"Time After Time" by VOCES8 & Lyyra, Reaction/Analysis by Musician/Producer

[@davidbrook7121]

A rare thing to be given the privilege to see with our ears, and hear with our eyes. The aura of immanence surrounds them. What a gift from Voces8 and Lyyra. Phenomenal arrangement - would appreciate some technical comments - e.g. is this the apotheosis of the use of chromatic mediants? They get me every time if it is...

[@erikjacobson6852]

Hey Jeff! Creative Director of Lyyra (‘leer-a’) here and Executive Director of The Voces8 Foundation. Thanks for the love with this video! Very proud of this piece as an arrangement and performance. Thanks for giving it a listen and a platform!

[@peterkoeppl]

Expected to hear something unique and special before i hit the "play button"....and that is exactly what i heard. So beautifully haunting and exquisite. This group is simply holds one in emotional awe.

[@saetmusic]

The performance was exquisite and his reaction was SPOT ON!

[@tobiasljungberg5016]

The arrangement and the harmonies… It’s not hard to imagine what it would sound like if Dirty Loops joined them in the last half… ☝🏼😊

[@Jazzbeu55]

The two groups sound wonderful together. This is my first time hearing Lyrra. I pay VOCES8 a visit every December to check out their beautiful Christmas music. I hope the groups do more collaborations.

[@lisedonsgrnning6518]

🥹🥹🥹😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🥹🫠🫠🥹 ….. gratefulness🙏🏼💜😌.

[@stevepoorman9289]

Beyond words. Heavenly realm.

[@rbmelk7083]

Wow, Richard, wow!! I hadn’t been following Voces8’s channel as closely as I should, and this one slipped right by me. So glad you caught it and brought it here… that was amazing!

[@richardtodd7295]

Thank you Jeff for publishing this Reaction/Analysis! The Voces 8 Foundation announced the formation of Lyyra a month ago. This group is composed of all women, all from the United States! My understanding is that they will be training and performing here, just as Voces 8 does all over the world.. Time After Time is unique in several ways. It is another example of Blake Morgan's outstanding talent. Voces 8 is unique in its ability to breath and move as a single entity, and Lyyra is right there with them perfectly. Time After Time was recorded at the Voces 8 Center in London, with the usual perfect .acoustics, and the ladies in Lyyra were there for their joint introduction with Voces 8. The second soprano was sung by Eleonore Cockerham, instead of Molly Noon. Eleonore Cockerham has a long history with Voces 8 and it is always a pleasure to see her return. Here is a link to the Voces 8 Foundation's announcement of Lyyra; kzbin.info/www/bejne/hou3nmhnfpWArcksi=FW8OZejB4HnYiF-3.

[@StrateleStudios]

Thank you for this comment! 👏👏👏

[@danhastert6486]

There are no words that I can express about the level of musicianship that you can express.

[@patrickhill8748]

Stunning perfection!

[@dbcanada]

Thanks, Jeff. Exquisite harmonies. I heard a couple of Jacob Collier chord voicings in the mix.

[@paulkossak7761]

This vocal arrangement is so complicated that I'm amazed they even attempt it let alone crushing it.

[@Robert_Herring]

Your reaction was pretty much mine the first time I heard this. It still hits after dozens of listens. Definitely one of Blake's most exquisite arrangements. I was excited for Lyyra ever since I found out about its formation. They have 3 other singles out so far, and each are wonderful. From the "Here there be Mermaids" with the flute-piano duo Smith Mars, to the carnatic infused "Jhoro Jhoro" definitely worth checking out

[@straazz]

This hit pretty damn hard. Fantasticly good arrangement and voice leading, particularly for the altos during those borrowed chord passages, where you're forced to turn your head and go "wait, what just happened?" Really one of those put the needle back moments. And it happens every time they move out of Ab major, which from what I can hear is mostly to Ab minor. I also like the intro to this arrangement, where Lyyra are supplying pedal tones to Voces8's chordal stuff. It's practically an entire section of polychords, with some dense clustery chord over a sus2 chord. Which is super clever, cus you can pretty much put any chord over a sus2. And can we just talk chords for a minute? The first chord with the whole ensemble is frikkin E13#11 (or just E#11... I can't agree with myself on whether or not I can hear the 13)! That for sure was a tear jerker. And ending the piece on a second inversion maj9 chord? Made the end seem less final, but an amazing arrangement choice nonetheless. There are also a wide variety of timbres in the female voices here. Less so in the Voces8 cast, though, but that sort of their sound.

[@AssetInvesting]

This was a sunrise over the Grand Canyon in late Spring.

[@rgoers]

OMG. I LOVE Acapella and this group is FANTASTIC. I sure hope this was recorded live and that the video doesn't lie - it sure looked like it was live, but I couldn't see that they individually mic'd anyone. That means that what we heard would be very much like what it would have been like to be in the room with them. That had to be a very special room as it had just the right amount of "echo" to make it alive. Too often these days what we hear is the product of post processing enhancements but I just don't see how this could be anything but the product of really great singing! Definitely a 10 out of 10!

[@richardtodd3453]

Many of the Voces 8 videos are done in this room. Having heard Voces 8 in concert twice, I can assure you they ARE capable of this level of performance. This room is a part of the Voces 8 Centre in London, which is an old church that was done by Christopher Wren. As they record there frequently, I am sure it is well miked to capture all that beautiful sound. I can recommend Shall We Gather at the River, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ6wYnSKf8yEe5Ysi=Pl3W6z1eUCoogIAj. Be sure to listen to the end after they finish singing, to hear the incredible reverb!

[@richardtodd7295]

My memory failed me! I went back and Gather at the River had 4 mics in the center of the circle. MEA Culpa. Ave Verum by Voces 8 appears to be done in the same location with no mics visible. Here is the link; kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGTZpohtjaaUi68si=IEnvQmHaC2DYwtW1.

[@rgoers]

@@richardtodd7295 No need to apologize. In watching the video it looked like there might have been mics hanging from the ceiling but they also might have been the bottom of chandeliers or something. Of course it is possible that they recorded it and then filmed the video separately with them singing along. I am pretty sure both Foxes and Fossils and Leonid & Friends do that with their in-studio recordings. They almost have to when they have people in different locations.

[@herbertwackerlin6174]

Having once been allowed to sit in the Voces8 center while they were filming one of the Ringmasters videos while Ringmasters were in London for recording sessions and a joint concert with Voces8, I do believe they usually separate audio and video recordings. However, the audio recordings happen in the same room. Barney‘s equipment is out of this world, and even though I KNEW the sound was coming from an incredibly powerful loudspeaker system and Ringmasters were „only“ lip-synching, I still was never entirely sure whether I was actually HEARING them sing nonetheless (and maybe they did 🤯). Anyhow, the concert on the evening before absolutely PROVED these guys can produce this absolutely well-balanced sound live as well, it’s just BREATHTAKING 🥰 They all are really on another level 🤩

[@pepevisedo7304]

Really Jeff, I'm surprised anyone could consider this boring. On the contrary, I find it a very interesting treatment of this song. Of course, not everyone sees beauty in the same landscapes.

[@StrateleStudios]

Well said, yes

[@slomo6125]

my goosebumps have goosebumps

[@EdivanDias]

React to Miserere Mei, Deus perfomed by Tenebrae Choir and conducted by Nigel Short

[@marktizzard47]

That was fun . More please.

[@AssetInvesting]

I was dreaming.

[@alanmitchell7207]

Wow😢❤

[@Hobbyfotograf_Ostlin]

Really awesome :)

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Celtic Women meet The Manhattan Transfer.

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Ok, time for the big guns: run, do not walk, to The Italian Artists' version of this Toto classic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6DPdYekaqairtE Those loving a capella arrangements would do well to remember this wonderful cover of Paul Simon's American Tune by The Starland Vocal Band in 1976: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3LFlKCCbNJsmqc

[@richardtodd7295]

I must be internet challenged. I still can't find your favorites playlist!

[@StrateleStudios]

😄 Link in the description of this video

[@jbach4311]

CHILLS!!!! Jeff, how do you think they have it Mic up????? Doesn't look like an Audio Dub!!!

[@StrateleStudios]

I made the same comment about mics when I first saw one of their videos. How could they possibly sound this good with just room mics?! I believe they do achieve this live without each singer being mic’s. In fact it’s preferred so they can blend organically without the interference of a sound engineer. Check out comments from Richard Todd, I consider him an expert on VOCES8.

[@jbach4311]

@@StrateleStudios Jeff, Thanks So Much

[@davidbrook7121]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2OZlqpvrZZofdU - a vintage piece you'd really appreciate reviewing, I think. "Mysterioso", by Thelonious Monk, featuring Johnny Griffith, and many jazz giants (Kenny Kirkland, Steve Swallow) all in tribute to Monk. This is what America will be eternally remembered for. Don't forget to breathe!

[@michaelgwfrogwelge]

My high expectations were left hanging... I found it to be a dull, draggy and rather boring arrangement of a lovely song. 👎

[@StrateleStudios]

I can safely say you don’t get it 😄

[@StrateleStudios]

I’m actually a little surprise to see such negative comments coming from you as you know this channel is about positivity. I understand you have your opinion but your opinion is read by others who really enjoy this kind of music even if you don’t. These kind of comments are inflammatory.