How shall I sing that majesty ('Coe Fen') | The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge

[@andrewwhalley6172]

Probably the best hymn composed in the 20th century. What a descant. And a lovely rendition, worthy of the great Dr Stephen Layton. May his retirement be long and blissful.

[@Apriluser]

Just became my favorite hymn about 2 weeks ago! Blessings on Dr Layton on his next phase of life and musical ministry.

[@cristallew3334]

We're singing this beautiful and moving hymn at my church this Sunday for Michaelmas. What a lovely recording!

[@mikeabimbola3636]

Wonderful rendering of hymn to the Praise, the Glory and the Majesty of the Most High GOD!!! First heard it sung live at the concert of The Sixth Annual RSCM International Music Course & Conference, sung by the congregation at Our Saviour's Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Nigeria.

[@jwf723]

Wonderful. Stirs the soul.

[@spurge83]

Amazing. My favourite hymn. Written just down the street!

[@lainieb4604]

Marvelous!

[@mudgebauer]

Just beautiful .

[@perrych2012]

I'm sorry if this comment seems harsh, but I have watched this vid dozens of times (it is one of my top 10 hymn tunes) and I can't see what the conductor brings to the performance. I admit that I am not musically trained but I watch the conductor's actions and they seem to have no relation to how the choir are performing. I admit I'm ignorant of musical technique but I'm truly baffled. I have heard some angelic choral singing where the only 'conducting' is a member of the choir regulating the start and end of each verse with the lifting of one finger.

[@peterellis9374]

It's not an ignorant comment - there are many conductors who make a performance worse just by turning up. Layton has trained this choir to the point of perfection so they're at the point where he could walk into the room, and they would immediately produce "his" sound. He probably didn't need to conduct the hymn, but he did anyway. There seems to be a direct link between his more expansive gestures and a bloom in the sound. Could they sing the hymn without him - probably.

[@johns.231]

Yep you're right @peterellis9374. Stephen doesn't normally conduct the hymns (nor the psalms) except for the descant. I think he conducted the whole hymn that day as a gesture of courtesy for the attendees at his last evensong in Trinity. The sound was really brilliant.

[@shawardara]

It’s telepathy. And I don’t know an organist who isn’t completely in awe of his talent.

[@pravoslavn]

Not a very lyrical piece.

[@andrewwhalley6172]

You are a very strange person.

[@vaughnrichardson1336]

What an incredibly strange comment.

[@stephanieellis5399]

It's a very English melody. If you're not English or not familiar with English/British hymns and choral music then they can sound "unnatural" to your ear because it is used to a different pattern. You "see" the same thing in, say, pop music of the 60s, 70s, 80s when it was fairly easy to identify where musicians/bands were from (UK, US, Europe, etc) by their sound (melodies, rhythms, accompaniment, even the sound of the vocals). So if you don't find this hymn very lyrical this is probably why. That being said, sometimes it just comes down to personal preference. And that's ok, too.

[@olorunlekemorakinyo5365]

Beautiful!