Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston

Seraphic Fire performs “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” by Elizabeth Poston
Margot Rood & Estelí Gomez, soprani
Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor
April 20, 2016
Trinity Wall Street, New York, NY
Seraphic Fire's Northeast performances are generously underwritten by an Anonymous Donor; Alicia Celorio, Do Unto Others Trust, Inc.; The Clinton Family Fund, Bruce and Martha Clinton; and the Meredyth Anne Dasburg Foundation.
For more information on Seraphic Fire, visit:
www.SeraphicFir...

[@louise5941]

I heard this in church for the Christmas Carol service in 2019. The singers were placed all around the church. It was honestly like heaven touched earth. I am now having this song as my first song at my wedding to my beloved.

[@stephenhoughton632]

God bless you and your intended.

[@kathleenyatsko5822]

Few choirs can pull off a capella with this amount of precision. The difficulty of the canon at the end is astounding. Kudos to this choir for their excellence and discipline. You allowed this hymn of praise to soar.

[@IngemarKorjus]

I couldn't agree more, especially having spent 30+ yrs performing professionally and teaching voice at the university. Your comments are insightful and apt for a performance that I found to be a particular blessing. Thank-you.

[@user-lx9tj4cd8l]

Honestly

[@livingwordaloud2341]

How moving and beautiful it was to see and hear all of the singers as they surrounded the audience!

[@richardcollumbell6658]

This must be the most beautiful rendition of this piece of music Ive ever seen.

[@norawheeler2555]

Wow. That woman's voice is nothing short of magical.

[@jimmyjames417]

Stunningly beautiful The lead soprano literally sounds like a lovely songbird on the higher notes

[@lauriebettshughes6789]

That voice.... all the voices.... the acoustic... the rubato... bravo.

[@stipevideo]

This brought tears to my eyes. Absolutely beautiful.

[@dawired]

I literally wept with joy with the beauty of this performance! The canon is exquisite. The voices are etherial throughout. AMAZING!!!!

[@deion312]

Who else cried from amazement?

[@keithrickard487]

That was amazing. I have never heard this done in perpetual canon before, it was as if the voices were transformed into tolling bells.

[@inesdeerausquin5658]

The perpetual canon at the end is a bit of a Seraphic Fire trademark -- I've not heard anyone else do it, but they always do. (and yes, as you say, they sound like bells -- perfection!)

[@bt6447]

I am an atheist, but this......cut me to the heart...and brought me to tears..

[@TMcConnaughhay]

I wish you could know He's real and how much He loves you!

[@gingerninja3332]

Amen brother! 🙏 HE IS REAL!! Otherwise what’s all this music for?

[@richardwalters9249]

To ask the question: Was it the music, the message, or the Holy Spirit of the Living God that caused such a comment to the Glory of God ? Jesus keeps bring people into His kingdom to the praise of the Glory of God! I loved this piece. It is often performed at Mississippi College ... and I’m glad to have also found many other versions of it - this performance was fantastic. I’ll bet the KZbin recording did not do justice to the experience of sitting in the audience while the performers surrounded them. Thanks for the time and and energy to all for sharing this with the world via KZbin.

[@kristinwatsonheintz4381]

The power of music. Also an atheist. Deity has nothing to do with the gorgeous power of choral music. We feel amazing things and then call it "god".

[@christophernunn943]

And now you are a believer ??

[@Playwright62]

Such pure intent for nothing but beauty, peace, and serenity, regardless of the listener's spiritual or religious beliefs.

[@user-zu8lw1ks6b]

Absolutely glorious! The voices of Christendom tolling through the centuries! The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be, Compared with Christ the Apple Tree. His beauty doth all things excel, By faith I know but ne'er can tell The glory which I now can see, In Jesus Christ the Appletree. For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed of all but now I see 'Tis found in Christ the Appletree. I'm weary with my former toil - Here I will sit and rest awhile, Under the shadow I will be, Of Jesus Christ the Appletree. With great delight I'll make my stay, There's none shall fright my soul away; Among the sons of men I see There's none like Christ the Appletree. I'll sit and eat this fruit divine, It cheers my heart like spirit'al wine; And now this fruit is sweet to me, That grows on Christ the Appletree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the Appletree.

[@taramcdermott3538]

This is absolutely, stunningly MAGNIFICENT.

[@stevend9960]

Wonderful! Every singer and the conductor should be immensely proud. What a wonderful version of a beautiful hymn.

[@stevefield8308]

The performance brought tears of joy and sunshine to me this morning as I listen to it the first time.

[@gregl.davidson5968]

Truly live acoustic music AND caring, hope-filled words may bring renewed hopeS !

[@1999bmwm3baby]

Beautiful performance...the finest recording I have ever heard of this. 😢🤤

[@cameron6035]

the canon at the end is just sublime

[@paulinekenward8932]

I have never heard this sung with the canon at the end - just extraordinarily beautiful and so exquisitely performed

[@lindaridd4393]

This is sublimely sung, its one of my favourite carols......thank you

[@cccnieh2468]

love the woman wiping away tears at 1:10

[@WibblyPigNZ]

I've sung this often before, but never the canon at the end, and so evocatively, using the acoustic and "surround sound". It must have been remarkable to be there. I can only remember a similar environment in a performance of Jan Sandstrom's "Es ist ein ros entsprungen".

[@tabeakalimeris1230]

Lyrics: The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit, and always green: The trees of nature fruitless be Compared with Christ the apple tree. His beauty doth all things excel: By faith I know, but ne’er can tell The glory which I now can see In Jesus Christ the apple tree. For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought: I missed of all: but now I see ’Tis found in Christ the apple tree. I’m weary with my former toil, Here I will sit and rest awhile: Under the shadow I will be Of Jesus Christ the apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

[@peterx727]

So peaceful, so refreshing. Thanks for posting.

[@SandyS.787]

Hope many more people view this! Seraphic Fire is an amazing treasure for the Miami area. We attend whenever we can, and in person they are even more lovely than on vid.

[@hollychartier2643]

Ooh, I bet they are!

[@JayR-uy8gl]

I have been singing this piece since I was a treble Chorister, and have been a countertenor the last some odd 40 years. Never heard this sung as written, until now. Well done. And then the canon, wow.

[@JainaSoloB312]

A pleasure to meet a fellow Countertenor! I was trained as a Soprano as a child and then my voice changed to a Baritone-Tenor as a teen, and now I've been singing Countertenor for the past 5-7 years, so I'm still pretty new at it!💜

[@DrMikeStrickland]

Beautiful arrangement, beautiful voices. Excellent control, balance and synchrony at the end. This deserves many, many more views than I currently has. Sublime. Truly does justice to the original work.

[@Chiquitita-Sings]

Such beautiful voices. Love it.

[@kennethlapointesongwriter3330]

Gorgeous. And multi-multi stereo at the end. Wonderful idea.

[@belisauros370]

That Soprano solo was so beautiful

[@inesdeerausquin5658]

Margot Rood is an amazing soprano indeed!

[@gregcleveland6270]

Stunning presentation. Brilliant. So good for my soul today!

[@Juliemorgana]

This song dates back to the mid-1700s and possibly earlier. Still powerful! It's been arranged by various people, including Elizabeth Posten.

[@cherylhobson7424]

Truly amazing voices.

[@petergugisberg4788]

A sobering melody ending with a Canon like bells pealing for its audience.

[@OperaBuff1935]

I sang this piece many times the 10 years I sang with the Hagerstown (MD) Choral Arts. It was one of the very favorites of Gregory P. Shook, its choral director.

[@lisakurak3733]

Absolutely gorgeous and a glimpse of what will be heard in heaven.

[@adwoadabiwasey4113]

I first heard thus about 35 years ago, sung by a choir I had just left....I said to my former 'comrades', that if I had known they were going to learn this, I would have stayed!

[@bcurt47]

Beautifully done- nice phrasing-great arrangement! Wonderful blend.

[@papagena1]

Beautiful performance! The soloist had such a gorgeous voice!

[@juliaayau4362]

I felt like the final canon activated my pineal gland. It sent such joyous shivers cascading down me.

[@shon4145]

Absolutely beautiful

[@jacquieviegas7441]

Absolutely LOVE this version, beautifuly sung (not too fast!!) and wonderful acoustics.

[@lisakurak3733]

The quality of the voices matched the the exceptional, ccmforting words.

[@tlahe2]

Finally, there is a reason to move to Florida.

[@brittenfan77]

sigh... it's just so effing beautiful...

[@theappraiserlady]

Crying from beauty

[@maxplanck1423]

Exquisite voices of angels arrayed for our enlightenment. Thanks to Seraphic Fire for a touching and moving expression of Poston's work.

[@paulinebrown7283]

Absolutely fabulous!!! Only heard it xmas day 2019 and needed to hear it again. Hurrah for technology.

[@margaretbasile1625]

We attend the Seraphic Fire Christmas Concert every year. It has become a tradition in our family and this song is their signature piece. We await it with anticipation every year. The apple tree seems so American

[@annegamble7698]

How have I never heard this? Stunning.

[@tonirooms9953]

Very beautiful sound!

[@bethearith8770]

i love jesus. Amen

[@iananderson3294]

Be thearith Praise Almighty JEHOVAH

[@dalemcnamee2427]

As do I, Be thearith and Ian Anderson, as do I !

[@PatroniFan]

I've never heard this with the canon at the end. I really like it.

[@jimmykouba4494]

Bravo! I have heard this wonderful music in different performances. But this, this is an art performed by angels who made my soul soar high among heavenly beins. Thank you.

[@jillcooke7732]

Absolutely beautiful...loved it!

[@treblazer]

this was one my favorites from madrigal dinner

[@debdessaso]

Truly magnificent!

[@rosemarymacphee6646]

Beautiful! At the end they sound like individual birds singing in the tree. Wonderful.

[@luma506]

I meannn, y’all haven’t really heard me sing in the car, but ok. Go on with your angelic voices 🙄

[@TheNewVocal]

Good day from Singapore! Wishing you'd have a amazing day =)

[@ldm1947]

Wow!! Absolutely awesome!

[@gregs3580]

I see it degenerates into "thou shalt believe". Let me say it this way, if all believers were capable of instilling as much warmth, love of sharing as much depth in their ability to move those who listen as these musicians have, the world would be a much more cohesive place filled with caring and compassion. If that were possible, I would be a believer to. Never underestimate how much performers give to their music, it is that which brings us to tears.

[@crlange12]

And amen to that. Happy Holidays. :)

[@IngemarKorjus]

Amen!!

[@janedraws9358]

Stunningly beautiful. Oh to sing like that!

[@gailharper7912]

Wowwwwww, amazing!

[@megancarnes3514]

It ends with the pealing of bells. Amazing.

[@johnnie543]

The 8 people who don't like this rendition obviously need Jesus. Seraphic isn't the only thing that's fire in this round. Happy Holidays a tutti!

[@stevebingham72]

So many wonderful well-deserved comments. As long as we’re imaging what the canon was all about, I am compelled to share my vision: it is the wind in the apple tree, dear listener. Listen again and you will hear a rising breeze and once it is past, silence.

[@simphiwegoso]

THIS. WAS. BEAUTIFUL

[@friedhelmtopp1317]

Grandios! thanks

[@maribelfarnsworth4565]

What a gorgeous performance!

[@ChrisBurnsATL]

love it!

[@hmpdesign8247]

Very good!

[@maccwosser]

The round at the end is incredibly difficult to sing like that,though they make it sound effortless! Bravi!

[@christophersynnott7967]

Awesome 🌹

[@trishreed1033]

Exquisitely sung! Beautiful

[@dee4174]

I remember singing this in chior at Abbey School, Elstow in Bedfordshire. ❤

[@GentnerFC]

Perfectly sung!

[@ktang001]

That was incredible!

[@jeffreybarnett9490]

gorgeous

[@argentbeard5583]

Glorious, restful and inspiring.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

How exquisite!

[@marysmcdevitt4047]

Gorgeous!

[@stephenstewart3774]

exquisite!

[@sarahjohnconductor]

chills!

[@ReneeAnnSmith]

Beautiful!

[@sleepybeagle27]

Wow!

[@robertwogsland6087]

God is calling hearts …. In a beautiful way.

[@laider6836]

Goodness me. This is exquisite.

[@maxnicholas-fulmer]

Witness the power and the mf glory

[@SMElder-od5cl]

Exquisite!

[@MaryLouRussell]

goosebumps hearing this beauty. but visually: what's up with that wall in the middle of the pews on both sides???

[@johnnywhite58]

Excellent vision mixing

[@genevievebuee7934]

Lovely!

[@markrossow6303]

such a beautiful tune makes me think of Welsh songs

[@margorice1]

Pure goodness and beauty

[@gretchendennison2316]

Magnificent!

[@stevend9960]

Lovely

[@jordannewland5848]

Heavenly