The Last Words of David - Randall Thompson

The Northern Lights Chorale, Bruce Phelps, conductor perform The Last Words of David by Randall Thompson. Jodi Richert, pianist.
Recording Engineer: Steve Danger, Loon Studio Productions.

[@TheJanglecrow]

That place at the end where everyone stops singing except The Tenors who are holding the last syllable of alleluia kills me. So beautiful. Genius compositional gesture. Bless the conductors who give that OneNote, that one syllable it's due.

[@mikejohnson8006]

I, too, sang it when I was in high school (early 60's). the power, truth, and shear beauty of it brings me to tears now, as it did so long ago, when I was a teenager.

[@darrengilbert6591]

Sang this arrangement in the late 1970's in All County Choir - Bergen County NJ

[@delightschwartz2155]

Me too in 1973. So much majesty. It was all i could do to keep my voice steady while we were singing it, especially after i'd heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rendition on LP. Otherworldly.

[@dinglebear]

Well we are singing it this year

[@katinadavenport8468]

I sang this song in high school choir. I thought I would never find examples of others singing this song. It’s beautiful!

[@chelsey2250]

And He shall be as the light of the morning, when the run riseth. Even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Oh my heart.

[@fredforsh4384]

Yes, absolutely beautiful!!

[@paulrhodeman8276]

Still one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard

[@godagesilrex2954]

I was another who sang it. I still have my sheet music for it. We won a chorus competition in Virginia based on that and a few other difficult selections that we mastered. I get choked up listening to it, 51 years later.

[@tipofday]

I envision Heavens gates opening when I hear this song! I miss the Chorus, we sang this song when I was in high school. So beautiful and holy!

[@fredforsh4384]

So do I! So do I!

[@seagreenloves_cheddar1692]

I always envision soldiers looking up at sunlight through the trees before they die

[@holdthewinds]

What is it about this wonderful piece that always brings tears to your eyes? It's like it was inspired. I also join those who sang this many years ago in a choir.

[@maestroz25]

I first sang this during a summer "Dorian" music camp at Luther College in 1969 with Weston Noble's brother Joe Noble conducting the festival choir. Weston conducted the festival band.

[@mamacatjane]

I first sang this magnificent piece of music with my high school Concert Choir in May 1972 at my Baccalaureate in Stillwater, Oklahoma and I still get chills every time I listen to it, which has been many, many times. Both our Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies were held outdoors in our football stadium on beautiful spring evenings just before dusk; the acoustics were far less than perfect, but I believe we sang it beautifully, particularly because we had been selected as the State Honor Choir that year and performed at the annual OMEA convention in January. I still have my sheet music and was thrilled when it was included in our Spring 2019 repertoire for the community choir of which I am a member. I've also sung it a few times with my church choir over the years but, sadly, we're now too small to be able to pull it off. This is a lovely performance of it.

[@andrestanley2351]

Beautiful!!!! I love this!!! I remember singing this over 20 years ago in our high school chorus!!!! Brings back lots of memories!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@rww823]

Not trying to outdo you, but I remember singing this in high school 45 years ago. I guess we’re getting older.

[@elizabethturner2421]

@@rww823 Reading further below in the comments, I see that plenty of HS choirs have Randall Thompson to thank (yes, I sang TLWoD in 1970).

[@VirginiaChambers]

Praise God!!!!!!!!!!

[@robertperry3807]

I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity over the years to sing in several choirs where we performed this wonderful piece with a message so appropriate then and now, May God bless us with capable leadership.

[@youngwarrior2]

I sang this song with the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus back in 1998.

[@ckblack8647]

awesome choral work. 1 of my favs thompson wrote. sang it 1/2doz times. gr8 alto part!

[@manuelarandajr6940]

Wonderful job! Glen A Wilson Concert Choir 1979. For a public school we we able to be exposed to lots of sacred music… We did Handles Messiah as well

[@maestroz25]

I first performed this anthem in 1969 at Dorian Music Camp held at Luther College, Decorah, IA. I think we had a choir of around 80.

[@gordonnusz6574]

Challenging music with astonishing contrasts....beautifully done! Thank you.

[@markwhiting7821]

For some time, I had a long eastbound commute in the morning. As the sun rose in my face, I would think of this song, which I had sung with my church choir years earlier at a Governor's Inauguration.

[@richardmckinney3906]

I love everything Thompson wrote. Lovely singing. I have used this piece as well as others of his throughout my career, which has been varied and kind of amazing.

[@valvanorden5843]

I only knew of thompson's piece "o star" or "choose something like a star", as we sang that piece in Michigan. In high school. Southfield lathrup high school. 1973 or 4. It's all about the dynamics and the delivery!!!

[@evegrady]

ah. very true. tis a love ley piece with many good parts. well don’t to all of u. indeed the dynamics are very much. there is forte and quite a much of piano’

[@salliesheplee6854]

I had to play it for high school choir at sunrise service in Washington DC. Keys had frost on them. Love ❤️ the song!🎶🎶🎶💕

[@andrewmargrave7518]

A superb performance of a piece that uses as its text a Bible passage that is a great statement about leadership.

[@robertsolomon1841]

David was a good king and he ruled according to divine principles (except, obviously, in the case of Uriah)-a great example of good leadership, yes, but the words "he that ruleth over men" do not apply to government leadership positions-at least not in the United States of America. The president of the United States, for example, does not preside over the people of the United States; he (or she) presides over the executive branch of their federal government. The governor of a state does not preside over the people of that state, he presides over the executive branch of their state government. The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court does not preside over the other eight justices, he presides over the proceedings of the Court. In the United States of America, with government by, for and of the people, elected officials do not preside over people, EVER!

[@g.m.forsythe9626]

@@robertsolomon1841 Why do people have to use an expression of appreciation for a beautiful musical performance based on a scriptural passage into a political rant just because a positive comment on the composition mentioned an attribute for which David was renowned?

[@robertsolomon1841]

@@g.m.forsythe9626, I completely agree with you. My comment does read like a political rant. While I absolutely stand by its content, it clearly would have been better suited for a different topic, perhaps in a different forum altogether. "The Last Words of David" is a great piece by a great composer. There will never be another Randall Thompson!

[@jackmays2907]

The piano accompaniment is very good

[@marcusv7881]

Very well done maestro and choir! Piano is Excellent!

[@evegrady]

indeed

[@zot500]

Beautiful!

[@abugarr123]

I sang this in HS 04-05. Loved it then love it now! Good job!

[@ellisbytheway]

This brought tears to my eyes.. so spiritual!🤦🏾‍♂️

[@patcunningham6170]

This is simply magnificent, and well interpreted by the maestro and pianist. Dynamics flawless and affect was clear. Wonderful performance of one of Thompson's best short works.

[@stevewhitacre4156]

BRAVO! I sang this in high school in 1978. One of my favorite songs.

[@corgihollows3450]

Excellent

[@evegrady]

i agree

[@musicmama2864]

Beautiful rendition!

[@henrypruett9938]

We sang it at Georgia All-State 1981.

[@maduhasailo6753]

Nice❤

[@V67Snick]

Our choir sang it for baccalaureate at my High School in the early '70s. Beautiful song but really tough on the low basses at the beginning ;)

[@davidhoadley39]

2 Samuel 23:3b-4; King James Version

[@wendyscott8425]

Thanks. The song is beautiful, but let's not forget how profound the words are.

[@DaiyuHurst]

Great dynamic control. But terrible phrasing, sustain begging for more, and way too mechanical sounding, this song should not be performed in strict meter, it needs copious amounts of rubato. Where are these folks, let me direct them

[@DaiyuHurst]

My criticisms are actually for the director; the choir is fine.