Song for Athene by John Tavener

Seraphic Fire performs “Song for Athene” by John Tavener
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...

[@GraceBurton-qm8jj]

This is so haunting to me ever since I heard it at Diana's funeral. I can picture the time all over again😢

[@stephenacs]

Ever since I hear it at Princess Diana's funeral, this piece has haunted and moved me. I call it introspective music and it always suffices when called upon to do so. Stunning.

[@janesmith9024]

It is wonderful as is all of Tavener's music. I came to this today because I watched something about tall people and remembered he had Marfan syndrome and was 6 foot 6 but the music kept me here....

[@christinewhitfeld7939]

I will never forget the impact this piece made at Princess Diana ' s funeral. It was totally appropriate and deeply moving... A masterpiece.

[@phaedracollins6051]

This is surely one of the greatest pieces of music from the last century. Tavener was an outstanding composer.

[@TerriMagoo]

It’s true I can listen all day

[@alieshsonoma922]

Lsten to his THE LAMB

[@rower8guy]

Absolute goosebumps from start to finish. A profoundly difficult piece to pull-off, IMHO. Brilliantly done by this group. The guys who have to hold that background note throughout the piece are silent heros. TOUGH on their vocal cords, for-sure. But SO important to the foundation of mourning. Also: the way that the word "dream" (at approx. after 3:23 into the video) is magical and seems deliberately "foggy" like a dream. How those notes merged to create that effect was genius by Tavener and executed perfectly by this ensemble. Wowza. Of the 48,884 views as of this comment, I'll admit to roughly 100 of them and counting. Such as complex piece to sing. Can't imagine the amount of practice this took to perform so well. Thanks for the upload, SeraphicFireMIA.

[@johnmurphy5064]

A most memorable conclusion to Princess Diana's funeral with this magnificent piece of music.

[@noeydeleon]

This group is HIGHLY overseen. Wow! What a gorgeous, velvety tone.

[@adamsmith6849]

This anthem will forever be attached engraved in the memory of Princess Diana's funeral. Forever.

[@MrTitan225]

Oh yes .... Princess Diana's exit from the Cathedral , what a masterpiece for such an occasion as this....I also remember the massive bells being rung..as Princess Diana was taken down the steps to the hearse ..they are so powerful and stately

[@devonmoon5016]

@@MrTitan225 when the Kings Troop horses were carrying her coffin ,just heard only their hooves, saw the horses & someone cried out 'Diana' 😢 💔 xxx

[@commontater24601]

Unfortunately that's true. Not to slight her memory, but this piece stands very well on its own.

[@LONDINESE95]

Carved in my mind the end of the funeral with this music. I never shared so many tears in my life.

[@descollins6616]

The man was a genius and genuine, God bless and thank you. 🙏

[@djs66]

Goosebumps formed hairs standing up on the back of my neck.... The crescendo when it comes is enough to bring one to tears ...

[@phaedracollins6051]

Tavener in my opinion was one of the greatest composers of the 20th Century. This is divine.

[@MDCB1]

And the 21st...

[@petesturman]

Probably the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

[@tgflux]

It really is.

[@TerriMagoo]

It is

[@karenlee-johnston7118]

Athene Hariades- your youth and vivacity continues long after the flights of angels carried thee to thy rest! You are remembered with every performance of this modern masterpiece!💛

[@dvojkan]

Amazing performance!

[@judithvandijkhuizen8331]

Gorgeous singing and done very atmospherically

[@michaelschmitt4423]

Brilliant performance by this choir! Beyond beautiful! 👍🏻

[@williamoates9887]

What an absolutely wonderful rendition .....

[@bunkyman8097]

Such a great performance. You can hear every syllable, such diction. Very emotional. I have yet to hear this without being a crying mess when finished. Such ancient sounding music.

[@BillyBike416]

I think we are all drawn to this because it seeks to approximate what eternity sounds like.

[@rolandfarmer]

Me too!

[@djs66]

Me three!

[@ambermartin3961]

This was one of my favorite pieces to sing ever.

[@ruperteachells2355]

Thank you 😢!Absolutely beautiful ! We sang this Anthem at my Dear Wife’s Funeral, 4 years ago 🤷!

[@AlexEs63]

🕊🙏😭 Chilling, Visceral & Brilliant! Cried when watching Princess Diana's funeral procession. This performance was outstanding, bravo! 👏👏👏

[@sandyy6054]

It gave me goosebumps.

[@russefrance4869]

Knowing the origin of the song and who Athene was, this is the one choral piece that reaches deep inside and lays emotions bare.

[@resituber197]

Thank you so much for posting this. A flawless masterpiece and magnificent performance by this beautiful choir.

[@alanburnham9832]

Love this performance! LOVE!

[@philipsmith9364]

Brilliant rendition of a fantastic piece....

[@ratkillerthe]

one of the best versions I've heard

[@Diligeiurebonos]

Beautiful

[@helenjackson9870]

Extraordinary. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@jaymayfield8468]

May be the best version I've heard!

[@pedroromancuacosta9581]

Absolutely beautiful!!

[@seanmcdonnell6811]

I sang this song as a senior in highschool and it will forever hold a place in my heart

[@usmapiper88]

I heard this performed by the Westminster College Choir in a chapel. The choir were on the perimeter of the sanctuary, which made the song truly "surround sound" It made me a fan for life

[@janetmaxwell222]

My favorite...beautifully done

[@vjr4763]

Best version that I've ever heard.

[@kristynerosier2734]

This absolutely broke my heart as I watched her funeral. I will have this played at mine.

[@kristynerosier2734]

I want this sung at my funeral. Or played as this recording if they’re going to go cheap in me. Lol.

[@Beth-yb2kv]

Me too!

[@nicolelawless9942]

I’ve requested Princess Diana’s version and it emotionally moved Woody.EXE when he first heard it. My 2023 funeral was going to haunt him

[@57highland]

Alleluia.May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your Kingdom.Give rest, O Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep.The choir of saints have found the well-spring of life, and door of paradise.Life: a shadow and a dream.Weeping at the grave creates the song. Alleluia.Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you.

[@melaniemills351]

Just love this, beautiful sounding choir 😇

[@yasminm7157]

Sounds like the ascension to heaven....I hope it’s this beautiful. Just divine.

[@Beth-yb2kv]

So beautiful.

[@DionnaNalls]

Ever since Diana's funeral, I have been obsessed with this music. Haunting and fitting.

[@kristynerosier2734]

I’m a performing member/vocalist of The Reading Choral Society, and this was a fantastic rendition of the Song For Athene.

[@chadjaeger7626]

This is a beautiful recording of this song. However, I will never be able to hear it without mentally adding the footfalls of the casket bearers at Princess Diana's funeral which added such a human element to this beautiful music. At her funeral, they ended the performance at around the 5:15 mark in this recording, so I had no idea it continued on for another short bit. I actually prefer the earlier ending.

[@RichardJosephSeymourMrSeymour]

BREATHTAKING! BRAVI!🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹🐦🌹

[@exsoulagent]

What a sounding rendition 😍

[@valerielongmore5040]

Beautiful x

[@tanseygreen291]

Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, handicraft, and warfare who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of various cities across Greece, particularly the city of Athens, from which she most likely received her name.

[@tanseygreen291]

FYT

[@nvonsolms]

Fantastic choir

[@connorkostadt7664]

You can clearly hear the orthodox Christian inspiration. I once stayed at Mt Athos for a week and never have I felt so spiritual.

[@stephenbarrette610]

Wonderful performance of an extraordinary piece of music that is both incredibly moving and I would imagine incredibly challenging to sing.

[@shubitoxX]

Oh my god this is beautifully executed. My favorite is the alleluia phrase starting at 3:48 and the crescendo starting at 4:07. Incredible !

[@dsfdfdfdsa]

Yes, yes best part of song and starting at 3:14

[@alieshsonoma922]

Oh YOUR god OR OH OUR GOD more like it

[@driver4music19]

Just subscribed to your channel, an astounding rendition, thank you for your beautiful voices.

[@kittydeplorable6218]

For my lost hubby, Tim :(

[@jolenewilliamson1031]

I want this at my funeral

[@dsfdfdfdsa]

Super relaxing song.

[@Petra1001uk]

'May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest'. These are the words King Charles spoke in his address to the nation a few days after his dear Mama passed away. Now I know where this exquisite phrase comes from.

[@shirleymaro]

Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Hamlet Act 5 Scene 2. Shakespeare

[@stephaniez.4165]

Beautiful!!! I gotta have this at my funeral! ;)

[@helenmclaughlin252]

Stephanie Griffin I WILL have this at MY funeral:Remember me o Lord when You come into Your Kingdom. Give rest O Lord to your Handmaid who has fallen asleep, GLORIOUS!

[@susanpettee2201]

Me, too. This is beautiful.

[@bunkyman8097]

There are no words to describe this music. It is something you feel. Always makes me cry.

[@chrisparsons4474]

Heart-rending.

[@dissilymordentroge5818]

So many versions of this on KZbin but sadly for me the very best is only to be had on the CD of the complete recording of Princess Diana’s funeral. This has not only a fabulous foundation of the organ taking the drone part but if you can hear the footfall of the coffin bearers, a truly moving if not downright chilling effect. And being an English event that footfall is in time with the music. Those recordings of this performance ( hardly feels the correct term for such ) available on KZbin are all either overdubbed with nausiating commentary or very badly recorded.

[@tgflux]

Don't know why they lopped off the final "Alleluia" at Diana's funeral though. I suppose to some, it may sound anti-climactic, after the GLORIOUS Heaven-cracks-open of "rewards and crowns I have prepared for you." [Note in score: "With resplendent joy in the Resurrection"] To me, however (Tavener may have commented on this and I am ignorant!) the final fading away Alleluia represents, We the Living. Our beloved departed one has gone high, but we carry on, *in faith*. Alleluia! [I'm hoping choir is going to finally sing this soon.]

[@dissilymordentroge5818]

Only the English, more specifically those with a background steeped in the traditions of Anglican sacred music, would even think of having the coffin bearers footfall keep time . The addition of the organ part also took the level to hights (depths?) not previously experienced. The only KZbin clips of that occassion are of appalling quality either with voice over or elecronic hum. The entire service however is available on CD.

[@MrTorleon]

Thank you, not always easy to find just the choral works one is looking for, but this is top shelf :)

[@tango22ah]

This is glorious but who is keeping the low drown?

[@obeatatrinitas]

Alleluia. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. (Original text: Horatio: Now cracks a noble heart. - Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! -Hamlet, Act V Scene ii,[8] c.f. In paradisum) Alleluia. Remember me, O Lord, when you come into your kingdom. (Original text: O thou who reignest over life and death, in the courts of thy Saints grant rest unto him [her] whom thou hast removed from temporal things. And remember me also, when thou comest into thy kingdom. -Orthodox funeral service,[9] Luke 23:42) Alleluia. Give rest, O Lord, to your handmaid, who has fallen asleep. (Original text: Where the choirs of the Saints, O Lord, and of the Just, shine like the stars of heaven, give rest to thy servant [handmaid] who hath fallen asleep, regarding not all his [her] transgressions. -Orthodox funeral service) Alleluia. The Choir of Saints have found the well-spring of life and door of Paradise. (Original text: The Choir of the Saints have found the Fountain of Life and the Door of Paradise. May I also find the right way, through repentance. I am a lost sheep. Call me, O Saviour, and save me. -Orthodox funeral service) Alleluia. Life: a shadow and a dream. (Original text: Guildenstern: Which dreams, indeed, are ambition; for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. Hamlet: A dream itself is but a shadow. -Hamlet, Act II scene ii) Alleluia. Weeping at the grave creates the song: Alleluia. Come, enjoy rewards and crowns I have prepared for you. (Original text: Thou only art immortal, who hast created and fashioned man. For out of the earth were we mortals made, and unto the earth shall we return again, as thou didst command when thou madest me, saying unto me: For earth thou art, and unto the earth shalt thou return. Whither, also, all we mortals wend our way, making of our funeral dirge the song: Alleluia. ... Ye who have trod the narrow way most sad; all ye who, in life, have taken upon you the Cross as a yoke, and have followed Me through faith, draw near: Enjoy ye the honours and the crowns which I have prepared for you. -Orthodox funeral service) Alleluia. (From Wikipedia, Song for Athene)

[@PS-vm3we]

Thank you. I wish this were the top comment. The text is stunning. Thank you for providing the context/original sources too.

[@plumjam]

Nice on, Tavvers lad.

[@ulissgrg3869]

Hola un enorme abrazo saludo a la distancia a todos (as) Dios nos ama infinitamente siempre y hasta el fin de los tiempos será así y lo seguirá haciendo en su patria celestial, definitivamente esta canción transmite una inmesa paz y gozo que viene de lo alto, no está todo perdido vimos el hecho extraordinario de la beatificación del Venerable Carlo Acutis quien acepto la voluntad de Dios, a quien Dios llamo y el respondió su llamado Carlo igual como todos acá en la tierra tenía sus debilidades y su imperfección no era tampoco como su propia madre dijo ''el no era un extraterrestre'' pero demás de aceptar su voluntad su generocidad, amor al prójimo, su amor a Jesús hicieron de el lo que hoy es!! No está perdido todo todos somos hijos de Dios si abrimos nuestros corazones el hará su santa voluntad nos hará libres por el gran amor que siente por nosotros un ser tan supremo en lo más alto y que tiene infinita misericordia por la humanidad. Pidamos con humildad sencilles que el nos guíe ilumine el camino hagamos muchos méritos logros con nuestros hermanos qué se manifieste la caridad ese amor a los demás cuando ocupen ayuda y la necesite, que a través de nosotros Dios pueda calmar a esa persona con sus tribulaciones y dificultades. Qué esa persona no nos vea a nosotros si no a Dios porqué cada uno de nosotros en esta tierra tenemos a Dios en el corazón. Ten misericordia Dios padre por este mundo. Precioso corazón de Jesús ten piedad de nosotros. 🙏 Un enorme abrazo Dios los bendiga y nunca nunca olviden qué Dios está estará con nosotros acompañadonos en este caminar.

[@iananderson3294]

My Clan fought in the Crusades alongside Richard the Lionheart, And it takes me back to the great battles that my Clan fought in against the Infidels to retake Jerusalem.

[@patsouthworth5776]

6

[@maggsw5481]

This is good but just seems so fitting at Princess Diana's funeral

[@momentsoftruth7712]

did u know, hallelujah means praise Jah, which is short for Jehovah, the divine name of the living God.

[@Putra-ld2sb]

The best version was on princess diana’s funeral

[@philjm3103]

Brent Postlethwaite brought me here

[@Reggieelliot1990]

classic fm did a remix where the drone was more powerful at the climax the bass drone was increased in volume it was far better

[@TheKonga88]

May queen ants fly thee to thy rest and may moon pies sing you Christmas carols with Martian mice. 😀😀😀🎄🎄🏃🏃🎉🎅🎊🎊🎈🎈🎈🌜🌛🎁🎁🎁🎁🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🌎🌎🌙🎆🎇🎇🎎🎍🎍🎅🎇🎊🎊🎈