"Shall We Gather at the River?" by VOCES8 & Ringmasters Reaction/Analysis by Musician/Producer

[@avogrid296]

I love how they trade off between Voces 8 and Ringmasters at the beginning, and then there's the line "Shall we go together?" and all those glorious voices join up!! CHIILLS!!

[@michaeltutty1540]

Ringmasters is a world championship barbershop quartet. The combination of the two groups creates magic every time.

[@stevenweston6563]

'that chord'. yes!!!!! the into section is so stunning

[@perrins57]

Listening to Voces8 I'm amazed that all that full range of tone is produced by just the human voice.

[@johnfenton3699]

Can I call your attention to the skill of the Arranger, Blake Morgan (Tenor 1 in Voces8)? He has recently produced some incredible arrangements ("Slumber my darling", "Caledonia") and I am bowled over by what he is doing. Granted, it helps enormously if you know the forces for which you are arranging, and Blake certainly has some remarkable forces at his disposal in Voces8... The other thing I note is just how much these wonderful folk seem to be enjoying what they are doing in this video.

[@facts2741]

his arranging is brilliant

[@herbertwackerlin6174]

Absolutely agree! I was lucky to be in London at the Voces8 center in the week they recorded this; I couldn’t attend the recording itself, but I met them in between, and they are so relaxed 😎 I was especially intrigued to find that both groups look up to each other as idols, so the mutual respect is huge, but it turned into fantastic fun sessions after a short while 😂

[@Loweene_Ancalimon]

I heartily recommend you check out Ringmasters' Notre Dame medley ! It's on KZbin in a remastered version, which is widely regarded as one of the very finest Barbershop performances ever. You'll love it !

[@jeremygmail]

For me as well. A close number 2 would be Lucky Old Sun by Crossroads. The version from 2009. Both take my breath away.

[@waregl72]

As someone who sings barbershop this cannot be stated enough. That performance makes hair stand on end and air hard to breathe at the end. 20 some seconds after 17 seconds in the false tag. Ringmasters are just that.

[@Power19501]

I stumbled on this group awhile back. They are fantastic, very talented.

[@joyrobinson4585]

Another wonderful collaboration of these two wonderful groups is "Aftonen", performed for a Swedish audience who wholeheartedly approved!

[@saranebeling6375]

They find/know 2:57 THE best reverberant spaces. It makes such a difference with this music! So gorgeous. Thank you!!!

[@richardtodd7295]

It does not bother me that Brian requested it first. The only important thing to me is that it gets out there for everyone to hear! Ringmaster is a Swedish Barbershop quartet from Stockholm. They formed in 2006 and picked the name off a list of English words that they liked the sound of. They have performed extensively including competitions in the US. At one point Ringmasters was the world barbershop champions! Ringmaster has their own KZbin channel. You can find information there about the concert they shared in Stockholm with Voces 8. Following the concert Ringmaster came to London where they and Voces 8 recorded several videos. In addition to Shall We Gather they recorded a 10 part piece by Gabrieli that is awesome. 2 notes about Shall We gather: According to information on the Voces 8 KZbin video, their prep time for this video was 2 hours! Andrea, The tall, long haired soprano has been with the group for over 10 years. She is known for her beautiful high voice. Someone commented on the high Bb sung by Andrea. The reply said it wasn't Andrea, but the new soprano, Molly! She was standing next to Andrea. She is not the newest member, that would be Dominic Carver, the young, dark haired bass.

[@dbcanada]

Thanks, Jeff. Such a beautiful performance. I'm impressed that they stayed so perfectly in tune.

[@jesse6301]

I had the same reaction!! Absolutely stunning.

[@garyhinkle5736]

This Is What Vocal Perfection Sounds Like 🎶

[@peterkoeppl1186]

Truly a unique and awesome arrangement and interpretation of a beloved hymn.

[@ditrower8104]

Thank you Jeff - I loved it when I first heard it, but watching your reaction & listening to your analysis lends another layer of pleasure. It's almost like hearing it for the first time. 😊

[@StrateleStudios]

Thank you my friend! 🫶

[@glentaylor861]

A few weeks ago, I listened to you reviewing a video of Lucy Thomas and I thought because of your obvious great insight and understanding of music when it is being performed, you must review Voces8 and then a few days later up popped Voces8 with Caledonia. What’s the chance? A truly wonderful ensemble with a stunning repertoire of performances. For anybody who loves music, whatever the genre, Voces8 must be listened to. Thank you very much for all your excellent reactions.

[@Chaserkillz]

i dont usually leave comments and such, but I really do love and appreciate your videos. nice to know others appreciate all of the things that you mentioned, tough being in highschool where no one else understands the beauty that Im hearing

[@StrateleStudios]

I appreciate that! 🫶

[@porcinet1968]

the way music registers on your face is very touching to see. this is beautiful singing, almost inhumanly perfect

[@bruceodera5759]

I agree. The intonation is perfect !!!

[@Mutukah]

Good to see there is still music being made this days, as I am alive: thought music was dead!

[@michaelgwfrogwelge]

Yeah, Jeff... You DID hear some barbershop in there... Ringmasters is a Swedish barbershop quartet.

[@Irenesinger]

Surprised that you commented on the barbershop element with surprise since this was a collaboration between two "supergroup" elements - Voces 8 and the Ringmasters ,champion barbershop quartet (all with choral training in Sweden before they embarked on their route to barbershop stardom - an equal collaboration, not Voces 8 alone. Love em both 🙂

[@StrateleStudios]

I’m surprised you didn’t realize I’d never heard of Ringmaster and recognized they were barbershop merely by the harmonies. 😄

[@stevecole3192]

As I watched your reactions during this performance I continued to shake my head in agreement at each point that you did. This has become my go to daily feel good video, occasionally more than once. Your genuine emotion during, is mirrored by myself and any other soul who is privileged enough to hear it. Thank you. Blessings from Kansas~

[@StrateleStudios]

Wow, thank you, Steve!

[@gliebzeit]

Jeff, I heard this first time a few days ago - blew me away! While listening, I had the thought about what you would make of the performance. Yeah, 'Ringmasters' are a barbershop quartet. They provide that great swell at the ending. Great to 'see' you here. Thanks, bud! Had to come back and recommend you give a listen to VOCES8 performing 'Meant To Be' by James Heather ... astounding!

[@MoominJude]

Magnificent, adore Ringmasters

[@Tamadehenzhan]

fantastisch

[@lisedonsgrnning6518]

And there it was ….. breathtakingly beautiful🥹🥹🥹🙏🏼….. thank you🫶🏼🤗.

[@facts2741]

the add2 in the upper register is everything to end that performance.

[@rbmelk7083]

@richardtodd7295 My apologies for sending this in ahead of you. I caught this video the day after it dropped and put it in as a PayPal request because I was so anxious for Jeff to hear it. I was 90% sure that either you or Matthew would request it, and I wrote Jeff to tell him that if one of you guys puts it in to let you have it and I would give him an alternate. However, he wrote me back and basically said, “It’s whoever requests it first.” I’m grateful he acknowledged that you requested it too as it is easily one of the best performances by Voces8, and it is the most amazing vocal collaboration I’ve ever heard. I’m very much looking forward to hearing your alternate pick.

[@StrateleStudios]

It’s OK Brian he came up with a killer alternate! 😊😊😊

[@VoltaireMM]

bravissimo!!

[@katerinawhitley2706]

The performance is superb. Yes. But let's hear it for Blake. What an arrangement.

[@charlespadgett3469]

Hear VOCES8 live during their current American tour that still has a couple of weeks to go. Or plan ahead to hear them in February 2024 when they return to the U.S.A. for additional touring dates.

[@charlespadgett3469]

No one has mentioned that the arrangement is by Blake Morgan, the sole American of the 8. He's the tall guy with a beard in the plaid shirt. Would I be wrong to say that it would take an American to capture the quintessential American character of this beloved hymn?

[@uncleop22]

And for those who haven't already looked up Blake, he was with Chanticleer prior to V8, and was/is also a barbershopper from an early age. So, yeah, when he wrote this targeting Ringmasters (2012 gold medalists) and his own group he knew exactly what raw talent and deep knowledge he had to make this arrangement so compelling. That (R) comes in with a stunning unison after V8 builds the first foundation is just the tip of the musical iceberg that has sent chills everytime I listen, and this is probably the first KZbin video that I have watched daily since it came out. There's more to it on every view and listen.

[@jenniferhiemstra5228]

@@uncleop22 Not just Chanticleer...but Cantus as well. Both US based male supergroups. It's insane, I don't think many others, if any, can claim that on their resume.

[@richardtodd7295]

One last comment. At the end, let the video run and listen to the reverb, and their reactions.

[@4partharmony208]

Agreed. Rasmus's reaction is priceless

[@superjfbm]

... sorry, i couldnt hear quite well the reason to gather at the river...

[@lindagprice]

Please stop commenting while they are singing!

[@StrateleStudios]

Don’t be an idiot Linda. If you don’t want to see a reaction video go watch the original video.