VOCES8 & the Stay At Home Choir: 'Caledonia' by Dougie MacLean, arr. Blake Morgan

During the fall of 2020, amidst the backdrop of the pandemic, VOCES8 embarked on a project with the Stay At Home Choir, to produce this version of Blake Morgan's arrangement of 'Caledonia' by Dougie MacLean, involving over 4300 singers from across the world. It's a song that reminds us of the comfort of 'home' - whether that's a place, a person, a thought or something else entirely.
BSL by Paul Whittaker
- Check out the sheet music for Blake's arrangement: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/...
- The Stay At Home Choir is on a mission to help singers improve their voices and their confidence from home. Check out their resources and join in at: go.stayathomechoir.com/take-part
TEXT:
I don't know if you can see the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, I've been afraid that I might drift away
So I've been tellin’ old stories, singin’ songs,
that make me think about where I came from
That's the reason why I seem so far away today
But let me tell you that I love you,
and I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home
If I should become a stranger,
you know it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
And I have tried and I’ve kept on trying, stolen dreams,
yes there's no denying
I’ve travelled hard with conscience flying
somewhere with the wind
Now I'm sitting here before the fire,
the empty room, the forest choir
The flames that couldn't get any higher-
well they've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear,
and I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flowed,
then I will disappear.

[@mikeweber5362]

In this insane world, we need moments like this to recalibrate, rediscover beauty, relax, and regain perspective. This is elegance: reflective of God's blessings.

[@mddell58]

I agree. For nearly three years, the USA (world) has been in a place it's NEVER been before. I think of it as a 'fight or flight' place. Our mind/body had NO IDEA how to react, or go into a calm state, etc. It's definitely a time that everyone needs/needed God more than usual. ♥️

[@kyoglesage]

This is elegance, reflective of the best of what our species is capable of all on its own - no deity required.

[@OrbitalBliss]

Paul Whittaker nailed the sign language interpretation on this. You could feel everything in his delivery.

[@oscargill423]

Voces8 with thousands of accompanying voices? This can only be awesome.

[@Hateires]

Oh my gosh. I am now singing in a video with voces8. This was an AWESOME project. So glad i participated

[@irishrosa6115]

Congrats! How did you find out how to participate? 💁🏻‍♀️

[@Hateires]

@@irishrosa6115 I’d been doing projects with stay at home choir for a while already. A new project is just about to start so great time to join.

[@diveknit1]

@@Hateires How do you find out about them so I could join for example?

[@AdamBlumer]

I feel the same way. Wow. I got to sing in this! (I'm the first name in the choir listing.)

[@courtneysmith6082]

The most beautiful piece of work I’ve heard in a long, long while

[@susannesaeger1925]

This was the very first of 16 projects with SAHC, which saved us all from getting mad during lockdowns and loneliness. Yesterday I was lucky, glad and grateful to listen to Voces8 live at Cologne silently singing the encore 'Caledonia' with them after a workshop/meet and greet with the group in the afternoon. Thank you for your music and your mindfulness and warm friendliness towards your audience before, during and after your concerts!

[@fullmoonracoon9584]

Well paint me green and call me a broccoli flower, I did not expect this

[@mikewiese]

I love Molly and what she brings to Voces8. But I just have to say: What a pleasant surprise to hear Eleonore one more time with this group! I actually cried while listening to this. These people deserve the best!

[@RoddyAlt]

I also started to tear up when I saw Eleonore….especially singing together with Katie and Andrea.😢😊

[@sirtarin]

It was fun to have joined in this choir with Voces8.

[@shedrick6846]

Well done! How did you find out about the opportunity?

[@sirtarin]

@@shedrick6846 I had seen a video or two of the Stay at Home Choir before I joined, and then I joined in a smaller virtual hymn recording during the pandemic shutdown that got me into the idea. I missed joining in a couple of projects with the SaHC that sounded interesting, so when I heard that they were doing a project with Voces8, I jumped on the opportunity to join a recording with one of my favorite singing groups. Since then, I've joined a few other projects with the SaHC and another virtual hymn recording group, and now have taken over running the virtual hymn recordings.

[@mddell58]

I've been following all of you for approximately two years now. THIS was absolutely my favorite, by far. ♥️ Thank you all so very much. Truly. ♥️

[@Hateires]

As one of the people in the tiny boxes in the background, thanks! This was fun to record and it’s very cool to be a part of this video.

[@dfishpool7052]

Thank you so much for all the music you selflessly share - it is so needed by many of us who are so disappointed by the state of the planet and the hate that so many people carry in them for the poor, the sick, the refugees and asylum seekers. Thank you for the beauty that you bring to my life.

[@cpjds1]

Wow…whoever mixed and edited this did a fantastic job!

[@TheONETITWONDER]

Beautiful and emotive arrangement of my favourite Scottish song. I think it should be Scotland’s national anthem. I like Flower of Scotland but this is much more personal to us Scots. Thank you, Voces8

[@waltsmith9583]

Wonderful. Can't imagine the time required to sync and produce this piece - all with VOCES8 production values.

[@cpjds1]

First thing I thought of too. I’ve done 4-8 part multitrack videos and I can’t imagine doing that with hundreds or thousands of parts (some of which were certainly not great audio quality).

[@Jamie61571]

Hello to all that sing from stay at home choir!!!!!!!!!!!!! And involved!!!!!!!!!!

[@christopherdurham1999]

Well, that's just ridiculously gorgeous.

[@molliethorn]

My first project with SAHC was Caledonia. This wonderful piece of music and these amazing singers launched me into my magical singing journey all through the past years of the pandemic and on to now! Thank you a million times over SAHC and Voces8. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎶🎵🌍

[@Talisman0011]

Je suis chaque fois émerveillé par ces somptueuses voix et les trois ravissantes jeunes femmes de ce groupe VOCES 8....Un grand merci....🤍🤍💙💙❤❤🌹🌹

[@wacawlubinski5218]

Rewelacja. Głos Człowieka najpiękniejszym Instrumentem. Genialna Kompozycja. Przedsionek Nieba. Dziękuję. PL

[@MrMarioman107]

great memories-the pandemic brought many people together, virtually!

[@djglw01]

Wow an absolute privilege to listen to this, dougie mclean version is my all time scottish song. But this version is smplely beautiful. Well done all. Love from scotland x

[@Babbajune]

Such a beautiful arrangement, Blake; and so many voices to sing it wonderfully! ❤❤

[@craiggarrett3124]

It seems at times we are tethered to a time and place we may not recall but still long for... I cannot speak to a specific geographical location on this earth. But our heritage is not so very different after all..... This music is a gift of comfort over chaos and grace over crudeness. 😌🕊️💞

[@anjelakewell9671]

WOW!!! Amazingly beautiful and so moving. Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@johnezomo7555]

It's how I comeback to listen to this ever so often for me. A big 'thank you' to you all for blessing us with this harmonious soul-warming rendition

[@patpercu]

One of my favorite song ever ❤. Beautifully rendered and arranged.

[@steffenismer]

What a great honor to sing this song together with you. And what a great luck to see you live in Berlin. And what a heavenly event to talk to you after the concert. Birgit and Steffen 💖

[@CarolRose2300]

Wow, isn't that just absolutely fabulous? 💜💜💜

[@pputnam100]

now i love watching the interpreter

[@chuckfoye4563]

Wwwwooooowww! That took some serious effort to arrange that! Dougie would be so proud, reach out to him

[@foolofmusic2013]

Such a pleasure to have been chosen with the other 15 homies to be part of the semichoir, whenever I watch this video it still gives me goose bumps!

[@Annieb667]

This is the most beautiful arrangement of a magical piece. Thanks to Blake and to everyone who made the magic 😊

[@codswallop321]

It's like a sane version of Jacob Collier. Love it!

[@robertfahrun3037]

That so nails it!

[@there4im839]

Loved the Voces8 work for a while now, but I’m compelled to comment for the first time. THANK YOU for finally featuring true bass vocals in this arrangement. I often sing along at home and provide the lower octave. Happy to have not been alone this time!

[@kyleethekelt]

Wow! I can't even imagine how this would have been accomplished. Simply mind-blowingly amazing.

[@mjdurian4209]

Glad to be part of this project. I learned a lot from our sessions with Voces8. ❤❤❤

[@kikivolauvent1]

Thank you SO MUCH. This is wonderful. Special thanks for putting the lyrics in the description too. VOCES8 and all your work is my Go To at any given time.

[@dhoch]

Breathtakingly Beautiful

[@shedrick6846]

I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes. So beautiful.

[@tsoraat1467]

es ist wunderschön und wunderbar der Übersetzer in Zeichensprache macht es sehr einfühlsam danke

[@richardpugmire7987]

It makes me so happy to see Eleanore again!

[@randykarraker1210]

So beautiful!!

[@annemuirhead7841]

Thank you - I needed this today ...

[@rickbaker8096]

I love this - thank you!

[@evied.4475]

So beautiful!

[@gotchugarrosh6825]

Gorgeous, comforting, a delight to listen to. Blessing everyone, who was involved in this creation.

[@garyhinkle5736]

Stunning ❤

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

Absolutely heavenly. Thank you.

[@annaapple7452]

Amazing!

[@theactualjamesbrown]

Wonderful!

[@rogerandrutholdfield5910]

Totally inspiring- thank you!

[@Shabanezloth]

Absolutely wonderful

[@ulirkestock1490]

Danke,eure Musik hat mir schon oft in meinem Leben Kraft gegeben!

[@leeclinkscales2584]

Lovely.

[@jonathangriggs9123]

Bravo to all the choirs

[@lillianlee4610]

So very moving. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Sunshine_and_Silver_linings]

Phenomenal ❤️🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶

[@juvenalsdad4175]

Excellent! Well done to everybody involved.

[@user-tt3ie5cb7t]

Потрясающе.

[@alpacamybag9103]

I long ran out of superlatives for you, now I just wipe the tears streaming down my cheeks. Bravo!

[@jamesstuartbrice420]

incredible!

[@ayrlaidicunha508]

❤❤❤ so so beautiful!!!! 👏👏👏👏

[@Jinkaza1882]

Gorgeous singing of a beautiful song. Thank you.

[@maryevans]

Beautifully sublime a blessing f

[@frankorusso]

Meraviglioso!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏

[@BartBirds]

Oh wow.. what a beautiful song and performance 🥲

[@JPJMando]

This is rather special. You should be immensely proud of this. Splendid in every regard.

[@canlowankiya]

Einfach nur wunderschön❤

[@cantusfirmusbecker7825]

Hinreißend schön! Danke!

[@Sandrah326]

Que lindo! 🙏❤️💐👏👏👏🇧🇷🖖

[@repossible]

I’m pretty sure this is heaven. ❤

[@alix4231]

Can't imagine anything more awesome than singing backup for Voces8!

[@erlethepearl]

Congratulations Blake on an exquisite arrangement. Together with my favorite choir ... just wonderful. Someday I'll have a chance to sing with such a group.

[@tiagomarveira5707]

Bravo! Meu grupo vocal preferido 💙🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏻👏🏻🎶🎶🎶

[@accousticdecay]

Amazing

[@elinajirgena2967]

Burvīgi! Greetings from Latvia 💝

[@peka1359]

Wunderschön!!!!!🥰

[@josefkastner8698]

Zum Weinen schön,........ also wie immer. Thx

[@miguelangelalonsomartin2411]

Toooomaaaaaa

[@Jen39x]

I loved these style pieces - a good thing from pandemic. I had to think about speakers have changed so much in 20 years. My iPone can easily reproduce the sounds of a large choir which 20 years no speaker invented could. Now if the resonance of a really good building could come through we’d not need to ever leave home

[@shelaghrobertson8286]

All of the above names in the title AND signed by Paul Whittaker OBE! A phenomenal talent, hoping to join the online course in BSL interpreted singing 😃

[@ahiebagos]

e da piangere felicità pura

[@marcelochaparro2431]

Muy Armonizó y lleno de una Gran Paz Al Ser...Gracia..

[@Jamie61571]

Hi who’s the stay at home choir?how many sing in this choir?where are they all from? Hello to voces 8!!!!!! Especially the stay at home choir!!!!!!!!

[@Hateires]

We are from all over the world! There are literally thousands, though you sign up for each project individually so the number will vary. Check out our other videos! Search KZbin for stay at home choir. Enjoy!

[@freiheit6675]

WOW 😅

[@ierpier]

In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times.

[@pputnam100]

is the first solo singer the bass of the group...?? what a nice lovely voice

[@anzonisstebiu6804]

😇

[@bendryden2560]

Scotlands Gods country!

[@MrLanzafan]

With Eleonore and Johnny😍

[@annikkegrimmig4950]

When was this recorded?

[@SuperPit71]

I figli di Albione riescono sempre a farsi perdonare.

[@mcburcke]

Very cool concept, and amazing that it somehow worked out in the end! But, years from now, people will wonder how the entire world could have been so bloody stupid as to think that avoiding each other was going to make any difference to the spread of an aerosol virus. Well, at least this video is a coincidental winner in the swirling mess that was the coof response. Nice, guys!