Westminster Chorus - Sure On This Shining Night

Westminster Chorus
2007, 2010, 2015, 2019 International Chorus Champions
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Westminster, singing a Jay Giallombardo, composition of "Sure On This Shining Night" in the Petrikirche, a Protestant church (start of construction 1322) in Dortmund, Germany. The church is famous for the huge carved altar (known as "Golden Miracle of Dortmund"), from 1521. It consists of 633 gilt carved oak figures depicting 30 scenes about Easter.
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If you live in Southern California, are in college, a college graduate, or even high school, and are interested in singing Barbershop, Choral, and A Cappella music at the highest level possible, we'd love to meet you! Contact us at: [e-mail]

[@richardragusa9093]

Blue Scarf Girls smile says it all. Great seeing Simon Isback - the LEGEND of soooo much Multi Track Barbershop sitting in the audience singing along.

[@UnAshamed2010]

Man has never created an instrument that could compare with the human voice. This was absolutely breathtaking.

[@dukenukem4454]

Every time I hear this enchanting music, I find inner peace and comfort. And all is healed, all is health 😊

[@jportell100]

Quite easily the best thing the heard inside these walls.

[@SuperJobang]

so beautiful!!

[@andypittman9850]

If listening to this does not give you goosebumps...you do not have a pulse!! Stunning!!

[@csqghoul]

wow that just gave me chills

[@vk2nf]

A masterpiece of choral writing!!!

[@budita77]

Bravissimo! Thank you so much!

[@nancyinusa]

Breathtaking.

[@vanish129]

Being in the center of this would be just amazing. You can just feel the vibrations, the chords, the overtones just push, caress, and embrace your ears and body.

[@dablueiguana]

I sing with New Tradition. Having Jay as our director is a real blessing. Access to his music makes Barbershop singing all the better. Great job!

[@JansKanaal]

Sure on this shining night Of star made shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground. The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone Of shadows on the stars.

[@crglo7ver]

i just melted!

[@themarvelousmisschelle]

This made me melt. I often hear this song performed more uptempo. Listening to it performed in this way makes it sound so fluid and allows you to enjoy each chord for an additional second.

[@colli1rc]

@WestminsterChorus Incredible!!

[@williamvassar5733]

Westminister Chorus brings me so much joy and happiness listening to them so often. A few minutes of Heavenly peace from this wonderful group. Keep up the good work. My love of music and hearing such wonderfull sounds that you provide are amazing!! God Bless your wonderful choir. !!

[@shakeedixon4526]

I just wanna give a shoutout to the basses. They set up that whole beginning. You guys stay great

[@Dudenation84]

Well it took me 4 listens on 4 separate days, but I finally got a chance to close my eyes and re-live it and got weepy.

[@KyleBatchelder93]

Never have I heard such an amazing performance. Those basses are soooo clean. And that last chord...the purest chord I have ever heard...

[@MsAngelsprite]

Magnificent - a gift to listen to...

[@magnuswiklund7557]

You sound absolutely amazing!!

[@vk2nf]

5:30-6:30 is surely the most sublime choral music ever written? The wall of sound and richness of the harmonics is like Tallis or Palestrina.

[@mcglitter07]

I don't know why they can make music that sublime. Just pure beautiful and peaceful.

[@tristanrujano]

it's so beautiful I cried and this is my 17th time listening

[@csqghoul]

wow that is beautiful gentleman

[@axlemcdonald]

The strength in this "hand waving business" is that each individual expresses themselves fully, and artfully. It adds to a beautiful cumulative effect that you may not be used to. If it were a regimented production, it would be as exciting as staring at a gramophone. Sacred music should always be brought to life in the moment, or it is just an homage to the dead past.

[@jeffhathaway3871]

Alex McDonald Well said!

[@vk2nf]

4:25-4:40 at the re-entry of 'Sure on this shining night...', time stands still - pure magic!

[@sethlevinson5287]

I must have listened to this hundreds of times these past months. Nothing could be more apt than a good listen this evening... December 31, 2019. Cheerful New Year to this extraordinary place we call Earth. And forever grateful to Westminster Chorus for sharing the love.

[@theSaxman5]

Yes indeed, they are very special. Some of the best spebsqsa singing anywhere in our world . For those who enjoy this genre of absolutely beautiful music usually found in the USA, and Zero8 from Sweden, is the best of the best,period!!!!! Listen and sing along with greatness, seldom heard anywhere these days.

[@MrTrueTenor]

To Master and Singers of Westminster I'd like to show my astonishment in front of your beautiful performance and great arrangement. I'm an Italian tenor and your music shocked me as few time happened to me. Seven minutes to touch the soul in the deep. Thank you very much. Bravi!

[@scottforesman7968]

go ahead! Keep swaying your arms. Beautiful.

[@merryohg]

Amazing, simply amazing. I miss singing with you guys!

[@tylerpilz7123]

SICK overtone at 4:36. Love Westminster.

[@Nayhayyy]

it sounds so amazing with headphones!

[@nancygreenphotography9184]

Completely engulfed in the feeling of the harmonics. Amplified by the location of this performance.

[@Lurch1869]

wow is all i can say. That was great! gotta be one of the best groups i've heard yet.

[@BDsnareJeffProws]

.... WOW.

[@MyVoiceOverService]

There are no words.... Tears in my eyes...

[@gaming4truth]

I'm gonna give a shout out to the basses in this choir, overtones are great and all, but the low end really makes me feel the chills. Everyone is amazing though and I have literally listened to this everyday for 2 weeks. Thank you for such an amazing performance.

[@rumdog13]

Absolute perfection. Wow.

[@SingersLeader]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments. There is now an SATB version of the work. Jay Giallombardo

[@luciah.9863]

beautiful just beautiful ....thank you gentlemen

[@TaksSings_n_DrinksMilk]

Oh my gosh! This really brought a tear to my eye, so MAGICAL!

[@Jmbrad94]

I literally cannot be sad when I watch this. Thank you so much for this video...

[@seibs14]

5:52 How can you sit there listening to this straight faced? I'm sure those people had been there for awhile but I'm smiling sitting here at my computer. Can't even imagine when you're in that environment what this sounds like.

[@safetyboy8]

I can't believe I was able to be at one of their rehearsals... Hopefully I make it in and become a member!

[@SnaDyl]

7 minutes in Heaven

[@lmarkham27]

This is in my top two favorite songs we do. Hope we get to record it soon!

[@PiercingSight]

Those chords.... *shivers and drools*

[@battlewagondriver]

Well sung, gentlemen. An absolutely gorgeous piece of music.

[@captainkunucky]

I understand how people say that their over amount of motion could be distracting but personally I love it. There's nothing greater than knowing that the person singing actually feels something. It's more than just correct intonation but what's on the INSIDE. Not to mention this blend is AMAZING

[@csqghoul]

outstanding

[@BDsnareJeffProws]

I just went to rehearsal last night in my chorus, and It is so amazing to watch these guys and realize how difficult it is to sing music of this calibur with such pristine sound and intonation, and pretty much perfect everything! :) This is truly an amazing chorus. Also, this arrangement is a great song. Very fulfilling and uplifting music, it is good music for the soul :)

[@AncientAndMysterious]

This is absolutely magnificent. The power and feeling the choir puts into the piece is unbelievable, and the acoustics and echoes more than make up for their dropping the pitch. Quit bitching about them falling a half-step and give them the credit they deserve. If you'd rather hear perfect pitch than something like this, go and listen to Lil' Wayne or some other autotune "artist."

[@mWahlgren]

Amazing chart by Jay, and

[@brooklynho1234]

This hall is amazing

[@phil-harmonic]

Beautiful acoustics and wonderful performance, even with the half-step slip from sections B-C to the end.

[@jrbedford]

YES!

[@KendallHolsten]

From 5:20 till the end I dare you to find anything more beautiful/powerful/full of ring...

[@DLIW242]

This song makes me want to WEEEEEP! It's so incredibly beautiful...I'm your newest and biggest fan!! I MUST come see you live in concert...gotta find your website! BLESSINGS!!!!

[@lisam.washer6969]

exceptional!!!😘

[@SingersLeader]

That's effectively a G chord with a 9th being sung in the lead line of the small ensemble. :-) What makes it really cool is the echo of the larger chorus "whomping" in with the lower inversion of the chord. Very lush. But it works beautifully, doesn't it?! (Jay's wife Helen)

[@bodhiGitta]

Hey guys, I can hardly express my appreciation for your beautiful music. Every time I've heard you, whether in rehearsal, on stage, or in a recording, I am blown away... Your performances are so moving; for me it covers the entire emotional spectrum. This performance moved me to tears. Creating moments like this, you give people a taste of something divine. I really mean there. If there is a sound for "love that will not let you go"... You have it. Thank you... Gordie

[@lisam.washer5948]

wow!!!.

[@rogerdotlee]

+Lisa M. Washer I couldn't have said it better myself. I don't know that anyone could. Wow indeed.

[@garrettlarsen1514]

WOW!! okay this is my first video I watched of you guys....I think I have a highschool buddy that is going to Westminster....but I gotta say WOW!!........silence can only describe the feeling here listening to this sound......Great job to you guys...i know that this is not easy music thank you for all that time and effort...already sharing this on Facebook! :)

[@hatchmalony]

So upset I wasn't able to go on this trip. See you Saturday.

[@arethafrancys]

wow!

[@kcrcbest]

BRAVOOOOOOO

[@Posaunenzauber]

wunderschön!!!

[@ticknermusic1]

4:37

[@mornaw]

PLEASE record this! I want to be able to listen to this over and over again. Seriously this is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. Every time I watch this vid it makes me cry. Jay Giallombardo, you are a genius! (Eric Whitacre meets Hubert Parry meets the Beach Boys??) ;-)

[@WestminsterChorus]

3:54-4:01 put on headphones, and then put your overtone listening hat on. Listen for the octave, flat 7, and major 7th overtones colide. Can you hear them??

[@wouter6659]

It's All about the Tenors Baby! DANG!!! desonant chords all over the place :D :D :D :D WOW!!!

[@jarbassoares7971]

Bravo!

[@drileydriley2814]

When I think of "barbershop" I think of 1876 "in the town square" quartets dressed in red, white, and blue striped "suits" with straw hats singing repertoire such as Yankee Doodle Dandee in a very tinny timbre with the highest tenor singing thirds above the melody, ...and most definitely NOT something like this! This is beautiful!! The "full voice" aspect is in-line with barbershop, but the tone quality other than that is truly mesmorizing and a pure joy to listen to!! WELL done! Your Lux Aurumque in the same venue was absolutely sublime; to refer to yourselves as a barbershop group severely diminishes your talent level. (...at least for me it does!) GORGEOUS! Blessings!

[@MrKalasz]

Gratulálok a Kórusnak és a zeneszerzőnek! Itt kiváló az akusztika(!) sőt a tenor - 1 - 2, bariton, és a basszus ect... Laci from Hungary

[@craiggriffiths9881]

I sing in a male voice choir in the uk and face and body movement is good it helps with whatever you are singing

[@jaygbardo8781]

To answer SJCarlson: there is a wonderful performance on KZbin by the Salt Lake Vocal Artists, under the direction of Dr. Brady Allred, performing the SSAATTBB version of "Sure On This Shining Night"...Google them and the composition title, and you can give them a listen. They are marvelous. The recording was done on their recent tour of Japan.

[@KyleBatchelder93]

5:56-6:01 holy crap…goosebumps

[@ManishaChanXD]

crying

[@teapots4103]

.........i really wish this was the Lauridsen piece! in this setting?! woof that song would tear the roof down

[@davidfruechting7771]

I'm sorry, but I can't agree. This composition far outdoes the Lauridsen, both musically and emotionally - so much better achieves what the poet conceived and wrote. But, that's just an opinion and, in that, is much like any other. "De gustibus non disputandum est."

[@mariasandoval6910]

A very Beach Boys sounding rendition . It's beautiful!

[@MEHTEHMAH]

If you put headphones on, there's a SOLID overtone from 5:56 to 6:10. It's like the only thing I can hear. Unbelievable.

[@CDugan7]

Nathan Meendering it's because the leads are hanging on that note an octave down. But still, superb singing. Just stunning. I first found this video years ago, and still love it now as much as I did then.

[@spartyfan247]

I don't know why but between 2:55 to about 3:05 is my favorite part.

[@PiercingSight]

Mine too dude. Mine too.

[@BigRiver374]

gotta love those spread vowels....

[@OCTenor2]

If you like spread vowels this dude puts on a clinic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3PPqWCKhrxrqq8

[@jakethewoz]

You got served!!! Bwahaha

[@BigRiver374]

OCTenor2 I don't know that comparing pop singing to classical singing is even a remotely fair comparison, and an ad hominem at best, but thanks for your thoughtful contribution.

[@jakethewoz]

Mason Meyer If you want to get into fallacies, your original comment would fall under an 'incomplete comparison'. That is, in fact, what you were reaching for yourself- not an ad hominem. While using tall vowels is the convention for classical choral ensembles, a barbershop chorus singing a song arranged by a barbershop composer would naturally default to a more speech-like "spread" position. Perhaps a dose of humility and humor would help you out, oh wise one (ad hominem).

[@ProjectEvo06]

Why do people get so upset when choral music is sung with vowels that not only support better invitation of the voices across the entire chorus, but are also actually understandable to the average listener? Appreciate good music when it’s upon us.

[@PepeXIV]

Sorry, but the lyric of this beautiful song belong to James Agee. WC are simply amazing

[@Dudenation84]

@WestminsterChorus I love that moment, but what is happening with the overtones at 3:33-3:36? Because that is probably one of the juciest chords I've ever heard in my life.

[@iljapanzer]

Breathtaking! Thank you so much for sharing!!! All the best to you, is the chart available somehow? Sincerest heartfelt regards

[@jmiller823]

@tvaughan807 While there are many Christians in the group, the group as a whole is not affiliated with any religion, and has members from a variety of faiths.

[@bentdrum]

I found it at the gsbmedalmusic site. You have to click through to their store and select Jay's arrangements, then"Mixed/8 Part/Large Choral" and scroll down. Price is $100 for either Men's or Mixed choir.

[@MyNameIsJole]

6:20-6:36 really kills

[@OCTenor2]

Yes, he (Will Harris) did!

[@SJCarlsonMusic]

Jay, is there a performance of the SATB version to date? I'd love to hear it if there does happen to be. I was recently, and unfortunately briefly, in a quartet in my home state of Illinois. While we were browsing material for contest, we came across one of your scores and I later googled you, finding this piece. Absolutely love it: at every moment the tonal relationships between each section produce a richness that rolls over the pallet like a smooth scotch. Beautiful work.

[@helengiallombardo4077]

Salt Lake Vocal Artists - under Dr. Brady Allred baton - they took it on tour and recorded it on CD - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprUn3R7gb2Watk

[@drewjamespatrick4054]

Is there a professional recording of this anywhere? The tenor descants are stunning!

[@yokljo]

+DrewJames Patrick I don't think Westminster Chorus has one available, however there are two albums with professional recordings I would recommend (Google search them): 1. TimTracks "Features" 2. Lemon Squeezy "Freshly Squeezed"

[@Paul_K_]

There is now! Westminster has a new album called "Still Crazy After All These Years" and this is on it.

[@michaelgeiger4043]

3:34 Hey, Josh!!

[@barricades1968]

Dear Dan, The Agnus Dei of the Faure Requem is amazing (Michel Corboz or Ozawa version are each pretty good) The Kyrie of Otto Olsson is also stunning ! And of course the Bach's passions !

[@yuehchopin]

Ich muß weinen

[@ATPurser]

ESPANTOSO!!!

[@fdb327]

I've been a fan since I saw y'all at Llangollen in 2009. I feel lucky to have heard y'all live in Wales. Is this piece published officially yet? I've been trying to find and buy it, but haven't been able to. If anyone can let me know when it will be published, or if it is, where I can get it, please let me know! Thanks guys! This is a great recording! Great sound and video! If I could audition for Westminster, I would, but I'm in Texas. I wish you guys all the best!

[@UMLyres]

Did the guy in the red at 3:04 once sing in the SoCal VoCals?!

[@tvaughan807]

This is AMAZING. Actually perfect. Can I ask. Is this a Christian group ?