Sing Me To Heaven - Daniel Gawthrop - performed live by Octarium

Octarium performs Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing Me to Heaven" live at the Listener's Choice concert, February 2011.
Krista Lang Blackwood, artistic director
Sing Me to Heaven
Text by Jane Griner
In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss
Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute
In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices
And my soul finds primal eloquence, and wraps me in song
If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby
If you would win my heart, sing me a love song
If you would mourn me and bring me to God,
sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven
Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure
Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure
Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem
Love me, comfort me, bring me to God
Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven

[@zeenalady9420]

This song was performed at my friend's funeral by mclane high School... I joined choir the following year and learned this song. We performed it closely to this rendition. Out of all the songs i learned during high school, this is the only one i still remember word for word. Shout out to ms. Sandham (mclane high School 2000-2001)for all the techniques and tips.

[@dbugrad2001]

I had this song sung at my daughter's funeral service, the words and music touched everyone and I cannot think of a better song to take her to her next journey.

[@jjcevering9411]

Julie von pelz I'm so sorry for loss. Beautiful choice. My parents have buried a baby, Chandler. Angela a diabetic NICU nurse at age 34. Kenny a plumbing company owner lung cancer at age 32, and our baby sister Janica at age 36. I've seen my parents go through it and it changes you. But God. Was there. For them. And He is there obviously for you.

[@craigjohnson4809]

So sorry that you lost your daughter. 😢 I can understand how much this music meant to you. Hope you are doing OK. God Bless you. 🙏

[@kelso7110]

Im so sorry for your loss. You picked a wonderfully moving song. We are performing this with my community choir and I will keep this close to my heart when we sing this

[@elizabethanderson9862]

I was listening to this song at almost the same time my favorite music professor passed away. I did not know that he had left us at the time or was going to leave us. Now this song reminds me of him. I listen to it when I miss him. So beautiful and comforting.

[@richardlaut6021]

This is the best all a cappella singing group I have ever heard in my 68 years. True madrigal style singing in its purest form. I regret that I discovered them after they disbanded. I would have loved to attend one of their concerts.

[@jhonwhite9571]

Performing this with my high school choir in New York this upcoming April. This version is perfect.

[@pedroalamire9100]

Guy on the right look like Hank Marvin..! Beautiful..Congratulations.

[@lizmassey68]

We read the lyrics from this song at my father's funeral last year. They well describe his life, which was truly "wrapped in song." Music gave him his greatest pleasures. This was a lovely rendition.

[@michaelgehl4491]

We, too, will sing it next weekend (May 17/18 2014); I hope we do it as well. Thank you! Michael B. Gehl MD Madrigalia, Rochester NY

[@alainawebb2806]

Does this not give you chills? A beautiful piece, that i loved to practice with. Definitely going to be one of my favorites. Thank you!

[@burtonthomas5408]

The Alto at 2:20...wow you all are so talented but her tone is just melting me.

[@TheOctarium]

One of the reasons we sing is our hope that the music we make inspires our listeners; so thank YOU for reaffirming that what we do makes a difference. We just uploaded a video of the Sing Me To Heaven recording on our album, Essentials. Have a listen.

[@reginsambu17]

soooooooo perfect the OCTARIUM. nice remdition

[@baysidesingers9837]

Gorgeous rendition!

[@mikestyn4786]

Amen!

[@scarletmariesmom]

0:50 -That feeling right there is the best feeling while singing. My a Capella choir in high school sang this song. It was beautiful, but this is amazing.

[@nicksalcido681]

I could die peacefully listening to this

[@debjh]

This was a beautiful rendition. Daniel Gawthrop is a treasure among todays composers. I had the privilege of meeting him in person, and singing one of his pieces that he wrote for our Cannon Beach Chorus’s 30th Anniversary. He is a treasure. We are singing “Sing Me to Heaven” at our Spring Concert in April, 2020, along with 2 other of his pieces.

[@tabeakalimeris1230]

Lyrics: In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute In response to aching silence memory summons half-heard voices And my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song, wraps me in song If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby If you would win my heart, sing me a love song If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven Touch in me all love and passion pain and pleasure Touch in me grief and comfort Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion love and passion, pain and pleasure Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem Love me, comfort me, bring me to God Sing me a love song, Sing me to Heaven

[@CreamyPeach08]

This is one of the best recordings I've heard of this song. I've loved it since I sang it in high school, and I was sad that I never got to sing it during my years in The Concordia Choir. Simply beautiful. You've reminded me why I loved music so much and inspired me to get more of it back into my life. THANK YOU.

[@beaglemusic]

Thank you for this. I needed to hear this today. Sang this awhile back with a group here in in Lansing MI. I used to sing in a group similar to yours and really miss it. It was my balm. Thank you for your music!

[@radhikagore7204]

i would have loved to hear more of the tenor in the second chord on song in wraps me in song thats the color in the chord

[@singyourspiritsong]

We are performing this coming up this weekend (Crow River Singers, Hutchinson MN) and it gives me the chills. Wanted to listen to a youtube performance for last minute practicing and this is glorious!

[@iGookin]

That microphone reverb tho.

[@theMGLguy]

Beautiful!

[@musicsinger59]

One of the BEST versions of this piece I have ever heard! Dynamic contrast, harmonies and phrasing make this a dynamic interpretation of this piece. Subscribe you your page and hope to hear you live in concert some day.

[@stacymcdonald9775]

I haven't heard this song since I song it in high school with my choir. It just makes me have tons of memories when i used to sing it

[@KareesBrown]

YALL!

[@StahsayAli]

I love this song...

[@ethanembry9311]

My school's chorus is doing this song. Absolutely beautiful! I can't stop listening to it

[@emiolian]

Wonderful!

[@director2able]

Stunning!

[@TehGreenDragon]

In a word: Perfect.

[@matthewblack5317]

beautiful

[@fwhayes0704]

Absolutely beautiful!!! Gave me goosebumps!!

[@jjcevering9411]

Sweet and pure...holy

[@chezling]

Our Chamber Ensemble is attempting this piece, but listening to you do this is simply angelic!!

[@ProdbyZwm]

I’m singing this song in my concert choir and it’s definitely one of my favorites

[@MattPalka]

Unforgettable song and performance. Thank you!

[@bassuwun]

i love this song! very lovely. exquisite consinents and phrasing!

[@craigjohnson4809]

Absolutely beautiful singing.

[@jenniferbirnbaum1189]

Thank you for this. I've been listening to your recordings all day after my friend posted a link to Alleluia this morning. How perfect for this day of grief...

[@allenmusicman]

Breath-taking choral beauty! Thank you!

[@Gene63]

Absolutely breathtaking. I love this piece. Thank you Krista and Octarium!!!

[@CelticRoad]

extraordinary!

[@soprano2k]

Flawless! Thank you for posting this. We sang this selection for the funeral of a friend who had requested it specifically and YOURS was the version we chose to study along with our sheet music. Your hard work and your passion for music are positively inspiring. Please keep up the great work!

[@fwhayes0704]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@KareesBrown]

SING!

[@copperjosh]

Our 10-piece ensemble just performed this tonight alongside the Faure Requiem. Beautiful song.

[@Ikon4860]

Our most recent concert of the Faure' at Conception Abbey included the Mozart Laudate dominum which went well but I really like the idea of pairing the Faure' with this piece. Nice job.

[@ellenmeissner9698]

I am singing this for my chorus piece and I have to have it memorized in 3 days..... But now I know how to say the words and what the notes are! THANKS!!!! If you have any tips for learning music easier and memorization tips that would be great!

[@andistem6560]

I have sung this SATB and SSA. SATB is superior! Great JOB!

[@rachelbrandorff8000]

sing along all the time :)

[@JohnKennethHuszagh]

I'm looking at the arrangement that my choir is doing and it seems right.

[@gerry555333]

The basses are singing incorrectly in bars 11 & 12 - they are singing F sharp instead of F natural

[@KareesBrown]

BETTER!

[@huldakolbrun]

Beautiful voices with a wonderful song. Only one note is bothering me at 0:38. Otherwise this is near perfection.

[@CharlieBladeRemus]

Ugh... you're right, that caught me off-guard

[@sear0h599]

The basses are singing the wrong pitches at, "summons half-heard voices" and it bothers me

[@SirHollowOfLeg]

excellent recording. the balance is off at a few places, but nothing too distracting. Yall blend really well. When I first was watching I thought the the group had about 4 members :D

[@hughvane]

Beeeaautifull singers, a lovely rendition, but pleeeeease don't surge (scoop? - so annoyingly British - on to your notes. Hit 'em where they belong.

[@joshandallo2170]

hughvane Surge and scoop are a little different; surge is more of a sudden crescendo, and scoop is coming a little under the pitch to hit it. I agree that scooping has its place, but it shouldn’t be discounted. Scooping is also a must in gospel music.

[@MusicFella]

bass isn't loud enough and drags

[@nazhirleonard1407]

Luke Foster I agree cause I sing bass to this song and I could barely hear it

[@camithekat]

You guys aren't tuning to each other at all. Where's the blend?

[@joelnieves4481]

sounds like a bunch of soloists, but still, tight harmonies.

[@mikestyn4786]

It sounds beautiful to me.

[@Jemawin]

My score has clear f-naturals written in on silence/summons and voices--what I hear and way more effective than an f-sharp becuase it allows for a chromatic line.

[@CharlieBladeRemus]

No he's right, but it's not really the entrance, it comes right after it. He definitely did sing some wrong notes in that first part

[@MrTom2val]

Phrasing... hmmm... why the rush?

[@tomincomfort1]

Basses miss the ever important F# in the 3rd measure: silence/summons

[@tjgotkicks3466]

The voices didn't blend in very well

[@TheSpadey139]

Too bad the bass sings wrong notes in his entrance.

[@andwii]

great voices, but the faces are a little... happy dont ya think? lol

[@bradj5369]

Really nice singing, but I agree that the faces are a bit overdone at times.

[@THEBEATLESBF3]

Am I the only one who thinks this is bad?

[@heatherwoods528]

Yes.

[@EpicMic610]

+Wylie Willis I like it but its defiantly not perfect. I'm half half on it.

[@rolandobenitez7370]

+Wylie Willis It's not bad, it's just not good.

[@camithekat]

I agree

[@gerry5943]

Wylie Willis b

[@ferka07]

this is nice but for me this is not a choir. They lack choral qualities and they are not of sufficient capacity. Just not a choir