart and soul was crying because I had just put my brother to rest and your version of this carol was echoing to me! It really did help to put it into perspective and I look forward to what you are going to do- this year. I still have a little bit of a hard time but you made it better to bear.

@thesmithensemble4053 8 күн бұрын

Tender memory. Thanks for sharing. Humbled to have eased your burden a little. God is so aware of each of us. 🌸

@stephenfarthing1522 18 күн бұрын

On the bus again! To Wells and looking forward to a decent Sunday lunch !

@stephenfarthing3819 23 күн бұрын

How it began with me! Being impressed with all of you! Some years ago!

@thesmithensemble4053 23 күн бұрын

So happy you found us! Merry Christmas Stephen! 🎄🎶😊

@hadorstapa Ай бұрын

Mr Goodall wrote this setting to be the theme tune for The Vicar of Dibley, a sitcom about a priest in the Church of England appointed as the first female vicar of a rural parish, and yet it's superbly touching and powerful. The man is a very gifted composer. I'll always think of the end credits cutaways to the joke shared every week between the vicar and her verger, but I also love to set it in a service whenever I can.

@thesmithensemble4053 3 сағат бұрын

It is a powerful setting of Psalm 23 for sure! Quite an interesting history of the song! So grateful Mr. Goodall chose to use it the series! 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

I wonder!!!! What are you going to do for this Christmas!? And might we see and hear it!! If so!! I look forward to it.

@thesmithensemble4053 Ай бұрын

So happy you are looking forward to our next release! We have been working on a beautiful hymn arrangement with the Smith Six ( our six youngest children and piano) Was hoping to have it for Christmas but it will have to come out next year! Hope it will be worth the wait! 🙏🎄 Merry Christmas!

@stephenfarthing1522 19 күн бұрын

Aahh! The youngest rascals. ! Hmm I look forward to it! Just occurred that I said that before! Oops! 😉

@stephenfarthing1522 18 күн бұрын

And Season Greetings and a better new year to you all!

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

You know! This was where I began hearing you. And well! As it is said ! The rest is history.. I still remain hopeful that one day - we will meet and perhaps we can sing this together. Christmas greetings to you all!

@thesmithensemble4053 Ай бұрын

Merry Christmas to you as well! 🎄Singing together would be a Christmas miracle for sure. But we believe in miracles! 😊

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

To a certain degree! I do as well! I'm on the bus again! Passing through Wells and enroute to Yeovil!

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

Of how Christmas is approaching. And I am humming it on the bus to Weston-super-Mare! I hope that families find that one accord that we all need! I pray so!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 сағат бұрын

I hope so too! What a great hope for the New Year!! Hope you continue to enjoy singing along! 🎶

@jovitoberroya8843 Ай бұрын

Very nice anthem song. My favorite

@mr.lindstam594 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely beautiful in every way!

@thesmithensemble4053 Ай бұрын

Thank you so much! 🌻🎶

@beverlyseng 2 ай бұрын

So beautiful! I bonded with your family (through youtube and your CD) during Covid lockdown, and your singing never fails to nourish me deeply. Thank you.

@thesmithensemble4053 Ай бұрын

So grateful you enjoy our music. Thank you for your kind words, Beverly. Merry Christmas! 🎄🙏

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

Co-incidentally Beverly! Four years ago I started listening to this remarkable Family Choir as well! I don't think that I have ever looked back . I find myself looking forward for what they might be doing so this Christmas as well! I'm open to being delighted and surprised. ( If stunned - then I will be as well! ) Like to pick up a Christmas CD of theirs! I'd be delighted to do so! Christmas can be a busy time for me! But I am never too busy to hear what they're going to do. Looking forward to it! Can't say fairer than that!

@mikeaaron2819 2 ай бұрын

One is not a doer for the lord He does all and is all. I need not toil nor spin like the lilies of the field. He made me to simply see or be aware.

@thesmithensemble4053 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment Mike. Hope you have a wonderful day noticing God’s hand. 🙏

@stephenfarthing1522 2 ай бұрын

This weekend is rather special. Tomorrow is the birthday of my late mother and I always try to mark it. She would have been a hundred and seven years old if she had lived. She passed away at 89 and I still miss her! Even today.

@thesmithensemble4053 2 ай бұрын

Happy Birthday to your dear mother! What a tribute. ❣️

@edwardmontoya50 3 ай бұрын

A lovely performance. I wasn't expecting 2 boy sopranos. It's so much easier to hear the duet harmonization without a dominating female soprano with a wide and boisterous vibrato.

@thesmithensemble4053 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed their performance. There is something pure and clear about boy sopranos. 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

I guess that where this anthem was put together, recorded and performed is your local church! I figured out Utah as your home state a little while ago. So I equally guess this is your church in your local patch! Nice looking as well!

@thesmithensemble4053 2 ай бұрын

You are correct about Utah! This was actually recorded at a Presbyterian church in our area. We loved the beautiful stained glass, and the people were so kind and accommodating. Grateful you enjoyed it.

@maryosullivan3754 3 ай бұрын

I love the songs thay are lovely people to sing thay are good at singing

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Mary! 🌸

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

Ahh ! Utah that's your stomping ground! Hmm ! Not that far from the Osmonds original area!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

Yes! Utah is a beautiful place. And the Osmonds are from this area. I was just driving close by Osmond Lane today where many of them used to live.

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

I didn't know you rascals did this! Hmm! Not bad! Just before the voices broke!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

So true! No boy sopranos anymore although our boys still have a very high range!

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

I am away from Bristol and 40 miles from the city. At the Ilchester Arms Hotel in the depths of Southern Somerset and 5 or so miles from from Yeovil close to the border into Dorset. And after a very successful trip to Somerton and Yeovil - I'm listening to this carol again! Thinking how to tackle it basswise!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

Our son served for a time in Bristol in 2019-2020 when he was in England for his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! Sounds like he was in your stomping grounds!

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

I gather that in this - the lady of mature years at the time was the Grandmother of you all!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

Yes! Our father’s mother! Very sweet lady!

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

@thesmithensemble4053 I completely concur! Charming lady indeed! Oh and Season Greetings to you all!

@thesmithensemble4053 Ай бұрын

Thank you Stephen and Merry Christmas to you! From The Smith Family!

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

You know? At a EPH in Bristol! Not too far from St Martin's Church in Knowle I had a go at the first verse and the Refrain of Rutter's Candlelight Carol and some residents there liked it! It was not what I was hoping to do. But at least I got to do some of it! Certainly I will be able to settle for that! EPH is Elderly Persons Home. I certainly know the second verse and if I could have a second go at it. I might get it all done.

@susannahangartner 4 ай бұрын

😍

@thesmithensemble4053 4 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🎶🌸

@stephenfarthing1522 4 ай бұрын

I was almost singing it again! Improvising a bass line!

@thesmithensemble4053 4 ай бұрын

So fun! I bet you are sounding pretty good! Nice to have that carol going through your heart and mind! 🎶🌸

@stephenfarthing1522 4 ай бұрын

I actually have a copy of this Carol in front of me! And I have it in the English Hymnal. I decided to follow it through. And figure it out. I quite like the carol and I tend to believe and think that Sir John Stainer who composed the original carol - might have appreciated your approach to this! I certainly so do.

@thesmithensemble4053 4 ай бұрын

@stephenfarthing1522 so kind of you Stephen! Yes! A beautiful carol!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

@stephenfarthing1522 Thank you for your kind words! Hope Sir John Stainer likes it. So grateful for his beautiful music. In our hymnal there are currently only two verses. We enjoyed the additional ones in this arrangement done by our friend. 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

Sir John Stainer was a composer in the 19th century. And born in 1841 he passed away in the first several months of the 20th century. He was a Choristers composer and his biggest claim to choral fame was Crucifixion- a compilation

@charliedrosario999 4 ай бұрын

Listening to this music makes me wish I was still a Catholic

@thesmithensemble4053 4 ай бұрын

It is never too late to continue to worship God and participate Charlie! We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and so much enjoy honoring God and expressing gratitude through music. Thank you for listening and commenting! 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

I quite agree!

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

It's occurred to me- that the Choristers prayer applies

@stephenfarthing1522 5 ай бұрын

I'm starting to look at Christmas Carols and a Church Chorister I listen very carefully to variations and I think back to past Christmases and thinking of my family and how it's going to be different. But I hold to the Chorister Prayer and what I sing with my lips I bring forth to my heart. And that's giving me the courage to carry on! I sincerely hope that you might one day come to Britain and I get the chance to meet you! I hold to that as well! I guess that makes me quite a fan of yours!

@thesmithensemble4053 4 ай бұрын

So fun that you have started listening to Christmas carols! 🎶 Christmas and family go together. I hope you feel much peace as you choose your carols and sing your hymns! Music does bring so much solace to our souls. It would be a dream to come to Great Britain and perform. We love it there! Such beautiful surroundings, people and history. We hope to meet you someday as well! Dreams can come true!

@stephenfarthing1522 4 ай бұрын

All things come of thee! Indeed, Indeed!

@stephenfarthing1522 4 ай бұрын

I was listening to this! My glasses fell off! Hmmm! You could say that I made a bit of a ' spectacle ' of myself! Oh well!

@thesmithensemble4053 3 ай бұрын

😂

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

@thesmithensemble4053 I guess I successfully broke you all up! Mind you - who laughed first? 😉

@stephenfarthing1522 5 ай бұрын

I'm almost singing this on the bus this afternoon! I do know it - very well indeed!

@thesmithensemble4053 5 ай бұрын

I am so happy! What a great song to have singing in your head! 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 3 ай бұрын

And appropriate for Harvest as well!

@brendavillalona8497 5 ай бұрын

Amen.

@thesmithensemble4053 5 ай бұрын

Thank you Brenda.🌸🙏

@stephenfarthing3819 5 ай бұрын

I have a further story to tell. Last Sunday morning service was for our Vicar of St Martin's Church in Knowle, Bristol and she was to become the New Archdeacon of Bristol Cathedral. As a choir we had practiced the Rutter Blessing and a traditional anthem for that service. After the service there was a bit of an extra surprise for her. I actually sang a traditional Maori song - in the native Maori language for her - And it was!!!! Pokarekare Ana for her! There's a bit of a story attatched to this. I had originally been practicing it to construct a bridge of sympathy and support from Britain to New Zealand with the intention of giving both sympathy and support to the people of New Zealand, who had suffered a terrible atrocity by one individual who went on the rampage in March 2019 - I had spent a year figuring it out. But of course, what happened in 2020 - was the Pandemic! It was intended to tag a hymn to it ' Beauty for Brokeness' in fact. And then I would have taken up the slack and in Maori sang 'Pokekarekare Ana' but the Pandemic screwed up the notional idea. However, I had a surprise for Becky Waring and after the service on the 4th August of this year 2024 ! I had a go at it and .. Well! I think that I surprised myself as well. And it went down very well. Oh and it's year of origin was 1914! I was well commended for it. I managed to go through it - Acapella - with no flaws! I don't regret doing so! The translation of it was " I will write a letter to you!' at least in part. It seemed to be appropriate.

@thesmithensemble4053 5 ай бұрын

So glad your surprise worked out so well! So sorry your other planning was delayed, but it sounds like you added a beautiful part to the service. Thank you for sharing! “All things shall work together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28)

@kangdaniel158 6 ай бұрын

@thesmithensemble4053 6 ай бұрын

Hope you enjoyed it! 🌺

@zoyailluschenko5173 6 ай бұрын

Amazing!♥️

@thesmithensemble4053 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! So glad you like it! 💛🎶

@DanoffRoad 7 ай бұрын

Very well done. Ye shall I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fell no evil.

@thesmithensemble4053 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Dan! 🌺🎶

@DanoffRoad 7 ай бұрын

I was watching this last night and welled up. I just came back from meeting up with my dad, he has Alzhiemers and while I was was out I remember thinking he always needs someone to watch over him , a Shepard. I also thought there but for the grace of God I go. It just made me well up.

@littlellamblet 7 ай бұрын

My bretheren, I have found a land that doth abound with fruit as sweet as honey; The more I eat I find, The more I am inclined To shout and sing Hosanna. My soul doth long to go where I may fully know, The glory of my Savior; And as I pass along, I'll sing the Christian song I'm going to live forever. Perhaps you think me wild, Or simple as a child; I am a child of glory; I am born from above, My soul is filled with love; I love to tell the story. My soul now sits and sings and practices it's wings, And contemplates the hour When the messenger shall say 'Come quit this house of clay, And with bright angels tower.' And as I pass along I'll sing the Christian song I'm going to live forever, Forever.

@thesmithensemble4053 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting these inspiring words so others can follow along. Such a beautiful song. 🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 9 ай бұрын

Hello again! Sorry that I haven't been in touch lately! It's been just hectic and my news has shadowed more instances of some tragic and sad losses- in this case- my older brother passed away just a few weeks before Christmas! He and my Sister in law were interred in a local cemetery with my mother and neighbours from my old street in Bristol. Along with my Aunty and her grandchild! I am going to be in some level of mourning for some time to come - but thankfully I have been very preoccupied and I have an Ascension Service at St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol to get sorted out with! I shall be starting on that - tonight and tomorrow on Monday! So there it is! I have much to keep me busy along with work as well!

@thesmithensemble4053 8 ай бұрын

Nice to hear from you Stephen. So sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. Hope you find much peace and comfort through our Savior Jesus Christ. It sounds like you are doing many good things to keep your mind and heart turned towards God. Carry on!

@stephenfarthing1522 8 ай бұрын

@thesmithensemble4053 I'm not sure but Howard Goodall did a version of Love Divine

@janh4250 10 ай бұрын

Have found 2 other lovely versions of this but think yours is my favorite! Love the violin with!!

@thesmithensemble4053 10 ай бұрын

How kind of you! Thank you! 🎶🙏🎻

@SarahHarris-hx6ec 10 ай бұрын

I love this!!

@thesmithensemble4053 10 ай бұрын

Thank you Sarah! 🌸🙏

@willow6228 10 ай бұрын

The most beautiful version of this hymn - just magnificent. Thank you..

@thesmithensemble4053 10 ай бұрын

You are so welcome. So grateful for your kind words. 🎶🌸

@davidharr9963 11 ай бұрын

Terrific harmony, feel good music . Hope you success and continued songs!

@thesmithensemble4053 11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much David! 🎶

@davidharr9963 11 ай бұрын

You are so welcome !@@thesmithensemble4053

@Iheartdacshunds 11 ай бұрын

Could somebody do this again with lyrics please??x

@thesmithensemble4053 10 ай бұрын

Good idea! We could put them in the notes for now if that would be helpful.❣️

@IraGun 11 ай бұрын

♥️

@thesmithensemble4053 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! 💛🎶

@stephenfarthing3819 11 ай бұрын

December 6th will forever be a day I shall definitely remember and this carol I will also hear again! Next year. In Christmas 2024

@thesmithensemble4053 11 ай бұрын

🎶🙏🎶

@stephenfarthing1522 Ай бұрын

I hear it again! 😂😢 And I recall!

@veronicaguyader9997 Жыл бұрын

My favorite hymn. Love hearing the lower tones!

@thesmithensemble4053 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for your kind comment! So grateful you were able to enjoy your favorite hymn. It is definitely a favorite of ours as well. 🎶😊🙏

@stephenfarthing3819 Жыл бұрын

Oh my goodness! One of my favourite Christmas Carols. And the Smith Ensemble choir! Has expanded expotentially! You know I would have enjoyed singing this with you. Love to see you tackle Rutter's Candlelight Carol! Perhaps something for you to consider - belated happy new year to you all!

@thesmithensemble4053 Жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen, so grateful you enjoyed our rendition of The First Noel arranged by our friend, Jared Pearce. Yes. We did include some of our older grandchildren this time. We have nine now! Soon to be 11. How quickly they grow! Hopefully you can enjoy singing with the recording. 🎶We remember singing Candlelight Carol years ago with our church choir. (I may have mentioned that we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.) You can’t go wrong with Rutter! Hope this year is full of blessings for you. 🙏Thanks for your support! -The Smith Family

@stephenfarthing3819 Жыл бұрын

@@thesmithensemble4053 The Candlelight Carol has perhaps helped me to deal with a sense of grief and bereavement. My older brother passed away almost three weeks prior to Christmas. Turned it into a somewhat bittersweet period of time for me. I actually had a part to pursue in his funeral service as well. I was taken unwell shortly before Christmas itself. I wasn't sure if I would be in my church choir for the Christmas Eve service - this time about. My brother's funeral was on the 4th of this month of January. I have recovered but I felt different. I took a few days away from Bristol immediately after the funeral service. Spent it at Wells. I spoke at my brother's funeral. Not easy to do so! But I felt I had to do so! The second verse of the Candlelight Carol featured in my words. As a Church Chorister of the Church of England - I did so! I think that you know the words of that - well! It was appropriate. Those at the service told me that I had chosen well! It's still early days for me! But going away for a few days immediately afterwards was essential to do so! It's not going to be easy to face the rest of it. Grief needs to take it's time. I intend sorting out a holiday break for later in this year. I'm exploring possibilities for that. In the meantime, I will continue to serve as a Church Chorister in St Martin's Church in Knowle in Bristol. The Chorister Prayer also figures there - as well! " Bless - O Lord, us thy servants who administer in thy temple ! What we may sing with our lips, we make believe in our hearts and what we may believe in our hearts -may we bring forth into our lives. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen" I may have gotten it slightly incorrect! But the gist of it! Continues to inspire me!

@stephenfarthing3819 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for that! Christmas last December was a little bit different for me. My older brother suffered a stroke in 2021 and was left in a depleted condition afterwards. About several weeks before I heard your version of the First Noel carol. He passed away on the 6th of December of last year. It left me in a bittersweet period over the Christmas period and indeed, I was taken unwell for a few days before the main services. Wasn't sure if I was going to rebound from that. In time. Thankfully, I did do so! But the funeral service was dated to the 4th of this month of January of this year! And I had been both dreading it and fearing it - as well! I was going to have to speak at it. I did - but it wasn't easy! I drew on my knowledge as a Church Chorister and using words from the Candlelight Carol by John Rutter - I coped.. I also went off immediately from that service to get out of Bristol for a few days. I chose to go to Wells and spent two hours on the Friday morning of the 5th January in the Cathedral. I sat in the Quire area of it for reflection. I had a lot of contemplating to do. It was about then ! I heard your " First Noel " carol. I was impressed with it. Of course, I know how traditionally it goes. It was one of these things that put it into perspective and I have always liked it! So thank you for that version. It helped.

@stephenfarthing1522 5 ай бұрын

I am starting to look at Christmas Carols and I hope that I get to do Rutter's ' Candlelight Carol ' this year - it's in the consideration pot for this year's Christmas Services at St Martin's. I know it fairly well! And I very much want to do it this year - especially with connection with the 6th December of this year! It's where I would much like to do it! And I would want to. I guess the last 8 months have been ones that has tested me! It doesn't mean that I am ignoring the other Carols- not in the slightest and I'm looking forward to one carol which I definitely enjoy the bass line of - O Little Town of Bethlehem ! That traditional carol remains a big favourite of mine at Christmas. There's a second version of it that's sung in the USA if memory serves! So I do know both versions. Two traditional Carols ' In the Bleak Midwinter ' and 'Silent Night ' were popular with Soldiers in both the Allies and German armies during WW1. Often these two Carols were sung from the front lines of trenches. Which must have produced a unique harmonising over the battlefield. Though British Soldiers would oft sing ' Silent Night' as well over the Christmas periods of 1914 and 1915. Competition by song and not by bullet, shell or bomb. Hmm! Something to think about! I'm sure that will be fascinating to you guys ! These truces at Christmas would barely last a couple of hours. I should add that both high commands put a stop to it in 1916 and 1917. And although cordial wishes were exchanged from both lines - it ended Christmas truces during wartime conditions.

@stephenfarthing3819 Жыл бұрын

😭

@stephenfarthing3819 Жыл бұрын

I have just had a few days in Wells and it's not been the easiest of times - it's nice to hear your version of Amazing Grace and having had the loss of my older brother to contest with. I'm heading back home now! I appreciate your efforts! Both past and present!

@thesmithensemble4053 Жыл бұрын

So sorry about the loss of your brother. May you feel peace and comfort from our Savior Jesus Christ. 🙏🌹 Thank you for your kind words. Hope you had safe travels.

@stephenfarthing3819 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for that! I do appreciate it! Bit late for saying so.

@thesmithensemble4053 11 ай бұрын

You are so right. I apologize for my late response. I thought I had responded and realized I hadn’t. Thanks for your forgiving heart.

@stephenfarthing3819 11 ай бұрын

@@thesmithensemble4053 So sorry! I meant myself. In return of my thanks. I still appreciate it.

@BrookeFoyt Жыл бұрын

Adore this!

@thesmithensemble4053 Жыл бұрын

So kind of you. Thank you!🙏🌸

@lisaw.1601 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely gorgeous ! The voices and the scenery! I have been to that meadow. What a beautiful choice of location. I sent this to all of my extended family today and am posting on my Facebook page. Thank you for sharing the spirit of the Lord and your talents with us!

@thesmithensemble4053 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! So grateful you enjoyed it. We appreciate you sharing it. Merry Christmas! 🎄❣️