VOCES8: Ave Maria, Virgo Serena (Josquin des Prez)

[@fcalderone-steichen610]

Extraordinary. Eight voices singing as one, breathing as one, never rushing. Clarity in tone and musical perfection. Impossible . . . but they do the impossible. And aren't we the lucky ones who get to listen!

[@christiankurek9225]

Well said

[@johncameron4295]

So beautiful when are you coming to New Zealand. John Cameron

[@jamesduthie8024]

Choral perfection. It really doesn't get any better than this. Special congratulations to Molly Noon, who has so quickly achieved a perfect blend with Andrea Haines, and fits perfectly into the group.

[@realsonhador]

Eu gosto de mais de Voces8, em especial "Ne irascaris Domine....", aqui em casa ouvimos muito. Outro grupo até mais antigo e com uma evolução harmonica é o Tallis Scholars". Se você ainda não viu, eu indico uma busca "The Tallis Scholars - Obrecht. Missa de Sancto Donatiano"

[@Lardenoy]

​@@realsonhador merci ! ✨😇✨

[@richardforshaw8479]

If Josquin had only written the last three phrases of this work, and nothing else, here we have enough proof of greatness. It‘s perfect….

[@wnarloch8624]

I wonder if de Prez himself ever heard his works sung with such perfection!

[@SempreGumby]

My favorite Ave Maria. After all the complicated polyphony the ending breathtakingly simple. Love this. ❤️

[@michaeld5888]

An brief interlude of sanity and purity in a mad world. This is so refreshing and we are so lucky to still be able to access this quality of performance. Perfectly pitched voices not hidebound by however well tempered instruments is something totally different and special.

[@finstrand]

Sorry, I’m out of superlatives. “Sublime” is an adjectival failure. No words, just heartfelt appreciation for your artistry.

[@zigosepalum5641]

C'est la perfection ! À l'image de la musique de ce sublime compositeur

[@dbadagna]

Thank you for this ravishing, truly ideal performance of one of the best known Renaissance motets. The singers' attention to the proper tuning of pure major thirds (especially on the third and seventh scale degrees for I and V chords), narrowing them slightly to avoid the beats that characterize 12-equal-tempered major thirds, is especially appreciated, as is the avoidance of constant or overly wide vibrato. Bravi, tutti.

[@dbadagna]

@beeswax artist The equally-spaced tuning of all 12 divisions of the octave wasn't the tuning that was used in the late Renaissance or Baroque periods, where pure (or at least purer) thirds were valued, and thus the intervals of the scale were unequally spaced to allow for the production of thirds closer to those that occur in the harmonic series, at least in the most commonly used keys, and usually with small compromises (usually involving a narrowing of the fifths). If you simultaneously strike middle C and the E above on a piano, with its 12-equal-tempered tuning, you'll hear around 7 "beats" per second, creating a kind of fast "wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah" effect, since the interval is actually not in tune with the harmonic series. On a voice or unfretted bowed string instrument like a violin, however, small adjustments can be made, lowering the E by 14 cents (i.e., 14 percent of a half step) and thus eliminating the beats. But, it seems, most choral singers, even those singing repertoire from this period, still don't know to do this, and sing in something close to the 12-tone equal temperament they probably grew up with, from singing with piano accompaniment their whole lives prior to getting into the historically informed performance of early music. This video of a harp ensemble that has tuned their major third (above the tonic) to this pure/narrower interval to avoid the beats is the best example of this that I know of. Can you hear the special quality once they go up the scale from C to E? v=L-boPkQJKDA

[@dbadagna]

@beeswax artist Regarding the vibrato, surely you've heard choirs singing Palestrina or similar unaccompanied Renaissance polyphony, and they're all wobbling their voices rather than singing with more or less straight tone. That's the norm, and this makes what Voces8 are doing here especially valuable, as it brings the purity of the tuning, and the directness of the expression, into even sharper focus.

[@lonniethomas2649]

@beeswax artist @dbadagna is right! Good choirs don’t do that! But I find in general that in bigger choirs there is often way too much vibrato - you’re supposed to try to blend in, not stand out!

[@juliemichellerobinson1841]

@@dbadagna I'll say that the "straight" tone (allowing for limited and natural vibrato to occur) is pretty normal for many British choirs, at least when singing church and/or early music. You're probably noticing that more here because Voces 8 is a mixed choir as opposed to e.g. The King's Singers. That doesn't mean Voces 8 is a "normal British choir" - they're absolutely phenomenal.

[@catkin3]

Crickey!

[@mathieuguillet4036]

Thank you, VOCES8. Your work is an instrument of God's Light on Earth. 🙏🏼

[@juhanpuhm7020]

Transcendent, breathtaking, unreal. I can't imagine a finer vocal ensemble has ever existed. It is hard to know how this is even possible. Everything floats, not a single strained note, perfect intonation, perfect ensemble. Shear divine beauty, transcending to the divine, inspired by the divine. What more words can one use? (I would dearly love one day to hear Voces8 sing the chromatic harmonic progressions of Gesualdo! That would also be amazing and other worldly!)

[@jaywray4834]

Celestial. You all sound so beautiful together. So incredibly talented. Thank you for sharing your amazing gifts of the voice.

[@vivacantando]

Switching Blake and Katie for this was a stroke a genius. Beautiful work!

[@FruitofSilence]

Yes noticed this - brilliant!!

[@jorgeborja7261]

Thanks for singing Josquin´s music!! The glory!!

[@fritzlotscher9602]

This hymn of praise to St Mary is sung in perfect style by the double quartet VOCES8. I congratulate the singers for the impeccable polyphony in this piece of music. Best regards, Fritz from Switzerland

[@ellet2942]

Wonderful, as always. It appears that Blake is singing Alto 1 and Katie is singing Tenor 1 - pretty impressive. The part-swapping works really well here.

[@mwnyc3976]

They pretty much have to do it that way. In Josquin (and with most of his contemporaries on the Continent) the altus and tenor parts cover basically the same range; the altus tends to sit higher than the tenor, but the parts regularly overlap and their total ranges may differ by only one or two notes. So in an SATB group, to get the lines to sound good throughout, you need to put tenor(s) with an easy high range on the altus part and alto(s) with an easy low range on the tenor part. This is why, for instance, the terrific group New York Polyphony (kzbin.infovideos) rarely sings Josquin: it's an ATBarB quartet, and while the baritone (the excellent Christopher Dylan Herbert) can sometimes do a damn good imitation of a tenor, you can't ask him to regularly sing high Gs the way a Josquin tenor part does.

[@selgeaus]

a lot of the scores suggest mixing the tenors and altos. It works well with this piece as 2 parts intertwine throughout

[@mathieuguillet4036]

@@mwnyc3976 Thank you for that explanation! This setup is certainly a testament to the extraordinary quality of these musicians -- not that more evidence was needed! 🙏🏼

[@EvrenselKilise]

What a glorious time to be living in, it's a great grace to be able to access this kind of art. Praise be to God, and thank you!

[@cynthiat6505]

This sends thrills through my soul. God must smile when He hears you. Your Amen had beautiful overtones! Glorious!

[@donna30044]

Superbum more solito. Voces referunt miram majestatem universi.

[@alessandro2421]

Et parant in orbe Caelum

[@richardforshaw8479]

Why is it that, in the closing bars, seemingly basic harmonies can sound so utterly beautiful in the hands of a great master of the renaissance. It is indefinable gift called genius- it destroys me every time!

[@davidfrech9176]

A musical experience that takes you to another realm --- one of calmness, truth and purity. Such an incredible performance.

[@rfpnc]

Oh, my heart. Such ageless beauty. Thank you.

[@simonangel871]

Another serenely beautiful piece, sung by the serenely beautiful voices of Voces 8....I could listen to them all day!

[@PLTarchitect]

Fabulous as ever, - such sensitivity and a lovely acoustic in that space.

[@cateclism316]

Sang this in college as part of an early music group. One of Josquin's finest!

[@peterlowie5067]

Goosebumps from the very first bar ending into tears at the "O Mater Dei" I do love you all. From Amsterdam Peter

[@robfoxcroft]

Did anything ever sound more lovely? The final phrase is exquisite in its stillness, prayerfulness and purity.

[@richardforshaw8479]

I quite agree!

[@gabyfarfan8121]

They are wonderful... My respect and admiration.. Greetings from Mexico 🇲🇽

[@wacawlubinski5218]

Arcydzieło śpiewane przez Mistrzów. Dziękuję i pozdrawiam serdecznie, w oczekiwaniu na kolejne. PL

[@AnthonyOzimic]

Glad to hear VOCES8 sing early 16th century works. I would like to hear them go even earlier: Dunstable, Machaut, Dufay, the Eton Choir Book, etc

[@turbine6202]

Perfect choice for this Advent.

[@Lardenoy]

Merci ! Magnifique sérénité ! J'ai les larmes aux yeux en écoutant cet Ave Maria (découvert quand j'avais 30 ans et j'en ai 65)...Ars longa, vita brevis...

[@宮田智広]

The finest Ave Maria. I thank you for meeting this performance.

[@justeme8876]

J'adore vos voix combinées en une superbe chorale

[@donsharpe5786]

What a beautiful piece of music, so well performed by Voces 8. It is lovely to hear both male counter tenor and alto working together in such a beautiful way.

[@richardforshaw8479]

The last three phrases are transcendental, and utterly beautiful.

[@margueritejudson745]

And they translate; O Mother of God, remember me. Amen. ❤

[@richardforshaw8479]

@ then, this ending is perfect for the text. Thankyou for posting the words. With warmest wishes. Richard. ❤️

[@richardforshaw8479]

@ also, I would like to add that the ‘amen’ without the the third is genius… it seems timeless, which I expect God is. Bless you. Richard.

[@frankorusso]

Suprema maestria, grazie infinite!

[@etiennegillard8500]

Qu'est-ce que c'est beau ! Bravo mille fois ! Et un grand merci de nous faire découvrir ces airs de la renaissance !

[@Nadia-qh1fe]

Thank you for your celestial and heavenly voice !!! May THE LORD bless you. O Mater DEI ora pro nobis.

[@milespro4907]

Once again the new gold standard recording for a classic!

[@grahamrankin]

Magnificent in every respect. Thank you so much for sharing your perfection with the world.

[@RobertAMRoss]

One of the best performances I have ever heard of this classic! Bravi tutti!

[@Petert19046]

You continue to thrill me with your seemingly effortless performance. The blend and attention to detail are amazing. Thank you, thank you!

[@yurykondratyev1596]

Огромное спасибо! Как приятно вас слушать! Завораживают ваши голоса!

[@biancaganesh4721]

Bravo! Je suis au ciel, les anges me frôlent. Merci

[@andrewmildinhall8210]

Utterly exquisite. There's something about Joaquin's music is so special

[@danielhenriquesorucoolivei4570]

Extraordinariamente afinados e engajados! Perfeitíssimo.

[@ThunderBolt-dc1xt]

Among the best humans have to offer right here. Astounding composition sung to perfection. Thanks for posting.

[@richardscrimger3969]

Way to go, humans!

[@tomasvictor2124]

One of Josquin Desprez's finest compositions & my favourite performed gloriously here.

[@LittleFiddlyBits]

I"ve sung this! It's always a delight to hear a song one recognizes, sung so exquisitely.

[@janamariapergamano7844]

Magníficos! Que Deus Nosso Senhor os conserve e que Maria Santíssima os guarde!

[@charlessawyer6123]

You must devote your whole lives to music to achieve such perfection with no pitch drop Such a gift to music lovers. Greetings from Australia.

[@jonathanevans7224]

I run out of superlatives for this group. Thank you Voces8.

[@nh5747]

thank you. thank you so much for your beautiful and gentle harmony. i have loved this song. now you made me love this one even more ever.

[@richardforshaw8479]

The final chord without the third; ethereal. Beautifully judged by Voces 8. Bravo!

[@richardforshaw8479]

@@imrepotharn3174 exactly!

[@MrMarioman107]

So beautiful-love the alto and tenor lines sounding so pure and lovely:)

[@MisterTayTay]

Yaaassss what a moving and thematically progressive song for its time! Performed brilliantly!

[@MisterTayTay]

lol I commented on this song bc it’s one of my faves and it just started playing but I didn’t see it was Voces8. One of my all time favorite choral groups. Of course it sounds perfect. Y’all are perfection.

[@iansimpson4236]

Wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. 🌈

[@kevinw6814]

This has always been my favorite rendition of Ave Maria. Thank you and God bless you.

[@marlenebastsopran]

Wow! I had to analyse this wonderful piece in a Josquin seminar last semester at Uni and loved it so much! And now that I heard it sung by you guys I do so even more! Indeed you of course can pull off any genre or epoche but the early music/renaissance/baroque area will always be my favourite! The way this piece was composed makes it feel like Josquin must have had your voices in his head when thinking of the piece. The clarity of your voices are displayed by this type of music so so well! Just sending my love♥️

[@kotetsu131]

Right? It seems to be universal that musicology students have to learn this work...I had to a decade ago also.

[@lynholl]

Awesome performance!! Their captivating, ethereal voices have managed to capture in full the essence of this incredible sacred piece.💖

[@terryscott3980]

The brilliant vocal works of this era cannot be equalled. Isn't it strange that William Shakespeare lived in the same timezone. With all our modern technology we cannot get anywhere near these guys.

[@merri-toddwebster2473]

This is my favorite of Josquin's works and one of my favorite anthems I've performed. Thank you for a splendid, exalting performance.

[@ohnohoohoo4058]

3:25 - 3:58 is my absolute favorite part of this choral piece.

[@richcoffey4080]

Wow - true perfection!

[@rafaelhbordini3231]

So moving, so perfect, thank you once more!

[@AndrewDonald-submergency]

Such a serene and thoughtful performance. Thank you all for making my morning more beautiful.

[@michaelskelton8516]

Simply beautiful, the tuning and acoustics are perfect. Bravo!

[@jacquelinevirginia686]

Marvelous performance! Amazing sopran🙏🙏

[@hoffy63]

Bravi! So thrilled to hear the voice blending for the two tenor lines as my choir had done. But, dare I say with greater purity, as we've come to expect of Voces8.

[@inaciosodre3508]

500 anos é prova do valor dessa peça sublime.

[@musicmanni4932]

So wonderful !! Thank you, voces!

[@dangaines405]

Magnificent! Thanks for your dedication in playing choral songs!

[@nicklamb4546]

Just utterly lovely. Medicine for the body and soul.

[@annalyubushkina7296]

Thank you for such an amazing performance! I would be happy to hear more Josquin from your group!

[@Jenifer.flute20]

Beautiful piece beautifully sung by a magnificent ensemble

[@elian3941]

Ancien chanteur, j'aime beaucoup votre formation depuis un bout déjà... C'est de la qualité c'est clair, impatient des prochains titres merci !!! Sincères félicitations, bien cordialement, Elian

[@CarolynFahm]

Sublime music, superb musicianship.

[@HRB123]

Ultimate performance. Just gorgeous.

[@teresamartinlorenzo5741]

Qué maravilla. ¡Gracias!

[@stephenweigel]

Wow!!! New favorite rendition of this classic!

[@Robertmeulendijk]

As always impeccable Voces8: in tune, good balance and perfect timing.

[@FlorenzzaCantarechannelID123]

Terima kasih telah mempersembahkan lagu yang indah untuk memuji dan memuliakan nama Tuhan

[@donaldpreddle]

Yet more perfection. I can only echo all the superlatives below. Many many thanks for making this experience so readily available.

[@XM525754]

Stunning rendition - thank-you

[@catherine-e9s]

Merveilleux chant de louange,bravo !

[@Invictus357]

Sublime as always. Calmness in a world of turmoil.

[@mkshffr4936]

Every voice essential. Outstanding.

[@margaretosborne6144]

Another absolute treat for my ears. Thanks guys

[@debo977]

Magnificent --with gratitude!

[@avogrid296]

Such perfect intonation -- rarely heard. Love everything Voces8 uploads!

[@dbadagna]

When most choirs sing such repertoire, one usually hears 400-cent "piano thirds" with their 7 beats per second, even on final cadences--probably because most professional singers have sung with piano accompaniment their whole lives, and that's what they are used to. Here, we can tell that every singer has the discernment to realize the importance of narrowing those intervals ever so slightly (14 cents, that is) in order to avoid these undesirable beats. Yes, this is still very rare, even among supposedly historically informed choral singers.

[@dbadagna]

Have you had an opportunity to hear the Kronos Quartet's (10-times-overdubbed) string quartet rendition of Tallis's "Spem in Alium"? They also seem to have worked hard to narrow their major thirds, performing in something like meantone temperament. v=6IzwkJKvH6Y

[@annejackson195]

@@dbadagna Thank you for sharing your knowledge and specific detail here and in the "Spem in Alium" recording. I just listened to it and it made so much more sense to me with the slightly narrowed thirds. I love listening to such ancient music well-performed.

[@charlessawyer6123]

@@dbadagna I've worked as a piano technician and sung in choirs. I find the shift between the tempered scale and the perfect intervals quite easy.

[@kotetsu131]

OMG you guys just triggered flashbacks to my music 101 course way back in the day. What an excellent interpretation!

[@milet8708]

心が浄化されます…

[@ceciliaeberlin2946]

Awesome performance!!

[@tonydevoy2760]

Simply extraordinarily beautiful. It feels like I'm perched on a cloud high up in the sky and VOCES8 is singing on the cloud next to me! I know that's not likely to happen but one can dream, eh?

[@sabineschett6277]

So so schön ❣️ danke

[@ks.wojciechiwanecki3547]

Beautiful! Thank's "Music Divina" for share this video.

[@KSfan4ever]

They nailed it. Bravo, tutti!

[@johnalexander6867]

Wionderful music, wondefully performed. Thank you

[@lenanielsen5903]

Wonderful performance🍃thank you