VOCES8: Bring Us, O Lord God - William Harris

[@dennisfulton1952]

Well all I can say is thank you. 74 years old and close my eyes and say bless you.

[@jamesduthie8024]

I've only been listening to and singing choral music for 60 years, so I haven't heard every choir in the world, but I have never heard a better choir than Voces8.

What do you think about Sweedish Radio Choir?

[@grahamjones370]

There are some wonderful choirs these days but this choir is truly remarkable. Graham Jones

[@vaan1520]

I agree. Their version of Underneath the Stars is my funeral song. I've told my family so they had better abide with it!

[@jeffreyadams648]

When does a group become a choir?

[@pennylane8936]

I agree

[@geraldmasters9768]

Lost my wife to breast cancer and lost my emotional stability then. I can not keep my eyes from tearing up when this group sings hymns or even something like "When Dear Cry". These people are just so perfect in tone, exceptional in quality, and outstanding in presentation. I wish they would travel to USA more. I would go to this performance at any cost. The Amen chorus in this piece makes me feel as though I am actually seeing and hearing God in heaven as the last note is sung.

[@bumkisful]

May your wife Rest In Peace- with Our Lord Jesus Christ and His beloved Mother Mary and all the Saints and Angels.

[@guitargirl7452]

So sorry for your loss. 💓

[@markmcdonald6907]

Gerald, I am sorry for your loss and am praying for you during this difficult time. Music comforts a grieving heart and Voces8 is truly a gift from God. I too would love to hear them in person. Peace and blessings.

[@andrewhague1521]

Think about applying to go on their summer school. You'll get a weeks board and lodging, massed choir and chamber choir rehearsing every day directed by these guys and a concert every night for around 1k bucks. Of course, I'm hoping that you're a singer.

[@augustinedennis4865]

Good luck friend.i too lost my wife,at a young age to brain cancer,one of the worst forms of cancer,leaving me with a 13 month baby and a 7 year old daughter,and I at the wrong side of 60.We survived,and thrived,thanks to good friends,

[@BlueSky-eb2sv]

Sometimes we are allowed to have a short glimpse of heaven.

[@Apriluser]

Amen. We long for that other Country. 😊

[@geraldmasters9768]

Yes we are

[@truthseeker9249]

And I am grateful to get to be part of that being a lifelong professional choral singer and classical pianist myself. This kind of music is just....transcendent.

[@tonycatterick841]

Tony Catterick, ex chorister of Kings’ College Cambridge. This is truly for me perfection in every possible way. Such beautiful music and deeply moving.

[@julianbrown7976]

Me too 1969-73.

[@Apriluser]

I was listening to Trinity’s KZbin Evensong with this song. Equally thrilling with a larger choral group. But this is my favorite. 😊

[@JaccovanWingerden]

Amazing & breathtaking. Worth the 4+ minutes of your lie, even though there are quite a few videos from this venue worth watching. Nevertheless is Voces8 mesmerizingly beautiful

[@LancePhillip212]

I remember singing it in ‘84 or ‘85 as a chorister of St Thomas’ Church in NY, under the marvellous but intimidating George Guest. Wonderful.

[@geraldmasters9768]

Completely concur.

[@petermcaleercomposer]

I must admit that every time I hear something of William Harris I'm taken to another world. And such a flawless technique. A master of harmony, structure, word setting and vocal writing. When I sang tenor in Faire is the Heaven at Westminster Abbey (back in the 70s!) it was my first experience of his music and I was overwhelmed by it; I knew I'd encountered a composer to be reckoned with. He deserves greater recognition. In my humble opinion.

[@Invictus357]

I never want to live in a society, where I could not listen to music as sublime as this.

[@BNE02]

When you think it can't get any better, comes that last chord and leaves you speechless

[@MMenkov]

This is my KZbin go-to, for something gorgeous, moving, rapturous, transcendent, thrilling, perfect. Thank you.

[@johnkusske7535]

Eight masters at the top of their youth, beauty, and form. It doesn't get any better.

[@tomfuller5585]

Outstanding. That final chord change is one the ear is not expecting.

[@andrewhague1521]

And of course it brings the music home to the opening key, which is surely a metaphor for 'that house' which is the eternal 'home' both a starting and an ending place. As St Paul says 'For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

[@tomfuller5585]

@@andrewhague1521 Excellent observation.

[@petermcaleercomposer]

Indeed. And yet he hints at that relationship all the way through! But when it comes, it's gobsmacking. Masterful. The trouble is that after this music the secular world seems so dull!

[@tomfuller5585]

​@@petermcaleercomposer I completely agree. Don't know if it's because I am a Christian or merely because I'm extremely left-brained, but you're right. It seems so dull. There's something untouchable, something that hints of eternity, about some music--rare music--and I would fit this piece into that category.

[@tomfuller5585]

@@andrewhague1521 Absolutely. Music and the Christian message fit together seamlessly. That symbiosis cannot be explained adequately, in mere words.

[@JohnSmith-xw2dw]

I love how at the 2:17 marker the two high sopranos on the ends mimic each other on the high note and have perfect intonation and tone. Just beautiful!

[@keebearfull]

NO where else, EVER have I heard this level of pure vocal quality!

[@evelyn8467]

Performance in perfection. Thinking of let it play on my funeral (100 years from now)

[@benharvey100]

This piece of music is profoundly moving and flawlessly performed - it literally does not get better than this - the world needs to listen!

[@jenmorricone4014]

Bring us, o Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of Heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears or hopes, but one equal possession; no ends or beginnings, but one equal eternity, in the habitations of thy glory and dominion, world without end. John Donne

+Amen.

[@briancrowle6290]

Thank you so much for those words. They put this heavenly singing into context perfectly.

[@jenniferevans2046]

Wow! Holy shivers up my spine. Superb prayer and singing. I think this choir is the nearest we earthlings will get to angelic singing.

[@gyaku99]

John Donne

[@jenmorricone4014]

​@@gyaku99Thank you! I added him to my comment 😊

[@schniggs2011]

Doc H at his very best! thank you. brilliant performance

[@lynholl]

A remarkable performance of incredible beauty!!

[@charleswester5150]

I keep coming back to this track. My favorite VOCES8 offering. The triple pianissimo at the end leaves me breathless. Their sustain and control in the mid-range dynamics slays me.

[@peteg8920]

Your singing is too good for this world.

[@Apriluser]

It’s a window into where the cherubim and seraphim and the hosts of heaven sing in endless praise. Voce 8 is giving us a glimpse of that heavenly realm. 😊

[@ikemyung8623]

I must admit, that though I been involved in choral music most of my life, I have never actually been much of a fan....because most choirs don't sound like this! I have a hard time believing such perfection of tone and tuning is possible. This music transports me to another world!

[@truthseeker9249]

I've been singing in choirs my entire life. It was my whole world until I graduated high school and I miss it. Singing is my life and I will always sing but there is something so special about singing in a group. Whether you're in the group or listening from the outside. My choir director in high school used to say it has to be like a "wall of sound" coming at the audience. Everyone in the choir has to pull their weight and sing out beautifully. Everyone must sound good individually and blend together just right. As long as you do that, even people who absolutely HATE choral music will love you.

[@susanna6904]

I have no words…shall have this at my funeral but it is Heaven to hear it now.

[@ozlemgenc8559]

THANK YOU.

[@lotteuytterhoeven2431]

Tears rolling down my face. That is the most beautiful Amen that I have ever heard. Amen to that!

[@thisjustin6600]

Lotte Uytterhoeven - same here. Uncontrollable. Hard to comprehend something so incredibly beautiful.

[@Danterobo]

I prefer Amen from Mozart's Requiem in D minor

[@keebearfull]

agree! I keep coming back to it. The unforgettable amen!

[@TrevorduBuisson]

I think that has to be one of the most sublime renditions I've ever heard of anything! That final Amen is a quotation from the Cosmos. Just divine!!! 🙏

[@francistogap3478]

A wonderful and magnificent choir harmony song. A song that keeps our mind direct with the Lord always and is full of meanings to all of us christians. May the singers and all who hear be blessed🙏🙏🙏

[@goranklaren]

I lost my grandchild two weeks ago. This is music for comfort and healing. Thank you so much for your wonderful performance!

[@goranklaren]

@@jbondy6395 Thank you so much!

[@tomfuller5585]

Goodness. I am sorry.

[@goranklaren]

@@tomfuller5585 Thank you. I truly appreciate your comment.

[@ryanswenson]

God bless and comfort you...🌱 ...such pure voices are healing aren’t they?💜

[@goranklaren]

@@ryanswenson Thank you! They sure are.

[@pirosvideospirovino8070]

MUSIC FROM HEAVEN! THANXXXX TO THE 8 ANGELS!

[@CaresinVerse]

There are no words adequate enough to describe VOCES8. And here is the best example of musical perfection anyone could wish for. God bless each one of you gifted, wonderful singers. 🥰

[@kittycasino29]

I definitely agree! Out of all the musical instruments there are, the human voice is definitely the most beautiful 😍

[@markmcdonald6907]

Bravo. VOCES8 have set the new standard that no one except God can surpass.

[@patriciaaguilerajb007]

I couldn't agree more! Their voices are so angelical! When I think about heaven and all God's saints singing to the Lord I just can think that the great angel's choir must sound like this...

[@Samjs3822]

What a impeccable portrait of Heaven! Thanks for transporting us to the house of the Lord!

[@theLUCYCOWAN]

Wow how absolutely wonderful. What an absolutely stunning group of singers. That was a profoundly moving performance of a fantastic piece of sacred music. I remember William Harris ( we knew him as "Doc H") when he was a warm and friendly elderly gentleman. He was a friend of my father's and we used to visit him regularly at his home in Petersfield to play chamber music with him.

[@alisalavine1052]

That descant! The Soprano 1 was perfection! Such a pure, round, full sound. Exquisite from bottom to top.

[@samuelary8476]

English Choral music at its finest. One of the most beautiful Amens.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

Masterfully done. I cannot form a complement high enough. Just... masterfully done. Thank you so much.

[@sacsw81ga]

No matter how many time I listen to this, it brings tears of joy ... SUBLIME

[@lass-inangeles7564]

What a state of grace this leaves you in. My god what exquisite perfection and control of their voices. I feel transformed hearing this sublime music.

[@petermcaleercomposer]

+1

[@PMS1950]

The words by John Donne are utterly sublime and this setting by Sir William Harris so sensitively performed by Voces8 must be one of the finest anthems of the angelican repertoire.

[@pennylane8936]

I've listened to this 125376 times during quarantine and it still gives me goosebumps every single time

[@aliandhelen]

Wow, wow and three times wow. Fabulous!

[@keats27]

enjoying the whole thing and then....that Amen at the end...o m g....

[@karlj4man]

keats27, yea, me too. I had to go back a few times to process the Amen. Thank you Voces8!

[@thisjustin6600]

That last note makes me tear up. I can feel it.

[@OggyGTA]

Major chills :)

[@derekcooper08]

yes, it is an exquisite moment - the voices are in stunning harmony -with great emotional effect.

[@photographsbyvincent]

Oh my... Voces8 just keeps taking music to new and higher levels! Just sublime! Thank you all!

[@markmcdonald6907]

And all of the saints in Heaven gave them a resounding ovation.

[@jorgvasel6877]

I think that is the best choir of the world

[@dougbond9896]

Oh my! As a vocalist myself, rarely have I listened to a rendition of a piece that reached into my soul and squeezed tears from me. This is one! Wow!!

[@LidClassic]

Still my favorite version. The balance is lovely.

[@canny8228]

So heartwarming to know that people still make music like this!

[@LAUREL5785]

I know!! It's a reminder that things will get better... This is soul food!

[@PretzelLogic74]

Most beautiful sound this side of heaven ❤

[@martyrrt]

That Amen is beyond glorious.

[@ankewunder7092]

BESTE Acapella die ich je gehört habe! Absolute Profis! 🌈

[@bernardhickey5474]

All I can say is amen to that

[@DCLayclerk]

This is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated pieces of the 20th century. I love Harris’s shifting harmonic structure. I absolutely love singing this piece. The text is exquisite. One on a part, too, what an incredible performance! Bravi tutti!

[@georgealderson4424]

I have mot heard of this composer's work until 4.25am today but I am glad I found it

[@DCLayclerk]

George Alderson I’m glad you found Harris. I love his work. If you get a chance, look up Faire is the Heaven, another absolutely astounding piece of his. Words are by Edmund Spenser, equal in beauty (in my opinion) to those of John Donne in the piece above.

[@georgealderson4424]

@@DCLayclerk Thank you. I did as you suggested and think it is a piece I will need to hear more to fully appreciate it but WH is certainly a new interest

[@ひろみ-w7j]

毎日聴いてます😌

[@johnfenner347]

An absolute masterpiece. Such clarity and resonance. A complete joy. Marvellous !.

[@bluebelt224]

The 2nd tenor at 3:36 - sublime! Love this piece and love VOCES8!

[@danielburges8176]

Sang this many times, including at my own dad's funeral. One of the finest pieces of the Anglican choral repertoire, and this is one of the finest performances of it I could ever imagine. Had Faire is the Heaven sung at my wedding - Harris certainly could write choral music! Thank you.

[@tomaszniemiec858]

Dear Voces8!, I'm lost for words. Absolutely impeccable, stunning and deeply moving performance. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Thank you !

[@JTSmithMarketing]

That chord at the end... I've never heard it before at least as an ending. Fantastic.

[@treesarecool12345678]

It’s a really simple cadence, but it does have quite an unusual quality

[@Waldlaeufer70]

The chord just before the end is a major VI (which doesn't belong to the major scale). From there it goes directly back to major I (the original key). When you then go back to the beginning of the piece, you'll see that the first and the last chord are the same. That's what I've heard when trying to analyze without having the sheet music. So I might be wrong. Another option is that the whole piece is composed in the tradition of a church mode where major VI could be a natural part. I've just looked at the preview of the sheet music. The piece is in D flat major. The second last chord of the piece is in B flat major (a major VI), which is not part of D flat major. So, therefore the unusual effect.

[@tomfuller5585]

I thought the same thing. A chord change your ear is not expecting.

[@corocorachannel4235]

There are no words to express what this combination of 8 voices do to my soul while listening.

[@akanda50]

Wept with joy hearing this.. The pinnacle of human co-operation ❤️

[@svedlanariechtumpel9168]

Tous les enregistrements de VOCES8 sont maghnifiques! Et tous mes compliments à la chanteuse aux cheveux bruns - vous êtes quasi angélique à tous égards! 🙂

[@nelsonwhaley6348]

Love the modulation at the end..

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Excellent that this popped up right before the coronation.

[@kittycasino29]

Can't believe this is only 8 people! They sound like a hundred! So good!!!!

[@jan-pietervanwaasbergen9870]

What a voices, like angels, now 15 march 2020 Corona virus is all over the world, also in my country the Netherlands, I wish all the people who suffer all the best. Keep faith, comfort you with this beautiful music. I pray for all the people who suffer from corona, Italy, have tears in my eyes looking the images on tv.

[@rkrieg18]

a star-struck performance by voces 8 by arguably the most harmonising team. it keeps changing over time but - was this the best combination of the team? I fail to imagine how it could possibly get better. I am probably getting old (or just feeling too old) to move on from a superlative performance.

[@samuelhalim8450]

That last Amen brings chills .. amazing

[@serbancentea]

The last peace, before the end, should be like this.

[@PDPickering]

The first "Worlds without end" about knocks me down every time...SO good!

[@albertlutton9920]

Stunning depth and richness in their tone quality. They all fully listen to each other, which helps blend their voices. I had a choir director who told me the best part of the song is the end. Their last chord proves this!

[@whdaffer1]

All of it was beautiful, but that last chord put chills up and down my spine!

[@wavewizard1711]

Unforgettable composition, unforgettable performance. I didn't know William Harris. But I do now! Harmonies exceedingly beautiful, rich, and original. VOCES8 I DID know already. They are world class. The way they sing is only possible if you grew up in a country with a singing tradition of more than 500 years. Thank you so much!

[@stevietunis]

Pitch perfect! Beautiful blend! Cannot say enough good about this!

[@MakaiMauka]

Magnificent! Thank you VOCES8!

[@oscargill423]

That is the greatest amen to have ever graced the ears of the world. I will take counterarguments with much excitement.

[@ColinHarvey78]

Wow. Stunning performance. Incredible tuning and ensemble singing. So polished and flawless

[@harleyb7880]

This was played at The Queens funeral... it's stunning...

[@Jenzzeman]

Once again, i'm so glad i discovered your music some years ago ! What perfect blend of voices !

[@Babu85122]

Absolutely marvelous!

[@cht2162]

Perfect 🙏

[@alexbaur2502]

Incredible! Tears in my eyes.

[@samuelhalim8450]

This is a perfect choral performance at its upmost beauty

[@jedegroot6533]

From all the video's you uploaded I think this is one of the best. There is not any note that escapes from your musical attention. Everything is beautiful in this video. Cannot imagine how this should be sung better.. ... for me, PERFECT >

[@brucecampbell6133]

Love that cadence. Stunning VOCES8 performance of beautiful choral work by Sir William Henry Harris.

[@Apriluser]

Pitch perfect. A bit of Heaven come down to earth. Thank you.

[@thisjustin6600]

Thank you for my monthly dose of goosebumps. My goodness; those harmonies. That was incredible. 🙂

[@thisjustin6600]

I’ve decided that this is my very favorite V8 recording. As hard as it is to pick just one (because about 25 are my absolute favs). But this is one that really reaches me on all levels. And that last note...chills every time. 😆

[@saetmusic]

The wonderful transparency of one on a part and the individual artistry of the lines somehow combined with a robust full chorus sound make this VOCES8 performance a unique and inspiring experience! Just amazing!

[@CaskillsElliptic]

I've only listened to this five times?!? Must... reach... 1,000 listens...

[@alisonalcock5218]

Utterly beautiful, heavenly...

[@philipmcclure6273]

Sublime in every way possible...

[@peteharvey5694]

Utterly sublime

[@neordinary4611]

Day 2 of listening to this and still can't get over that Amen cadence I need help.

[@thomasnickel2883]

Atemberaubend ❤️

[@PeterSchellhase]

Surely this is the house of God, and the gate of heaven, and I knew it not.

[@Lemrabish]

That ending is amazing

[@francis363]

I am a former classical pianist and piano teacher (MA in the Royal Academy of Music of Aarhus, Denmark), guys, dear VOCES8 you are so pure, so professional. Your voice conducting is so clear, so organic and emotional! Keep going!

[@ianwood5193]

When there is such turmoil in the world l listen this and know there is still goodness and still hope for the everyone, thankyou Voces8 and the amazing amen.

[@peterwilliams3570]

I love the music of Harris. Would love to hear Faire is the Heaven

[@pug7767]

Extraordinarily good. I sang this as a boy, but this rendition is literally flawless.

[@Musicolette]

Exquisiteness far beyond the boundaries of the ordinary.

[@craigmcfadden5949]

This has to be my favorite by far!!! Thank you, VOCES8!!! You folks ROCK!!! More Madrigals please!!