VOCES8 Foundation Choir & Orchestra with Jack Liebeck: The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams

VOCES8 is joined by members of the VOCES8 Foundation Choir & Orchestra, and violin virtuoso Jack Liebeck for this performance of Vaughan Williams' 'The Lark Ascending', conducted by Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith.
Originally scored for orchestra and violin solo, this new adaption by Barnaby Smith combines Vaughan Williams' original score with fragments from Paul Drayton's choral arrangement, allowing for the George Meredith poetry which originally inspired Vaughan Williams to be heard with the full orchestral score for the first time.
The track is available on the new album 'To Sing of Love'. orcd.co/tosingoflove?
TEXT
He rises and begins to round,
He drops the silver chain of sound
Of many links without a break,
As up he wings the spiral stair,
A song of light, that pierces air
To reach the shining tops of day,
And drink in everything discern’d
An ecstasy to music turn’d.
He is, the hills, the human line,
The meadows green, the fallows brown,
He sings the sap, the quicken’d veins;
The wedding song of sun and rains
He is, the dance of children, thanks
Of sowers, shout of primrose-banks,
And eye of violets while they breathe;
All these the circling song will wreathe.
Was never voice of ours could say
Our inmost in the sweetest way,
Like yonder voice aloft, and link
All hearers in the song they drink.
George Meredith

[@meganhenderson1715]

Oh man. One of my greatest dreams is to one day hear Voces8 do this live.

[@jerrera45]

I did not think anyone could improve on this Vaughn Williams' masterpiece, but the incorporation of this text and the angelic voices of Voces8 takes this to a whole new level.

[@beaupianiste3738]

on my laptop, the choir and orchestra are way too loud and drown 0ut the lovely and beautiful violin solo. It would sound so much better w/smaller choir, perhaps original Voces8 + small chamber choir. Barney does like big productions, but for me, this does not work well, and the original is one of my all-time favorite works. Otherwise, I've always raved about Voces8 concerts and rehearsals on KZbin and recordings. I love especially the smaller, intimate version of Messiah by Handel and Matthew Passion of Bach. I admire Vaughn Williams immensely.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@beaupianiste3738 On my laptop and with my headphones it is a perfect mixture of violine solist, choir and orchestra.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@beaupianiste3738 With my headphones I think it is a perfect sound mix of violin, choir and orchestra.

[@sfarrow222]

in 1950 I was a chorister at Exeter Cathedral and RVW paid us a visit on the Cathedral's 900th anniversary. I got to shake the hand of this amazing man. (Simon Farrow)

[@JimMeehan]

I've heard this piece countless times, from many different ensembles, but this one is in a league of its own, as others have commented. The arrangement, the choir, the orchestra, and most of all, Jack Liebeck's achingly beautiful violin solo, all work together to produce 15 minutes of bliss. The video production, camera work, editing, and sound make this a memorable video. Once again, VOCES8 and team have "owned" a piece of music. "I like 'The Lark Ascending.'" "Yes, but have you heard VOCES8 do it?"

[@molliethorn]

I just listened to this as I was getting ready for bed. Now I will sleep peacefully. Thank you voces8 foundation choir and orchestra, thanks to Jack Leibeck’s exquisite violin and to Barney’s direction. Also for the gift from Vaughn Williams for this piece of gorgeous music.

[@philipwilliams2229]

I can’t comprehend how you play violin like that. Simply can’t.

[@MarianBurnett-db6zp]

This is a piece of the music of the angels of God

[@MiriamSmithViolin]

Brilliant arrangement, and amazing performance by all!

[@TheOjnop]

Simply magnificent: one of the most wonderful pieces of music ever in a wonderful setting, beautifully performed.

[@TrevorduBuisson]

Divinity and transcendence made manifest. Simply exquisite!

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Thank you, Jack Liebeck, for a wonderful solo violin!

[@MatthewAHaas]

Lovely. Jack Liebback is astonishing.

[@gl8282]

Insanely beautifully executed - this piece that accompanied me in my quiet walks in Surrey … indeed magnificent!

[@deborahjdow1755]

It ripples down my core.

[@U38V]

Absolutely beautiful!❤❤❤!!!

[@donnaj9964]

I think Vaughan Williams would be moved to tears by the magic you have made here.

[@samdeman6007]

This is just another level of music... Gorgeous once again.

[@sidniemacias126]

It speaks to the languages of the❤. When I didn't know what to say I would put this on and go to my secret place and cry unto Yaweh who created me..

[@AllThoseChickens]

Whenever I see these videos, it's always so fun for me. Like you see individual artists in different videos, and then there's an Avengers Endgame moment when you see all of them together

[@jo4stuco914]

I discovered this song yesterday, and immediately fell in love w it. VOCES8 always has perfect timing.

[@djwenzel]

Love this performance ❤

[@asmallholder9941]

Sublime perfection soaring searing achingly beautiful 🕊❤🕊❤🕊❤🕊❤🕊

[@DavidtheWriter]

Beautifully conceived. Performed. Recorded. And mixed. WOW!! So appreciative of this.

[@luciasona2231]

Il canto dell'allodola eil suo volo ascendente sono i protagonisti di questo stupendo brano musicale.. Grazie ❤

[@anjelakewell9671]

Angelic. The best so far of this beautiful piece

[@SH-lx6re]

Thank you for this precious and beautiful musical gift. It has made my heart and soul happy. I was looking to play some lovely music this morning. My prayers were answered. Truly exquisite and musically superb. I will rush to buy this magical CD. Adore Vaughan Williams music, love the majestic skyLark. I am blessed to witness their ascending daily, alway in awe. I truly love your arrangement. I have various fabulous recordings of this piece of music, all great. You have now set the bar higher, with your interpretation. Well done all. Please come to Dorset. ❤xxxx ps I wholeheartedly agree with all the positive postings. You have created something sublime❤ 0:04

[@richardseewald4739]

This one is going to the desert island with me! Thank you all.

[@yjuenna]

God bless you all! Thank you so much for this gift! 💝💖💖

[@user199543999]

Absolutely Breathtaking!

[@danielezekiel97]

I thinkRVW would be so impressed. and have tears in his eyes, magical!!!

[@luissalazar63]

I guess, this is the entrance to heaven! ❤

[@paulmaconochie8909]

Had the privilege of hearing this live with Jack Liebeck, VOCES8 and the Queensland Symphony on 8/06/24 as part of stunning concert.

[@corlisscrabtree3647]

Thank you 🙏

[@DS246416]

oh my goodness, that was superb, Thankyou!!

[@iamsandrewsmith]

Astounding.

[@juvenalsdad4175]

Fantastic. This ensemble have a great talent for making even very familiar pieces fresh and new.

[@walfredswanson]

One could so easily have ruined this piece by overplaying the choral addition, but this arrangement is exquisite in the way it retains the solo violin voice, adding the vocal colors.

[@lillianlee4610]

This is such a spellbinding experience.

[@joreads8782]

Thank you for the performance of this tonight in Brisbane! It was exquisite. I don't think any words really do the performance justice!

[@Robert_Herring]

Absolutely stunning.

[@klarasprudel96]

Wunderschön ❤

[@tuppyglossop222]

Lovely.

[@cht2162]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[@ohmy5650]

💎💝

[@sheepdog9683]

best musicians are to be found in the UK, no doubt !

[@beaupianiste3738]

There are great musicians all 0ver the planet,,,and these are wonderful, assuredly.

[@johnwalters1341]

Another wonderful performance by Voces8 and friends. Question: Isn't this a different set of words by George Meredith to the version used in the earlier video with just Voces8 and the soloist?

[@SP-ny1fk]

Would you do a rendition of Balleilakka? On a random internet dare? :)

[@dirkhoekstra727]

Just amazing! Is it just me, or does this music sound a bit Chinese to me?

[@JimMeehan]

Vaughan Williams uses a pentatonic scale for much of the piece. Just 5 notes, the same as the black keys on a piano. That is also characteristic of Chinese music.