Benedict Sheehan: Vespers ("The Song of Simeon")

[@TheOktavismChannel]

Simply amazing composing from Sheehan and unfathomable singing from Glenn!

[@cantoris72855]

Recording this was truly one of the highlights of my career, not just as a singer and a musician but more importantly because it was an act of prayer. As I was singing it, while I was so very conscious about getting every note as spot on and as centered as I could and always with a feeling of musical line and shape, I was keenly aware that this was going to be a major life statement, drawing water from a deep well of prayer and longing from across the millennia all the way back to Simeon. Here I was called by the grace of God, drawing from my own lifetime of singing, to be the vehicle to bring Benedict's vision of these words, timeless words that have been prayed across the centuries each and every day by countless religious and lay persons both living today and those who have passed from this life into the next (who someday I will join, leaving this recording behind), uniting my voice with theirs. For our eyes have seen, through Benedict's eyes, Thy salvation...

[@eduarddurech5188]

Thank you so very much, deeply and humbly. May God bless you, Benedict, the choir, and production beautifully. These works are ineffable, inexpressible, and magnificent. The divinity in these works are such a pure, ethereal expression of the celestial and uncover in the listener his essence with the divine. These works are truly a masterpiece and I feel will be remembered for the ages. Thank you again

[@nadjaromanovskaya4254]

Браво!!! Bravo !!!🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐

[@crisha721]

Your artistry is inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing those lovely and unique vocals filled with emotion

[@chantegrave]

Glenn Miller has grown more and more impressive over the years.

[@rtsbass7829]

Firstly, Glenn is truly a miracle! Singing down to an F#1 in chest is just... wow... Glenn was right about his attitude about his 1st octave deep and rumble chest notes. In the interview with Alexander Mayang he said that he think of his voice as of one entire thing - "It's all part of a whole thing" - Although he is mostly known for his low range, his top is also cool - *Chested C4 and D4* Also, nice to see Thou Yang in a choir as an oktavist!

[@elliotportner8020]

So very dense beauty and sacred delivery from a special bass and ardent choir performing an especial sacred piece together in beautifully rendered composition

[@brucecampbell6133]

I know of no other Basso Profundo that can accurately sing well tuned melodic lines below B2 down to F1 (OK, F#1 in this amazing piece). Incredible voice and artistry!

[@analogman9697]

Only elephants can hear/produce frequencies that low lol.

[@ВасилийЧорный-к9г]

Oktavists St. Peterburg Capella Yury Bonka. Subcontra oktava kzbin.infoq6KtnGgK7cA?si=6igabI9I9HsN79zM

[@AndreasJohanns]

Glenn's voice--tambour, range, and dark chest depth--is so rare I doubt that we'll hear other soloists sing this without upping the scale and form here, which sounds like the director wrote for Glenn.

[@ВасилийЧорный-к9г]

He will sing kzbin.infoq6KtnGgK7cA?si=6igabI9I9HsN79zM

[@ToddFansler-i7w]

I had the privilege of singing as a section leader and soloist with the professional choir of Kirk in the Hills in Michigan at its peak under Glenn's direction, from 1996 until I relocated in 2012. There were many wonderful musical experiences, although we rarely heard him as a soloist. I listened to this recording a few months ago, but I choked up when I returned to it today. What extraordinary music and what extraordinary singing. Perhaps not as well known is the equally extraordinary twelve-year youth choral program that Glenn built at the Kirk and that so greatly influenced many young lives, both musically and spiritually. What a gift Glenn is to those who know him and have sung with him. May your song continue long to praise God and bless your hearers, dear friend.

[@cantoris72855]

Thanks Todd. You were an exemplary section leader and a pillar of the program at the Kirk. Thank you for being such a great gift to us all.

[@Marcell0Bass]

4:12 sounds like he goes to an E1 here before going to that F#1 that he stays on for a ridiculous amount of time

[@bass2yang]

It is indeed E1; pretty much in between F1 and E1. The basses sing an E2 immediately after it.

Beautiful. Superb. I got the range, but not the projection. I bow to that bass singer.

[@robertsantine2090]

Just heard Glenn perform this piece with Audivi in Detroit. His power in the lower register is incredible.

[@shawnhampton8503]

The incredible Glenn Miller!!!! Unreal. So beautiful!!

[@janesna7953]

What an amazing bass! And the choral background. Just beautiful!

[@isaiahbaggett5014]

Just watched an interview with Glenn Miller and he said this piece was written for him. That's so cool!

[@akiprof]

Simply a brilliant composition from Benedict! You continue to amaze me and you have such a beautiful gift given from God. I’d love to sing under your direction one day.

[@parkermize]

Whoa

[@francisdesmarais4840]

Very moving! And I admire the influence, intended or not, of the settings of Maxime Kovalesky, especially his setting of the Bridegroom Hymn of the Holy Week Matins.

[@nadjaromanovskaya4254]

Браво!!! Bravo !!!🙏💐💐💐

[@bassmanxan3544]

My director sang with him in grad school! Crazy stuff, I wish I could sound like Glenn Miller

[@galenbrubaker5603]

No way mine too!!

[@bassmanxan3544]

@@galenbrubaker5603 What a crazy small world!

[@PS-vm3we]

This music is truly sacred. What a stunning composition.

[@lonemapper]

LOVE IT!!!!

[@estherhardy6550]

Beautiful

[@GlennAustin829]

3:35 best blends4:20

[@LuxGamer4ever]

I like how you can see Mr. Miller smile before his entrance at 3:34. He knows a good cadence :)

[@TropicalGardeningCyprus]

Wow!!!!!

[@hlukhi]

Как интересно! Вижу и Тоу Янга, вижу и Гленна Миллера разумеется, вижу православных священников в рясах и с крестами, круто! Кстати, священники - греки, или русские?

[@bronsonleach3573]

I think that is a American Orthodox church they are speaking English. I know Glenn Miller is part of the Russian Orthodox church in the United States

[@OrthodoxPlatypus]

☦️ Beautiful; powerful subharmonics

[@TheOktavismChannel]

Not subharmonics, actually: that’s Glenn’s normal range!

[@OrthodoxPlatypus]

@@TheOktavismChannel I stand corrected 🤯

[@hlukhi]

Это естественный голос с грудным звучанием, а никакие не субгармоники.

[@bronsonleach3573]

@@OrthodoxPlatypus It is a common misconception but octavists don't use any subharmonics. We are just naturally low basses.

[@JohnJelinek]

Can someone share the lyrics? I can't find it on genius

[@cappellaromanainc]

The full text is available in the album booklet, available at cappellaromana.org/sheehanvespers/

[@pedroakjr2371]

Unbelievable.

[@JM-lg9tv]

Is Glenn Miller, in fact, an oktavist? I have never heard him employ subharmonic technique in any video of his I’ve seen. ALL CHEST VOICE!

[@MultiKamil97]

He is.

[@bass2yang]

TL;DR: Glenn is a basso profundo who also sings as an oktavist for choirs. The term 'Oktavist' is typically used to label the lowest bass part in a choir. Oktavists may also sing the normal written bass part (or certain notes on cadences, etc.) down the octave just like an organist would employ the pedals on an organ for music depending on the piece, conductor, and proper performance practices for the style. In a choir, a baritone or even tenor who can employ notes below the staff can operate as an oktavist so long as it is musical, sustainable, and balanced. Usually, the term "basso profondo (profundo)" which means "bass deep" is reserved for a soloist (and not limited to choir) and it is a specific voice type rather than just being a part that one sings in an ensemble. Basso profondo is the Italian equivalent of the German Fach System voice type "seriöser bass" which also has dramatic and lyric labels. Glenn's timbre/voice type is basso profondo - deep low bass. In this capacity, Glenn is the soloist singing notes below the bass clef staff (and a few notes above it). Basso profondo is the voice type required to fulfill the director's vision of the piece (which requires a low F1 all the way up to a Bb3 I believe). Subharmonic technique is a generalized term used to define harmonics that occur below the normal fundamental based on certain vocal fold settings that are not typical in normal phonation. There are different forms/techniques and ways to produce contraoctave notes and "subharmonics" in its general use of the term typically refers to "True Vocal Fold Undertones" or "True Vocal Fold Subharmonics". Glenn doesn't use any of that. This is all Glenn and he is an amazing musician and colleague. It was a joy to work along side him on this project.

[@matthewdockray9745]

@@bass2yang great explanation

[@everydaywithethanyt]

hes like THE oktavist bro lol

[@ДенисГригорьев-к7л]

Гленн Миллер- Октавист, грудной диапазон на октаву ниже ,чем Бас. А Бас на октаву ниже ,чем Тенор. Ведь Тенор не Бас, совсем разные типы голоса😊

[@nickstone3113]

Such a delight to hear. Rachmaninoff will bow in his grave ! And Greek America and it's cheap organ playing be shown for what it is. This is the future for English speaking orthodoxy .God bless

[@kuddes6]

I really don't think it's necessary to denigrate others to point out how good this music is. Poor form.

[@Bass2Rob]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Mr. Miller? I can’t find any emails, socials, numbers, etc…

[@DavidKrautscheid]

if you have facebook you can contact him there personaly