Eric Whitacre conducts "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine"

Choral superstar Eric Whitacre conducted the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers in a performance of "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine"--part of the sold-out VocalEssence Eric Whitacre Extravaganza on March 22, 2009 at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis.

[@SupremeDukeOfSausage]

he has glorious hair

[@Shadowbunnyjedi]

You have a glorious name

[@latoshadasta4314]

@Maxwell Polidan I agree but Maxwell Polidan you have the greatest name

[@9thGradeMedia]

That chord at 6:07 is probably the greatest and most in tune chord I've ever heard.

[@surfinyoutubin]

I think what makes this song so amazing is the fact that he tells the story with his notes. Lots of people just look for cool chords and he took the time to put every single note down in its specific spot to make a meaning. I can see it happening in my head and its amazing. One of his absolute best songs.

[@wendiecusator210]

Can't believe I sang this as a junior in high school. One of the coolest and most difficult songs I ever did in my years in choir. Still gives me goosebumps.

[@jaymietalks]

Wendie Cusator same!!!!

[@camsill342]

That's gonna be me this spring!

[@JRBanitt]

3 years later but me too!

[@zhengwhyehui4351]

high-5! sung this in college. into the sun....

[@jmingo6674]

sang this is 2019 as a junior..this is definitely my favorite piece

[@jordant2322]

Sang this in high school...my fav song we ever sang as a choir. Extremely difficult but so so rewarding. 10/10 recommend.

[@herbertrude1689]

This music captures something essentially human about the wish to sprout wings and fly to realms beyond the pain that defines life for some. I think Eric Whitacre's music ably expresses the haunted, obsessive character of this desire - found in hurt children and in early dreamers such as da Vinci - and the elation of flight in its illusory defeat of physical laws and personal vulnerability. Cleverly demonstrated is the reality that, without wings, tightrope, pole vault, or aeroplane, Whitacre can still only leap a metre or two off a podium without breaking his neck .

[@scp88np]

This is one of the more rhythmic Whitacre pieces I've heard. God, he's amazing.

[@herpderpnarwhals1996]

So gorgeous. Haunting. Exciting. Playful. Truly a radiant jewel in the choral world, and probably my favorite Whitacre piece of all time. Also, Eric's little hop off the podium kind of made my day

[@maxwibert]

I'm convinced that the blonde soprano at 6:08 is the person that sent in the first youtube recording of "Sleep," to Eric Whitacre. Word is that he was inspired to assemble the virtual choir by her submission.

[@leonardoantoniogm]

A beautiful and exciting tribute to the Leonardo Da Vinci genius made up of a genius of chorus music as Eric Whitacre

[@1987thedrums]

At 7:05 Whitacre indulges so much. He's just having fun.

[@rebeccaharper2009]

This was so fantastically done! Eric Whitacre was here in Iowa for a music conference, directing this piece, along with a few others. He is incredible, and seems "super-human," but when you meet him--and how he laughs, talks...and pushes his hair aside--haha...he's just like any of us, but with an incredible gift that he's sharing with millions!

[@midnightbluemoon]

Eric Whitacre's music....... seriously gives me chills, especially when actually singing his amazing pieces of absolutely amazing work!!

[@nathanielparagas3285]

It's 2019 and still listening to this :)

[@semenandgayuncle]

Yee me too! I’m going to performing this it’s so hard 0-0

[@ethanjhayward]

5:51-6:12 love the musical tension created here. This might be the best modern choral piece, and the best performance of it.

[@levi99levi]

the "one by one" part is my favorite, because it starts with the sopranos, then altos, tenors, and then bass... coming in one by one. ahhh, how wonderful music is :) lol

[@xxmickeymouse106]

every second of this piece is absolutely beautiful and gives me chills. my faith in humanity is restored just from listening to this piece.

[@alexiaevellyn]

He is so beautiful+

[@alexiaevellyn]

Love love loveeeeeeeee

[@mashellshock]

He is the most physically expressive conductor I've ever seen. It's beautiful.

[@materialgrl47]

OMG the "one by one" section from 3:26 to 4:00 is like an eargasm in heaven. Whitacre somehow has the talent to make my heart (and every other musician) soar with every high soprano run. love love LOVE this

[@rachelbradley4734]

This became one of my all-time favorite songs ever when we did it in Portland, Ore. a few years back.

[@leilasesmero5910]

What a wonderful composition! New Amsterdam Singers performed it in New York City a few years ago, quite a challenging piece of music! Bravo!

[@paigeherrmann1551]

This has been my favorite piece of choral music every since I sang it in high school nearly a decade ago. Truly a rewarding challenge.

[@SparklesBB]

How is it possible for a man to be both amazingly talented and have hair THAT amazing??

[@iosaturnalia]

I LOVE ERIC. He's so full of energy. I hope to meet him soon.

[@CrystalRodriguez128]

sang this 5 years ago in my senior year of high school..loved it..its such an amazing piece....the disonnant notes all clashing together sound so beautiful...it makes me wish I was still singing in a choir...

[@avinkesuma]

I love how every note and every phrase is delivered flawlessly! Oh!! J'adore!!

[@AndrewCrawley]

My fav is the tenors for about 2 seconds on 4:55 - 5:58. I'm a Bass II and I just love that part. Can't wait for this Saturday to perform it. We meet all together on Thursday to start rehearsals. :))

[@AmyGaudiano]

So nice song and.voices.and all are beautiful singer choir

[@vocalessence]

Thank you so much! We are glad you enjoyed it.

[@Q9870987]

I love this man's music. I absolutely love it.

I'd like to see Eric Whitacre writing/conducting the soundtrack of the new Star Wars movies.

[@fgbowen]

I loved the flying section the most starting I think around 5 minutes. Wow. Stunning. Just stunning.

[@anniekycek4828]

Singing this with my high school concert choir! So blessed to be apart of such an advanced choir.

[@TMNoob3]

Your high school choir must be SO unique.

[@anniekycek4828]

Thank you!! We are (:

[@ShinyDarkUmbreon]

Same here! It feels like we're learning a new song each due to the incredible variety in this amazing song!

[@anniekycek4828]

TeleportedSmile Isn't it just amazing?

[@steelvenom2003]

This song is so effing incredible that I cannot even fathom any words that would even come remotely close to describing how intensely freaking outstanding it is on every level known to the cosmos.

[@iGookin]

This is definitely the best version of this song I've heard! My high school director is singing this in a vocal conference this summer that will be conducted by Eric Whitacre. I'm really excited to see him and his wonderful work!

[@alexiaevellyn]

I'm in love

[@Protoman2024]

This song brings back memories of concert choir last year. I remember I sang the mini-solo for 7:36 to 7:50. Pretty neat history behind the song too.

[@DamnToe]

The COUGHINGGGG! OMFFFGGGG!!!!! If you know you're sick, DO NOT GO! Omfgggg!

[@u.v.s.5583]

Leonardo dreams of his cough syrup

[@cassidyfenn3418]

ahead of your time

[@WWaldo247]

my choir is singing this. this is such an amazing song, and especially hearing the whole song!

[@jade102685]

Wanting to listen to this song, I googled it and found this link. It was more than I could have dreamed of. I was not expecting to see Eric Whitacre conducting one of my favorite songs of his. I'm literally still in tears, goosebumps on my skin, over this indescribable performance. For lack of better words (due to my mind being blown still), I LOVED IT!

[@carolinefiorentini3233]

I feel like I'm going on an adventure with this piece ! Love it !

[@CODDE117]

Our choir is tackling this piece! Wish us luck!

[@nicktousignant7923]

No

[@CODDE117]

@@nicktousignant7923 Too late, due to a late response, we took your luck by default.

[@AznLoLStar]

OMG why is the note in 6:12 / 6:13 so amazing? I mean all the notes, every single one, is just so great, but every time I listen to this I never miss that note. It's just so good!

[@TeddyThomas24]

I would love to be part of a choir singing this. Such a beautiful song.

[@LibbyHawkinsProject]

our symphonic choir at marysville high school is doing this song tonight for our spring concert. can't wait!

[@duckcluck123]

literally constant chills

[@sweetgiggles928]

My college choir toured Denmark and we sang this song... that was two years ago... I can still sing all the alto 1 parts! Miss this so much!

[@thevikesuk]

absolutely beautiful....stunning...

[@fudgecmq]

everyone, even people with lung problems, should be able to enjoy this heavenly music. that's just uppity of you.

[@KyleBatchelder93]

My choir from Kansas gets to sing with him in Carnegie Hall in mid April. I am so excited.

[@Firemoonsoul]

The intensity of their expressions as well as their attention to the director is amazing! I'm only in a high school choir but I've seen similar expressions on some of my group's faces, yet they were nothing compared to this! We have the potential to be good, but I doubt we could be as amazing as this...You produce a beautiful and intentional sound; your voices dance with the music, I love it! Two thumbs up! I'd give more, but I only have two :(

[@earth2jennyl]

Wow. How glorious is this work. My love and thanks.

[@LoMG0001]

I will never forget how amazing this piece is, I got to sing this senior year of high school with my advanced choir at competition And we crushed it. This piece is so challenging yet so rewarding to finish, and if it’s done properly it’s a masterpiece

[@alexiaevellyn]

So beautiful!!!! Love this so much!

[@fgbowen]

@shoot100strait - Oh Yeah - This is JUST a brilliant piece. I LOVED this piece - I was almost in tears -not grief- at the end. Brilliant Brilliant. Loved it. Can't say enough. Thanks for sending me this. I will post to FB.

[@NoatheLAPTOPnerd01]

did this song with my choir and it was the absolutely most fantastic experience! such a complex and intricate piece

[@Pianoninja924]

I sang this song over the summer. I can't sing the tenor part out loud because of were I am, but just singing inside my head still brings a tear to the corner of my eye.

[@MrMusicnerd321]

We're singing this in the Chorale at Dallas Baptist University. It's such an amazing piece to be a part of. Breathtaking.

[@vantantas]

Wow!!!!! Eric? What are you doin with leonardo's dream??? Fantastic!!!! I replay and replay to enjoy all chords.

[@Writingloveonmyarms]

we just sang this for our concert in high school... it was absolutely amazing we rocked it for a nonselect choir

[@Marizuza]

This music is AMAZING. I'm Brazilian and i sing in a big choir here, at Rio de Janeiro (São Vicente A Capella). For me is awesome to watch a masterpiece like that. BRAVO!

[@IamBACONLADY]

My gosh I LOVE Eric Whitacre!! We've sung quite a few of his compositions in Leland HS's choir, but this one is my favorite!!

[@AnimeStargrl15]

Ugh the alto part is so hard in this!

[@jennyshen5176]

+HeavenlyHopeful It's ok...

[@AnimeStargrl15]

Lisa Yan Actually the alto part is pretty great! I just couldn't really hear the alto part in this video and that's when I was having trouble learning it.

[@jennyshen5176]

there is a link for just the altos it's really helpful, just search alto it will come up

[@ziggallday]

I Love it!!!! The first time i heard your music Mr. Eric, it brought me to tears and im only 15. I hope later on down the line i can do something like this( Change history)

[@RoseOnYourNose]

I love watching good music like this. It breathes life into music and humanity.

[@BlueMewSings3]

Magical and fun! Love this. Performed in Boston recently. Kudos! Thanks for the post!

[@BoboTheBarbarian]

I can't imagine being conducted by Eric Whitacre on a piece this amazing. Honestly, a small dream of mine.

[@ellenol1014]

this is actually REALLY good! most voices are clearly, and pitch problem is so far the least obvious of all the recordings I have heard, we did it a year ago, our conductor is AMAZING, one of the best alive(no kidding!), but we are not skilled enough, it's a really complicated/hard and GORGEOUS piece!!!!! Whitacre's the man!

[@64horsegirl]

oh wow. this is incredibly impressive!!! i am performing this song this summer and it is positively stunning ... i love how the mood is constantly changing!!!! BRILLIANT!

[@wlutes558]

Yes! It's incredible!

[@BrianJasonPonce]

This piece is EPIC. Enough said. Kudos to you, Mr. Whitacre.

[@Triairius]

He is such a fun conductor to watch.

[@iGookin]

Why is Eric Whitacre so freaking amazing.

[@PeterAlexanderBaritone]

im touring this piece across eastern Canada right now... I LOVE IT!

[@trammina]

Bravo rinascimento e modernità in unica composizione.

[@montax35]

Can't wait to conduct this one day

[@SheenaBrnai]

Woke up with this stuck in my head! Best way to wake up. :-D

[@msowinski64]

OUTSTANDING GROUP!

[@SnowLilies]

This piece gives me feelings that I can't even describe, it just makes me move with it. I love his energy :)

[@MaxBigazzi]

A-MA-ZING!!!! Shivers everywhere!! I miss the old 5 stars...

[@TheLonelyDinosaur]

Now THIS we should do a virtual choir with.

[@rabbanisamira]

Как красиво дирижирует.Молодец.Спасибо.И поют чисто.Прекрассная техника исполнения.Класс!Получила большое удовольствие.Какая работа была проделана большая.Удачи Вам...

[@Writingloveonmyarms]

doing this with my high school concert choir, cant wait to be a part of the finished product its amazing

[@YookaKim]

omg goosebumps don't stop.

[@wendiecusator210]

This had to have been one of the coolest songs I ever performed while I was in choir. So difficult but so worth it!

[@ryanrbrown]

OMG.... 6:30 is extraordinarily wonderful!!!!!!

[@rorymaster]

amazing! Eric Whitacre is amazing!

[@brianbaker4030]

This is so cool!

[@danejoers9553]

The coughing was probably those who were rendered breathless from the performance, and were choking on all of the awesomeness in the air.

[@colourfulwithaU]

I once heard someone criticize Whitacre for writing only moving block chords with no true polyphony. I wish they could hear this piece from 3:27 to 4:00. Amazing.

[@lillycat8281]

best song!! i love singing this song♥

[@RobLobstuhh]

I could just die right after every time I hear this piece... it's so epic.

[@razorfang45]

My choir group is singing this. It's a huge challenge to learn but I can't wait to perform it. It's beautiful.

[@piedmontpresby]

Had to stop the car to listen to this on my CD. Then it got better! Amazing!

[@KarateKay7]

That is too freaking awesome!

[@ChrisSunHwa]

I love that I can see how much fun he is having while conducting this. ^_^

[@BeccaCullen111]

wow.......incredible!!!!!!!!!

[@TheEnglishQuail]

Scv always picks the best pieces I've always loved Whitacre and my choir has sang quite a few of his pieces. Now dci is about Rock out choral music lol.

[@Tan1723]

4:50 - 5:00 is my favorite part of watching Eric in this piece. You can see how into it he is.