East Carolina University Chamber Singers - Good Night, Dear Heart

Good Night, Dear Heart by Dan Forrest (b. 1978)
East Carolina University Chamber Singers
Dr. Andrew Crane, conductor
Recorded live at Peace Presbyterian Church, Winterville, NC

[@lindseypass6652]

This is my favorite choral piece of all time. I've listened to it countless times and it still brings tears to my eyes.

[@brandonjamar]

I lost my dog of 11 years yesterday and this song is really soothing. Thank you.

[@smritiprasai616]

You will see your pet again. Jesus Christ is your Savior. As long as you believe, love, and dedicate your life to Jesus, you will be reunited with your pet. Your dog is in Heaven 😊 I’m sending you a hug from this comment 🤗 God loves you 😘 have a nice day 💙💙

[@christianmartinez8280]

These words and arrangement brought me to a sense of peace I thought I’d never feel again after my dad passed away...

[@Emmy01077]

Beautiful! sopranos were beautiful and light, altos clean, beautiful voices, tenors and basses yasss!

[@ashvalentine517]

I’ve listened to this I kid you not ten times today, count it ten (10) times, and have sobbed hysterically every single damn time. I can’t stop thinking about my Howell high school choir group that sang this last year. We had such a good connection. Half of them were seniors who had to leave us behind as they moved on to the great unknown flowering of adult life. This year we have had a pretty good connection with the new set of people but I miss this beauty and connection our group had last year. : ( I pray whoever reads this does not feel this soul crushing sadness this song brings to me because I can’t take it. I can’t stop sobbing. Bravo. Bravo.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

To die for!

[@lunaheart2197]

Today high school choir came to my school and sang this and it brought me to tears.

[@jasmingarcia6261]

I learned this song freshman year in choir and now I'm a senior graduating on Friday. This is the song we seniors are going to do. This song brings back so many memories and emotions.

[@Augustwww]

I believe the man who composed this song was adopting a child from Africa with his wife but the poor girl died before she could get to America. And this song was dedicated to her from him.

[@emmahutchinson5811]

it was actually his brother who was going to adopt the child, and he arranged this song based on words that were written on Mark Twain's daughter's grave. His daughter also died unexpectedly at a young age.

[@paulacoyle5685]

J Hutchinson heartbreaking. The first time I heard this song on MPR I was driving and almost had to pull over I was immediately in tears thinking of all the loved ones that have gone before. I still can’t get through it. It is so poignant and beautiful.

[@shirleybeyah3976]

It speaks to all types of loss of anything beloved.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

Mark Twain put the words of this beautiful song on his little daughter’s gravestone.

[@JordanBahrPian-UkePlayer]

Megan, Forrest's brother, Jacob, and his wife were the ones who were to adopt the 4-month old girl from Ethiopia before she passed. Dan found the picture of Susy Clemens' headstone and set the text to music.

[@00SNIVY00]

I've listened to this once before, but I never thought it would make me cry.

[@cinnamonswirl3677]

I have been looking for this song for 3 yrs now i used to be in choir and i sang this song but i had forgotten the name of it but now i know it thank you !

[@humanbeing1117]

Cinnamon Swirl I’m glad you found it

[@attacsloth]

I've heard and reviewed lots of groups, and sang in many, and you all have one of the best, well blended, and purely beautiful sounds I've ever heard. Well done, and keep doing what you're doing.

[@PABWECG]

I heard this first as an instrumental arrangement, and my feeling was that it was so uplifting, that it's musical message was that all is well and all will be well with the world. As I hear the lyrics, and read about the story behind this piece, I am amazed. To let go of someone so dear, to grieve that loss, and to have this piece express love in such a way that it lifts the listeners heart! Amazing. So beautiful. And such a performance. Thank you!

[@ashvalentine517]

This song makes me want to die when I listen to it alone. I feel like everything has been accomplished, even though it has not, and I am flashing briefly through memories before I die. The second time they go through ‘warm summer sun’, and the altos fall behind with a ‘shine kindly here’, and it all echoes like the grief of my friends and family interlocking who would miss me. I think of the legacy I would leave behind and it would be next to nothing because there isn’t anything notable I have accomplished, as I’ve only let the soft animal of my body love what it loves; music, beauty, art; and have not stirred up drama in my life, shy as I am. I feel a deep poetic connection to this song even if it makes me want to die. Thank you for letting me live in my darkest feelings for a good couple of minutes, sometimes that’s all we need to realize the importance of life and the fragility of it.

[@lamargalloway4556]

This is a absolutely gorgeous song. Well done here.

[@srnorris58]

Just watched this again, for perhaps the 30th time over the past several years, and it occurs to me these vocal artists are really painting such a rich and subtle work. The themes of this song are of such depth and mystery. This work is such a gift to us all. This piece, done by these singers is really the definition of sublime. Thank you so much!

[@tbrew222]

cried a little 😢

[@carlose.johansson739]

Beautiful song and the performance just perfect 🇸🇪👍😊

[@SiIverVenom]

I'm a senior in high school and this is my college of choice. I want to major in music education or performance. I have only been in a chorus in elementary school but had decided to join my school's chamber choir because I had joined the musical my junior year. the teacher said I was good and asked me to try out. so far, I'm loving the class! I know a lot of people in there so its not so awkward and the people are amazing. best decision I've ever made! (btw I've been in band all throughout middle and high school so I'm doing both this year) definitely going to do both when entering university if possible.

[@barbaramachado1015]

VENOM GAMING i hope it’s going well for you!

[@leoniechristin4293]

Der Unterschied zum Menschen ist die Musik!!

[@TimChampion1112]

brilliant. this made me cry! the balance was perfect and thank you Dan Forrest for this amazing song.

[@TheTedanddenise]

Stumbled upon this while listening to Festival Gloria - gorgeous - thanks!!

[@judykemp7904]

My Alma Mater! Beautiful performance.

[@MsKTMvalley]

Beautiful.

[@rowanwhistler]

Lovely singing!

[@blunk778]

Beautiful work Mr conductor very nice

[@emiolian]

Beautiful piece and fabulous performance :-)

[@awozniak22]

This is beautiful...the best recording by far on youtube.

[@herbie424]

Well done.

[@muhamadhisbullahamrie8495]

I hope you're going to get a european grand prix crown this year!

[@julianconde2187]

😍😍😍

[@jhernandez16]

I like the idea of piu vibrato on this piece. I would love to know in my groups when to use this effect. Was this communicated to the performers or do they just sing like that?

[@albesheezy]

Sorry, Charissa Alexander: What's the story about?

[@ThompsonInternation]

@Charissa Alexander I do not believe I know the story to this.

[@albesheezy]

Charissa Aleander: What's the story about?

[@johnszczotka8860]

Mark Twain's daughter, Olivia Susan Clemens died at the age of 24, he wrote this poem for her and recited it at the eulogy.

[@muziqmanSHAAD]

John Szczotka According to the composer's notes, he wrote the composition, using the words of the eulogy of Twain's daughter, as an elegy for his brother's soon-to-be-adopted child from Ethiopia that suddenly died. Definitely a story that pulled on my heart-strings. I've always thought the piece was gorgeous, but then I looked up the text and why he wrote the piece. I sat at my computer bawling.

[@blunk778]

@meganwilliams this song was written by mark twain for his daughter nice try

[@JordanBahrPian-UkePlayer]

Actually, a lesser-known poet named Robert Richardson wrote the original text, as it came from his poem "Annette." Twain altered some of the words of the last stanza to use during the eulogy for his daughter, Susy. Perhaps why most people thought it was Twain's own work was because there was no recognition for Richardson, since Twain had no idea who the author of the poem was when he found it on a trip in India. He eventually learned the name and ordered that it be etched into Susy's headstone.

[@user-xr5gq5oj9q]

blunk778 You were close but actually, a lesser-known poet named Robert Richardson wrote the original text, as it came from his poem "Annette." Twain altered some of the words of the last stanza to use during the eulogy for his daughter, Susy. Perhaps why most people thought it was Twain's own work was because there was no recognition for Richardson, since Twain had no idea who the author of the poem was when he found it on a trip in India. He eventually learned the name and ordered that it be etched into Susy's headstone.

[@gsmith7732]

You were close, but... ok sixty other people already told you in almost exactly the same words as each other.

[@JordanBahrPian-UkePlayer]

Gregory Smith Dear God...At least I was first >:D

[@DianeHubertPrettyPinkCottage]

Beautiful.