VocalEssence - What Sweeter Music by John Rutter

[@Ofeliasdiarymusic]

Thank you for this heavenly music in my ears 🤍🤍🤍

[@lisafarrarwellman3516]

This will always be a treasured song of mine. My husband and I sang it with our college choir over 20 years ago and to this day, I smile and shed a tear or two when I hear it.

[@catherinekelly532]

Bless these fine ladies and gentlemen!

[@TheCTConservative]

One of Rutter's most beautiful and sublime choral compositions. I first heard it on one of the St. Olaf Christmas festival broadcasts and was blown away by it. Glad I taped it because I kept playing it over and over. It always brings a tear to my eye. Philip Brunell and vocalessence have done a fine job with it.

[@MrsHillGreenlaw]

tears stream down my face EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEAR OR SING THIS SONG!!!!!!

[@KawenaGD]

me too.

[@anthonyalessandrini3240]

Me too.

[@pizmyr]

Beautiful rendition of a beautiful anthem.

[@cookieruggiero4043]

What beautiful memories this brings to me. Frank Glab our Choir Director, we were wonderful because of his guidance. Thank YOU Frank. It Brings tears to my eyes to think that we actually sang this beautiful music together.

[@jerrera45]

This music is so special. It takes me back to my childhood looking out our front window on Christmas eve, The snow was falling and the old fashioned Christmas lights ( you know those big ones) were softly glowing on the snow covered ground. I still get a tear in my eye when ever I hear this. Thanks for a wonderful performance.

[@Shuey272]

This song is so beautiful... That I don't ever wanna stop procrastinating

[@donpkra]

Anything John Rutter has written is always inspiring and moving at anytime during the year. THis interpretation is quite stunning and sensitive. AS a musician and singer this isnt easy singing at all but this group does such fine justice to this beautiful Christmas piece DK

[@gerryjohnson2252]

What sweeter music and comfort exists deeper, stronger than in this piece?

[@richardfried7707]

I have to imagine that this is exactly what Rutter had in mind. You nailed it, with all the ritards and other tempo changes, dynamics, balance with the orchestra. Thanks for posting.

[@MrsHillGreenlaw]

Richard Fried YES THEY DID!!!

[@AlexPriceMusician]

this song gives me a feeling i cant describe, I feel as though something is pulling and retracting in my chest with each cadence. from time to time i had to remind myself to keep breathing :)

[@catholicreader2010]

A lovely rendition of this beautiful composition!

[@bobareebop]

I love this more than I can say.

[@allenmusicman]

I love the warm tone of his choir!

[@leeabe3932]

17th-century poet Robert Herrick : Lyrics What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol, for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string! Dark and dull night, fly hence away, And give the honor to this day, That sees December turned to May. That sees December turned to May. Why does the chilling winter's morn Smile, like a field beset with corn? Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn, Thus, on the sudden? Come and see The cause, why things thus fragrant be: 'Tis He is born, whose quickening birth Gives life and luster, public mirth, To heaven, and the under-earth. We see him come, and know him ours, Who, with his sunshine and his showers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers. Turns all the patient ground to flowers. The darling of the world is come, And fit it is, we find a room To welcome him. To welcome him. The nobler part Of all the house here, Is the heart. Which we will give him; and bequeath This holly, and this ivy wreath, To do him honour, who's our King, And Lord of all this revelling. What sweeter music can we bring, Than a carol for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King?

[@justMeLavy]

feel like crying listening to this...it's such a peaceful song

[@jameslevens2773]

Thank you for uploading this to KZbin. The voices are so amazing to listen to. This is the best rendition of What Sweeter Music that I've ever heard. Well done to the choir for singing in such an amazing fashion.

[@ilaffmusic]

we're singing this in my school choir right now :) such a beautiful song!!!!!!!!!

[@cspitza]

Beautiful. Voices are spot on. Kudos to you all.

[@patriciocristobalgallardoz341]

Sólo un alma noble y gigante es capaz de crear tan maravillosa música porque no hay palabras que hagan justicia a esta composición. Maestro Rutter, usted es un gigantesco músico y ser humano. La prueba por qué esta fecha no tiene par en todo el año.

[@kaitlynrae22]

We did this song for our Christmas concert at my high school last year. It gives me chills every time I listen to it. The harmonies in this song are INCREDIBLY beautiful!

[@RichardMikesell]

Perfection.

[@System624]

Merry Christmas darlings! Gorgeous rendition. Bravo!

[@BarbershopHero]

Reminds me of a miniature Mormon Tabernacle Choir! They sang this song a few Christmases ago and it was simply amazing! You certainly do it justice as well! Great job!

[@lavelle8686]

Perfect! Just beautiful in every way! at 1:56 when the orchestra stops playing, it gave me goosebumps!

[@makingmusicmusicando685]

Music makes what Mr. Rutter is speaking to us about a better world through music in order to become us into a better human being citizen. VocalEssence has the skill to raise the goal that Rutter has for everyone. Thanks to you for making such as great performance with such as subtle accuracy. God bless you.

[@mikemcgibney]

A wonderful version of a beautiful piece! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

[@brunodelconte]

Amazing ! A sympathetic and sensitive interpretation of an incredible work of art. Exactly I think as John Rutter intended. Thanks for posting this.

[@tanya5322]

You might be right, I just came to watch this video because John Rutter linked it in his musical advent calendar on FaceBook today

[@fgbowen]

As American choirs go - This is a beautiful performance. Thank you for giving it room to breathe and voice to speak. Be ye not selfish at heart as we across the sea have grown And welcome him, welcome, whom selfless songs have longer known.

[@rug792]

very pretty. i went to Moody Church in Chicago this year and heard this for the first time. thank you for posting.

[@profMaximvs]

Amazing rendition!

[@bobareebop]

"Dark and dull night, fly hence away! And give the honor to this day, that sees December turned to May". They don't write them like that anymore.

[@joan407]

The words are from 17th-c British poet Robert Herrick.

[@chandarlee]

this piece is so beautiful!

[@lightshineministries3549]

Need more performances like this

[@peterost3471]

Wonderful x

[@kingradiosclero]

You are very good and Rutter is a true genius! My choir sang "Candlelight Carol" with a new arrangment. Write this down on the research: you will love it for sure. Corale Novarmonia - Candlelight Carol (J. Rutter)

[@Ofeliasdiarymusic]

who's here in 2024??

[@jamesmckee4373]

My favorite part of this piece is at 1:56 when the choir goes acapella ..... wonderful

[@isoejr]

very well done, congratulations

[@donpkra]

THis is a really beautiful piece of music and inspiring at any time of the year. They're acapella singing is first rate and sensitive. I agree put down the music and sing you always get the best singing that way - D

[@tygerstar35]

fabulous! Thank you for inspiring my rehearsal. Xmas will be great this year! God Bless!

[@tygerstar35]

Thank you so much for posting this!

[@LadyTrusty18]

Simply Beautiful.........

[@bimmerboy87]

I think its absolutely ridiculous that many of you are saying to "lose the scores because it looks unprofessional". I know MANY world class and outstanding professional choirs that read from the scores during the concerts. Reading from scores doesnt equate to not "digesting the music". U can read from a score and still be able to digest the music just as well as if u didnt have a score; digesting a score depends on how well ur conductor conveys the music to you.

[@Amycakes7]

Beautiful!

[@kkaattyyzz]

Memorizing can be helpful to choirs, especially ones with younger members, but professionals often need music. Having the music can actually be vital to a performance since groups often perform the same music twice with different interpretations. The markings in the music help a performer adjust to the conductor's stylistic preferences.

[@jameslevens2121]

Thank you for your message. I used to wonder why choirs needed music in front of them, whereas pop singers and school choirs had to learn the music off by heart.

[@SakuraMochiKitty]

I remember singing this in choir!

[@AjPoliMusic]

This is a different arrangement of this song! I've sung this song before with my grammar school called The Choir Academy, but we sung a different arrangement.

[@bimmerboy87]

Furthermore, using the score is often times used as a point of reference, and staring directly at your score is never advocated by choir conductors. As a singer in a choir that utilizes scores during concerts, i can attest that I have not digested music any less cuz i didnt have the music memorized and our choir conductor ALWAYS told us to look up as often as possible and to place the music in such a way as to be able to see her as well as read the music.

[@kathyadams5229]

My favorite parts: 2:56 & 3:10. Love this tune!

[@bethgrandfield9776]

I love the music at those parts too!

[@bethgrandfield9776]

Such a beautiful piece of music, could listen to it again and again.

[@kiltlvr]

@bus114, I sure wish you hadn't pointed that out....... Sheesh! All the same, I'm in total agreement.

[@eckangzzzz]

so relaxing.. who has a sheet music of this? i've seen searching this for a long time please help!!!

[@sssabooo]

@donpkra Very True, this song is incredible... But i think the lyrics were taken from Robert Herrick's poem : A Christmas Carol... Never the less, john rutter made it even more incredible i guess...!

[@bus114]

@mposterFV You're not looking at the same soprano I'm referring to. Freeze the video at about 0:35. I think you're looking at the blonde in the lower right. I'm referring to the singer between upper left and upper center, with the enraptured look on her face. A bit too enraptured, is my point.

[@theodorehui]

i hate the beeping sound that's preventing me from enjoying the nice music can you record the video again using a better computer or device??

[@megnut12]

LATTA SENT ME. ;)

[@pantonality]

Much of Rutter's music was composed with the intent of having boys sing the treble parts. I do like the Kings College video a bit better than this one for that reason. Still Vocal Essence does a very nice job and I don't believe singing from music diminishes this performance in any way.

[@tanya5322]

I think Mr Rutter would agree with you

[@jsherm2008]

jwpepper.com has it

[@Icyveins906]

@Eurofrank1 Memorizing one's part written on a page isn't even half the work nor the hard part. In all-state we held our music except for a couple pieces simply because it meant that one could watch the piece evolve. Without seeing the other parts interract, memorizing your part is useless. That said, if you don't memorize your words and pitches, you shouldn't call yourself a dedicated musician. My point: always strive to be better and make the group better.

[@bus114]

Beautiful. My church choir director sometimes signals us to smile while singing. I think that is overrated; there is one soprano here whose smile is distracting, making her stand out from the crowd -- and standing out from the crowd is not a good thing unless you're singing a solo.

[@tanya5322]

I can remember my high school choir director explaining why he wanted us to smile... it was because when we smile, we also tend to raise our eyebrows, and when we do both, there is also an effect on the soft palate in the mouth that improves sound quality.

[@OLEGLASTOCHKIN]

After listening that song i can't listen pop - music anymore ))

[@susanflakes6968]

No need..I've got it..

[@stephenb1962]

Nice, but too much warbling from the Sops. Not necessary in English choral music.