VOCES8: Aftonen by Hugo Alfvén

VOCES8 sings probably the most popular choral work by Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén, 'Aftonen'.
TEXT:
Skogen står tyst, himlen är klar.
Hör huru tjusande vallhornet lullar.
Kvällssolns bloss sig stilla sänker
ner uti den lugna, klara våg.
Ibland dälder, gröna kullar
eko kring nejden far...
Translation:
Tranquil the woods, skies crystal clear,
Faint the alluring shepherd horns beckon.
Sunset aglow, blushingly fading, settling
slowly, oh so gently, onto a peaceful rippling wave.
Through the valleys, verdant hillsides,
lingering echoes sound...

[@JPJMando]

Still the best vocal group on the planet. Seriously brilliant 👍

[@RoddyAlt]

Yes, wholly agree. They have the Midas touch for sure!

[@ulrichdannenbaum4472]

questionable ... just listen and see TRG under Eric Ericson with this piece kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6ayiZqLbKp6aMk

[@HenrikBergpianorganist]

As a Swede I appreciate immensely that you sing some of our wonderful choral repertoire, of which this is one of the best examples. PLEASE do Alfvén's "Julsång" (Christmas song) in December!!!🤩🤩🤩

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Instämmer helt! Och det svenska uttalet får anses godkänt👍

[@CaresinVerse]

No thousand voice choir could hold a candle to VOCES8. The sound of these gifted singers from first note to last is breathtaking. I love them!🎶

[@madraven07]

Look at them. They’re just marinating in their own gorgeosity. 🌹

[@chrst7346]

well said! 🤩 and why so?… just because they can afford to do so in their own right! 😃 and just because this is exactly what the mood of the lyrics and their setting call for: wallowing and revelling in the tranquility of nature‘s generosity of a luxuriously frugal summer evening, self-restriced and self-content. maybe they are just ‚method musicking‘?!…

[@avogrid296]

It must feel so good to make that sound together.

[@UkeOne]

VOCES8 never ceases to amaze me with their wide range of vocal/choral offerings. This one is a stunning blend of purity of tone, absolute control and effortless blending of voices. Thanks again, VOCES8, for continuing to provide serious listeners with such musical perfection.

[@waynelawrence6972]

Do we listeners it looks so easy, so natural, so beautiful. But I just want to acknowledge how much work goes into delivering such a beautiful piece. Eternally grateful for what we hear from you. Personally, only God knows how much I appreciate that ❤️

[@beaconbeatsmusic]

Så vackert! There is so much amazing Swedish chorle music, and I hope you explore more of it.

[@alanbevis5317]

No other choir on Earth could better the glorious sound of Voces 8. I never cease to be moved by their sublime musicianship and crystal clear delivery. Perfection every time.

[@datora67]

This is what 'con bocca chiusa' looks and sounds like when performed with perfection. And they even got most of the Swedish pronunciation right. Truly fantastic!

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Instämmer!

[@johannesandree182]

häftigt att dom kör alfven!

[@scoresandflames]

Let's cherish the amazing musical production as well. Capturing the choir's nuances in such quality is also outstanding work!

[@stevebartlett46]

A much underrated composer. I sang some of his about 10 years ago. Only now do I know how good it can sound. You are wonderful.

[@karenjones782]

What a perfect balance of beautifully harmonious voices x. Thankyou x

[@renioleksardo7537]

What a performance! My soul melts down...

[@walleyewinder23]

My goosebumps are rising up in an ovation. Simply the best vocals.

[@bartreniers8721]

the best vocal ensemble in the world. No doubt. the blend of the voices is outstanding. thanks so much voces8

[@ulrichdannenbaum4472]

what about this recording ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH3Im4p3aduGpNk

[@samueljonassonmusic]

The footwear fashion is smashing, breathtaking. Truly scrummy. Oh, and the music is... impeccable. Just became my favorite Swedish choral piece.

[@Babbajune]

Lovely! Thank you ❤

[@kurtneristrack7055]

Perfect!!!! 🤩

[@miamirabel]

Älskar! Love love love! ❤

[@jadwigacrespo3229]

Simply perfect!

[@MartenJanssonComp]

Brilliant!

[@gloriasevey7450]

Oh my...stunning and serene as always.❤️

[@suellensimons-peters1597]

Thanks once again for your beautiful song.

[@davidfrech9176]

Spellbinding. Glorious. Perfect!!!

[@karenjones782]

Loved it immensely, beautiful!!! Thankyou for your wonderful talent and skill x

[@mcgitarz]

Brilliant, stunning and heart warming. As always, I thank you for sharing and making my day!

Fantastic!!

[@frashe]

Beautiful

[@lenaN5k8Q9]

Very beautiful🍃

[@MARCOSMATTOSFOTOGRAFIA]

Very beautiful and delicate. 😍🙏

[@derako1980]

Such talent. Absolutely stunning performance.

[@evelynecruchandeau4520]

Merci magnifique 💖

[@98olober]

Beautiful! This song is pretty much mandatory repertoar for all Swedish choirs claiming to have high ambitions. I've sung it more times than I can remember, in maybe four or five different choirs. The piece is very delicate and thus very demanding, and to be honest I'm tired of singing it so often. But you perform it with such ease, I really enjoyed listening to this! You capture the calm and nostalgic feeling of the piece flawlessly, without effort. Also, your pronunciation is perfect, far better than any other non-Swedish choir I've ever heard.

[@vlekk]

Our choir will sing it on the 13th and 14th of May this year on concerts in Groningen. Looking forward to it, especially after hearing Voices 8 sing it. Wow…

[@thierrymask2479]

Magnifique ensemble, des voix sublimes. Bravo

[@RobertAMRoss]

Heard •of• this before, but never •heard• it until today…exquisite!

[@SimonBeirne]

Sublime

[@corlisscrabtree3647]

Thank you 🙏

[@paolovianello4660]

Very beautiful and perfect group

[@lionfrequency]

Tack, vi ses i Stockholm!

[@robertblokdijk901]

👍👍👍 prachtig!!!! ❤

[@philippequesnel]

speechless ❤

[@cindycockerell3332]

Wow! This transforms me to a dreamlike state. So beautiful

[@Roithamer]

I like it very much😊🤗

[@francescalorenzon3653]

Penso che queste voci rendano il mondo un posto migliore

[@SilverZephyr09]

I love the "instrumental" interludes depicting the distant horns. Scintillating work, as always. You're the top!

[@davidpersson7835]

Lovely to hear you sing in Swedish ❤️

[@sekwar]

Watching this really convinced me that choral music is better heard than seen.

[@Peter_Schneider]

😂👍🏼

[@staffanolofsson8201]

The swedish text I can hear a little bit, but when I read the text in the introduction I understand, as a swede, how good they are in pronouncing words unfamiliar to them. This is topnotch!

[@chamberchoirPS]

Excellent sound - harmonic vertical❤

[@jameshutchins3396]

Bravo! It is such a special and rare thing to get voices to blend so perfectly. Thank you for sharing

[@benedictus7081]

Omg, this one reminds me of the version sung by The Real Group. Both very sublime.

[@bjartestre5519]

still delicate music 💚

[@HenrikBergpianorganist]

And in case anybody is wondering - "Aftonen" means "The evening" in Swedish.

[@andrewwills450]

Ethereal, meditative and stunningly magical.

[@crispycookie9739]

This kind of perfection must be exhausting! Nevertheless, I appreciate all of the effort. Thank you all for the beauty!!

[@lucianamaffra1607]

I Love you voces8.

[@annikavallgren6223]

So excited to see my translation being used! 🤩 Wanted our Scandi gems to be available with English lyrics (for each voice part) - have a heap more if you want/need ‘em. All the best, Annie

[@oldman8277]

Chills!!

[@user-br2qv2hs5n]

❤❤❤ LINDO❤

[@pacificodelnorte6628]

Beautiful as always! There's also a TTBB version. Love them both!

[@karinekedahl]

And a version for women's choir!

[@Lingu42]

Even taking into account how brilliant your average performance is, this one stunned me

[@mariasassin8268]

Beautiful - the music is a prayer even if the songtext isn't intended as such... Thank you

[@karenblust814]

aaahhhhhhh...

[@applemac100100]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@shnurovadi]

Очень красиво)

[@elderghost2468]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ worth investing a fortune ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@chrst7346]

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful! ❤❤

[@ohmy5650]

💎

[@wacawlubinski5218]

Arcydzieło z ust Arcymistrzów. ♥PL

[@marianrose1259]

💐🧡🙏🏻🧡💐

[@frankorusso]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🖖

[@michaelfoster-qw2tw]

Angels playing quietly among themselves.

[@zlatka_ninova]

Really wonderful song! I have listened several performances, but this is the best so far in mi life! Thank you guys!

[@yfkespoelder7233]

Goddes🙏🙏🙏

[@paulkromer1083]

Pure beauty. Hard, not to fall into tears.

[@grocdaurat]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🙏🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@Aidenjh11]

Just can't find words - so good - oy veh. I wish this went on for hours and hours.

[@gustafbstrom]

Top class tone, great pronunciation. Class act from beginning to end. Thank you for this.

[@Talisman0011]

Toujours aussi surprenant dans la beauté de votre chant.....Merci pour ces voix miraculeuses qui me bercent de douceur près des étoiles .....🌹🌹♥♥🎵🎵

[@giannazaccagni4058]

These arrangements are sooo good!!!!!!!! I would love to see you guys live!!!!!! When will you be coming to Pennsylvania again?

[@chrst7346]

ahem… this is no arrangement… :-) itˋs quite the original composition, methinks

[@justin.morgan71]

Exquisite balm for the soul… 😍

[@bootlegapples]

Det svenska uttalet får anses instämmer helt ...svenska Julsång !!!!

[@maureensurdez7841]

Who are these people? They look like normal humans, but they sound like angels!

[@Erz.34]

VOCES8 Ein Labsal für die Seele. Unübertrefflich wohltuend! Danke von Herzen ❤

[@viktorjangsell1849]

I you feel like doing another, "uti vår hage" by hugo alfven is one of the most popular songs

[@nicoleberndt-caccivio3239]

Their presence is amazing

[@stephanbuchner639]

Wie Engel.....zum Dahinschmelzen

[@sandraj4856]

I can't wait to see you in Denmark next week. My biggest dream will come true. I LOVE YOU ❤️

[@michaelpatterson5811]

Maybe the ultimate test for choral singers - just humming your line. Don't try this at home! But what an added pleasure for the listener, trying to work out who is singing what, in such perfect balance. A textbook lesson in listening to each other, for choirs everywhere.

[@Erz.34]

Voces8 ,Stimmen aus himmlischen Höhen. Seelenbalsam,Ermutigung für den Alltag.Danke:❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@GennetAwalom]

This piece captures perfectly the atmosphere of a summer night stroll in a Swedish forest.

[@apiphil]

"Voces 8" ou quand l'EXCELLENCE se passe d'instruments de musique !👍Chapeau les ARTISTES !

[@jonshannon7096]

They sound like glass 😉

[@sgabriel]

Fancy newfangled Schubert. Love Alfven. Amazing performance. Um, why are you guys dressed that way?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Maybe pyjamas would be more appropriate? Speaking of which...will you give us Esti Dal?

[@chrst7346]

have you read the lyrics?… This is clearly a shepherd/hiking style! 😅 being far more appropriate to Scandinavian dales than tuxes and gown.. 😊

[@chrst7346]

btw: Yes! in some contexts clothing MIGHT BE a necessary thing to express a meta layer of meaning like e.g. in plays. (and in fact VOCES8 DO add to this layer here in their ‚we‘re going to the Highlands for the grouse‘ style) But generally spoken, imho, the dressing question with singers and orchestras in concerts is much too overrated, and has got some consumerist/elitist twist with it, if the audience expresses their rightful claim that ‚they should dress properly‘… 😊 which seems like a false entitlement to me. just read the comments e.g. below Jakub Joszef Orlinski‘s legendary Avignon video doing some baroque aria. As far as I am concerned, artists could go naked or in rags, as long they squeeze such wonderful noises out of their throats or strings… 😂🎉 and they should help spreading this side of culture by lowering the threshold for people that may not easily be accustomed to this kind of music. I mean - why is it, that any of those Kardashians that basically cannot and don‘t do more than dressing up, would have millions of followers, and here people with real abilities to spread bliss and seemingly magical gifts (that in fact are also a result of tough labour) have to stay below 500k - A shame! but with ‚classical dresses only’ there really never will be a change :-)

[@12B4Christ]

"Ive got just four things to say to you": 1. Get over yourself. 2. Talk less. 3. Close your eyes. 4. Listen to the music.

[@sgabriel]

@@12B4Christ Fortunately for everyone, there were only four!

[@peterawilliams]

All the greats singers are gone These days all we hear is of whats called music same montonous rythem with differant words.Your music will never die great music beats all and in my book you are on top could listen to you all day if i could been many times back to your channel and its still the same Great songs Great Rythnm and great singers The cohesion of your voices the only time I can pick out a voice is when you have a solo part to me you are the best like my mums apple pie keep going I love your Style🖕🖕

[@mademoiselledusfonctionell1609]

Marvellously sungen, but quite a heavy accent...

[@edmundbanks1806]

FANTASTIC VOICE 8. WELL BALANCE.

[@jeanpierrecarpentier]

💝💛

[@evelynap9728]

very beautiful and heartwarming it is SOULFOOD ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

[@totoro123]

Beautiful