Ave verum corpus (Byrd) The Gesualdo Six at Ely Cathedral

[@mikeq7134]

This beautiful piece usually is sung by choirs. When sung by just six voices, the polyphony is much clearer and more readily followed. Thanks for posting this fine performance.

[@sopranoaliciairigoyenpons4661]

Totally agree

[@blauekatze18]

Agreed!

[@pmartz57]

Heavenly

[@thomassicard3733]

I am nearing completion, upon hearing this.

[@MerricMaker]

Possibly the best close harmony of any choir today; including Voces8, King's, and Chanticleer. But I just can't get over Gopal's eyes in this video. It's like TENOR EYE LASERS. GO!

[@thomassicard3733]

He is definitely watching his conductor, as one does!!!

[@mavisemberson8737]

I think he was an exchange student studying music of the period.

[@christopherhaywood9167]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRACK, BUT EARLY AUGUST 2021 I WAS READING A BOOK "10 PRAYERS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD" IN MY GARDEN JUST OPPOSITE THE CHURCH AT CLODOCK IN HEREFORDSHIRE. THIS WONDERFUL SOUND WAFTED OVER ME (THE SIX IN PRACTICE FOR THE EVING EVENT) AND I WAS IN WONDER AT THE EFFECT IT HAD ON ME. THEIR SOUND WAS WAFTING OUT OF THE CHURCH AND OVER TO ME IN MY GARDEN READING THIS EQUALY AMAZING BOOK. I WAS JUST MESMERISED BY THE SOUND, WENT OVER TO THE CHURCH AND LISTENED TO THEM PRACTISING. IT IS SOMETHING I SHALL TREASURE ALL MY LIFE CHRIS HAYWOOD OF CLODOCK.

[@alorr5751]

What a wonderful memory to have. Their perfection makes me want to cry I feel sure if I were listening to them live that would happen

[@martinlwf1]

The musicianship of the tenor is outstanding. Blends in to the point of not noticing him - except for harmonically interesting phrases here and there. Stunning from the whole choir

[@34Arran]

This performance with just the six voices really does it for me. Byrd’s Ave Verum is the most beautiful of all the settings of this piece, in my opinion. His heartfelt longing for Catholic devotion in an environment where such devotion was potentially deadly just oozes from every note. Sublime!

[@inesdavis5873]

The Gesualdo Six goes beyond the rationality of the simplicity of the human being. Master voices.

[@xris9593]

They are so attuned to each other. Around 1:40, 1:45, during a solo of the second-highest voice, see how the highest singer is silently singing along in his mind.

[@LindaPgh]

Xris Thanks for pointing that out. It’s delightful.

[@mikeseabrooks7978]

To be clear, that part is not a solo, it sounds like a solo because in a full choir, you will have a lot more voices. If you want, i can show you the exact sheet music they are using as its the same as the one in my choir.

[@williamtruby5840]

I had the pleasure of performing this in college with a full choir. The sound that just 6 voices can produce is just amazing. The smaller group allows for a more sharp contrast between the voice parts, especially in the upper voices. Well done! Brings back so many memories :)

[@HeavenlyCrim]

This is honestly the best rendition of Ave Verum Corpus I’ve heard in a while. I’m contrast to a full choir’s overall power, I like the subtle yet comforting feeling of a smaller ensemble really laying the foundation of the chords together… giving them true light. I throughly enjoyed the 1st counter-tenor’s distinct tone color, but the 2nd counter-tenor had to be my favorite. His higher register is phenomenal, but what really did it for me, was his awareness of the other voice parts, adapting, and using his subtle but prominent tone to blend accordingly.

[@rcolinbryant]

I am forever grateful for this sheer beauty. I just need a box of tissues to continually blot my eyes. Angelic.

[@tomreingold4024]

I performed this work last month with Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble in NYC, so I particularly love it. Wonderful performance here by The Gesualdo Six.

[@thechimp1963]

This has got to be my favourite Ave Verum Corpus. I especially like the the amen... I'm trying to get my choir master to do this one!

[@walteraquino5221]

Pieza de polifonía verdaderamente intemporal.

[@davidjones1235]

Breath taking. And, no one but no one does amens like William Byrd, well Andrea Gabrieli I guess

[@gerarddelpech9213]

Une version supplémentaire de l' Ave Vérum. Cette fois celle de mister Bird, dans une interprétation comme j'aime, claire et équilibrée.

[@LIFEOFLEM]

I also performed this in my university choir and it's remained a firm favourite of mine. Beautiful rendition - thank you.

[@Unicorn-jj2og]

This is beautiful! I'm learning the tenor part and the sounds are amazing especially 'O dul cis.....miserere mei' lines

[@jtaylor3228]

I've performed this with madrigal singers, but this piece with just six voices is magnificent! Bravo!

[@jonkjolstad]

Splendid, clear interpretation. Thank you.

[@katetaylor1466]

Effortlessly sublime....

[@dominionlad8468]

Undoubtedly the best recording of this moving piece, the setting of which was written by the recusant William Byrd as a lament for the loss of the "old faith". Henry VIII died a Catholic, separated from Rome, but still adhering to the tenets of the faith. Under his son, Edward VI, and steered by Cramner, the true damage was done. The accoustics of the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, brutally vandalized by religious zealots during the Reformation, are second to none.

[@peterpeecock7721]

Someone told me the damage to the Lady Chapel was by Oliver Cromwell's people. Dont know how true this is. But, he did live in Ely at one time.

[@mavisemberson8737]

Cranmer was a learned man and knew the weaknesses of the current Church in doctrine at that time. The French had seemed to take over the Papacy and so Henry VIII had to break free from them and the Pope or he would be tied feudally to take part in the French King's wars H e had lost a lot of the population in recurrent outbreaks of plague so needed to retain men for the army of England and Wales.

[@JoanKentBible]

Sublime.

[@martinfiaysr4942]

Wow great throughout, I’m a counter tenor , haven’t sung in over 18 years and appreciate great singing when I hear it

[@sopranoaliciairigoyenpons4661]

Beautiful And relaxing

[@Somebody12343]

Heaven should sound like this...

[@deanreinking439]

Fantastic!.....Incredible!.....Heavenly!

[@86Tachibana]

I sang this song when I was in high school.

[@thomassicard3733]

Sublime. Beautiful. Many thanks!

[@gabrieleluparello3312]

Happy to hear "in crucem" and "o dulcis" and not "in crusem" and "o dulsis" from an english choir. Bravo!

[@r1p2m32]

Wow! What purity, what joy!

[@richardkramer1631]

Exquisite

[@matttaylor9087]

wow - really nice.

[@eguildhall9799]

Very lovely indeed

[@cubearcub]

This is crack for the ear and the soul

[@marinaassanti3415]

Molto bella!!!

[@sylviamatthies2049]

Very lovely!

[@adosindadias2099]

Belíssimo.

[@PeterHopeTindall]

wow

[@mariahelenastracke9760]

Lindíssimo!

[@dwaynehicks8598]

Absolutely wonderful. The way it sounds reminds us the famous Hilliard ensemble. I don't understand the need of a conductor, though. When such a level is reached, it's useless.

[@TheMadisonHang]

Old friend Where are you now

[@ОльгаБыстрова-т5г]

💓💓💓👋🌹

[@ТатьянаМухортова-к8н]

💖🌹👏👏🌿🕊

[@JohnStopman]

A Sikh singing a christian work of polyphonic art? How intersting! ^^

[@eugeniomorais7041]

I want to serve Jesus Christ in High-Church of Anglican Church How can i do?

[@ransomcoates546]

It would be interesting to know how perfect intonation became less and less important in European singing. I suppose it's certain physical necessities imposed on singers who must make large operatic sounds.

[@peterpeecock7721]

Tuning is an interesting problem. Bear in mind that we now have equal temperament where, in theory, only the octaves are 'perfect': major thirds are seriously wide and fifths are slightly narrow, compared to the perfect or mathematically exact interval. Equal temperamant 'enables' very reaonable tuning in all keys. Why else the Bach 48? Could go on with much more material but wont...

[@selgeaus]

Which heartless individuals "disliked" this?? P.s. the videographer is not the best but the sound produced by the group is phenomenal

[@paulquinn7282]

Do Anglicans believe in The Living Presence?

[@gilbertolovric5176]

Paul, Willian Byrd was not an anglican, it is catholic

[@patriciamondragon255]

Better than Mozart’s... 😁😁😁

[@tobiasstudtheol]

Well, both are testimonies of their time. That means both a valuable but we can't distinguish which is technically better. Although we can have a personal preference based on our taste and that means something else.

[@phillipgabrielli1]

Beethoven is reported to have said that Mozart's "Ave Verum" is the most perfect/beautiful piece of music ever written.

[@el7284]

I really dislike that the director never allows the music to fully breathe, slightly rushing certain cadences like at "Sanguine" and "Mariae". I love the second countertenor - his voice is evocative of a really older style. Going back to the Tallis Scholars.

[@nickdouglass421]

I respect your criticisms naturally--everyone to their own etc but Owain Park (The Director, Founder and Conductor) is a hugely experienced musician who was a pupil of John Rutter and also an esteemed Composer in his own right. I am quite happy to listen to his interpretation and respect his judgement therefore. No offence is you by the way. "Vive la différence" !

[@el7284]

@@nickdouglass421 That's generally true. However, educational background alone does not make one relevant. There were sections of dramatical possibility that went woefully unrealised, and I just happen to be a bit finicky about those things. Edit: Luckily, Guy James' solo performance was enough to settle me so win-win

[@nickdouglass421]

@@el7284 Fair enough! Am not experienced enough to make further criticisms. You mentioned the Tallis Scholars. My F.R.C.O. friend was Peter Phillips' close acquaintance at college MANY years ago. Small world.....

[@wesleyaraujo2684]

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk o cara arregala mó zoiao para canta vei kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[@KSfan4ever]

I wish they sang without a conductor like The Kings Singers.

[@cosborne06]

I love it with Owain conducting, his movements w the vocals adds something special.

[@TaylorLSexton]

@@cosborne06 I agree. I was just watching their performance of "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel," and I was moved by how Owain's conducting really serves the group. He is very reserved and his movements are small, but they are very meaningful and give really good direction to the group, all without being in the way.

[@mikeq7134]

It's harder, with the separate entrances in polyphonic music, to dispense with a conductor.

[@johnfisher247]

I pray the Sikh convert to the same religion as William Byrd.

[@pirx0]

classa