When David Heard (Tomkins) The Gesualdo Six at Ely Cathedral

[@alanmundy1536]

The words at "my son, my son" are heart rending. I have known this piece for 40 years and it never ceases to draw tears from me.

[@margaretha907]

"Would God I had died for thee" How one feels to lose a beloved son

[@briannewton9283]

Absolutely sublime and other worldly 🙏

[@cleanishslate3458]

So nice you guys. You made it sound like King David's heart broke into five pieces, and they all stood up and sang a lament for his beloved dead rebel son, which is exactly how this should be.

[@williamlewis8741]

nice to read someone understand the gravity of this situation father and son.

[@carolhart9812]

Bless you all,❣️🙏🙏🙏

[@debrabrabenec]

One of the most beautiful pieces ever written. I feel blessed to have learned and performed it almost 50 years ago and remember it (mostly) to this day. Thank you for posting this sublime performance!

[@corner559]

This group is just unreal. I've never heard such heavenly music.

[@brookeggleston9314]

Corn Fed you should also listen to the group *Tenabrae* - hope I spelled it correctly. My Latin isn't what it once was!

[@eulero75]

much of the good work is done by the superb acustic of the church

[@ektor1679]

the most movingly beautiful of all Tudor anthems. This group sing it superbly. Quite wonderful...

[@terrykearns]

They sang this in Augusta, Georgia in November 2022. Owain introduced it as one of the best pieces ever. I agree with Owain. I hope it's on their program for their US tour this winter. I want my daughter to hear it with me. She can lend me her hanky.

[@lloydino]

The quality of this performance can only be described as exceptional - the harmonics at 2:18 really say it all

[@AGMundy]

Indeed. English polyphonic music at this time was unsurpassed.

[@whpoche]

I'm following Ascension Publishig's Fr. Mike's Bible in a Year. He mentioned this work today. Glad he did. So beautiful!

[@raykoehler5234]

Exactly same today three years later! The silver thread continues on, praise the lord.

[@jjp4360]

Sometimes I just listen to the last few seconds of this recording over and over again. It's just so perfect.

[@Caroline-ud8un]

This is just incredible, such an achievement to sing this wonderful piece with such skill and control. I was so moved.

[@charlessteward7501]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. Such a tragic subject, from 1000s of years ago, yet so apposite for many people today.

[@michaelkingsbury4305]

The shepherd leaves the 99 in the wilderness to rescue the one that was lost. David could not.

[@davidbuswell8756]

Speechless. This is beyond beautiful.

[@debbiemail1]

This work just has to be heard more often. Thanks for posting it so that I can sit here in my little internet bubble and be taken as close to heaven as I can be. A wonderful performance boys :)

[@Ely-Cathedral]

Thanks Debbie, so glad you enjoyed it!

[@brookeggleston9314]

Debbie Scholem well, *men* but still glorious!

[@marywardell977]

Heartbreakingly beautiful...captured the tragedy so poignantly. Gorgeous voices!

[@williamlewis8741]

this is simply brilliant. i listen to it three or four times a week.

[@sandyy6054]

I listen to it nearly every day.

[@thesandsie13the2nd]

mind blowingly beautiful as is the cathedral.

[@davidbuswell6584]

Heart meltingly beautiful. Such a wonderful group of singers, two stunning tenors. Yes, no! All of you . I could listen to this and Abendlied eternally. Thank you.

[@katetaylor1466]

What a sublime sound.... Mind blowing in it's beauty. An exquisite piece.....

[@elijarrous8881]

great performance ,angel voices

[@cantusfirmusbecker7825]

Traumhaft schöne Stimmen und wunderbar aufeinander abgestimmt. Bravo!

[@vasiliskardasis8642]

You are simply Devine singers..in perfect order to make all my body shiver with a thrilling ecstasy. Your sound is in my head all day ! And the rendition...the best I’ve ever heard.

[@darchir2079]

An absolutely heart wrenching piece of music, performed with profound pathos.

[@cosborne06]

One of the most inspiring pieces of music I've heard in a very long time! You guys sound amazing, every one of you...you could really feel David's grief throughout this piece in each of your performances...great job!

[@pierrelouis8877]

Fabuleuse interprétation. Dans un lieu fabuleux : quel son dans cet Lady chapel de la cathédrale d'Ely !

[@sineadgordon]

Fr. Mike brought me here. ✝️

[@stevesewful]

stunning!!! beautiful blend and sensitivity. thank you

[@stevesewful]

stunning !! thank you so much.

[@Vespur]

Takes my breath away, wow.

[@charlessteward7501]

Just stunning. An absolutely beautiful performance. Only just discovered your group but you are outstanding. Will be very happy to promote you in any way possible. Please keep uploading these videos as often as possible.

[@iainmclean4645]

When the countertenor goes into the major I totally break down. Floods of tears

[@keithofninewells8397]

Perfect piece for this huge Lady Chapel

[@asimong]

Beautifully sung indeed. You've managed to express a great deal of the inherent emotion in your phrasing.

[@hwhamlin]

Most beautiful place I have ever sung.

[@martharoberts2072]

Profoundly beautful.

[@sandyy6054]

Just beautiful!

[@davidensminger9483]

Very nicely done. This ensemble is probably true to the original presentation.

[@blinkvideo]

Not really, the original presentation would have involved boys.

[@brookeggleston9314]

blinkvideo true!

[@DonVueltaMorales]

@@blinkvideo And the presence of mats and rugs and tapistries on the wall, and clerics and audience members wrapped in layers, stuffing perhaps a much smaller space. No two second echo, I'm assuming. I mean, it sounds great here, but was the work originally intended for a small chapel? a chamber? No one knows the exact situation of the "original presentation."

[@michaelthwaite3282]

Out of interest, I would love to have a "Time Machine" to go back and hear how this was performed in Tomkin's time.

[@rogerpowe1748]

this group performs this and other renaissance works perfectly

[@anaisr5232]

Magnifique

[@lm3741]

Pure, lamentable bliss...

[@blinkvideo]

I often hear very modest renderings of this piece from English groups. It should be a cry to Heaven. Kudos to the G6 for bringing out the drama. Really tough to do a choral piece like this with any but the best and younger soloists - hard to keep a sustaining vocal bed behind. The room helps! G6: you are awesome. I hope you can manage a trip to the USA sometime soon. In Minnesota we have several rooms that would be friendly to your sound and repertoire. Now I'll start asking around for possible hosts. =)

[@sandyy6054]

The G6 has just performed in Melbourne, the only city they visited in Australia. Sad to say we, in Brisbane, have missed out on hearing their glorious voices and awe inspiring music.

[@kkallebb]

Incredibly good performance.

[@alanrowe2464]

The change of key towards the end is sublime, and the harmonies and acoustics particularly from 4:00 to the end are heavenly.

[@stellarsjay1773]

First heard this in the early 60s, sung by the Deller Consort. It’s been with me ever since.

[@carphero652]

Quite simply stunning

[@msumarimwenza1044]

Enchanting

[@arnoutmalfliet4913]

Beautifull!!! What a pity that from 0:55 until 1:08 the microphone changed. Maybe just a switch. But the quality changes very much. But never the less. Very much in tune and so nice performance practice. Very well done!!!

[@dweeb99]

If only troops preparing for battle could hear this motet. Would they think again?

[@liveyourbestlife1513]

I read the whole Bible when I was in High School...What were you doing during High School? The story of Absalom is one of the most shocking and disturbing that you can find anywhere. Somehow David was able to lament his son's death in spite of what had happened between them. The story is about forgiveness. If you're a Christian like I was, the words "Would God I had died for thee" foreshadow what comes later on in the Bible.

[@logancombs3778]

This is perhaps one of the most beautiful recordings i've ever heard! Does anyone know which edition they used?

[@hannahr.906]

4:24 kills me every time

[@williamlewis8741]

I just found this rendition. it's quite nice. when i was younger i heard that rendition by the Waverly Consort (michael jaffee)... the harmonies are pure are there other recordings of this motet ? thank you

[@IlGattonero13]

Gorgeous piece, beautifully performed. However, the video editing is abrupt and distracting.

[@alipitogen]

First time hearing this lot.....Wow! Seem like Britain's (and I'm presuming Britain's) answer to Beauty Farm. Is there no end to the amount of talented Renaissance singing groups emerging? Hope not! Only quibble is there is a little bit too much of the building in the sound. I know it's a proper setting but a little more intimate space would show off both the voices and the polyphonic lines better.

[@Zequito100]

Great group !! Could someone tell me how the audio was recorded? Just those two mics?

[@karolukaszewski2311]

😢

[@gwalaus]

Was one of the Gesualdo six sick? There are only 5. Seriously though, they could put a second singer on the bass part; it would enrich the whole sound.

[@johnwhiteii5832]

Dear lord the camera edits are terrible. Breakout part? Nah, here’s the dude beside you or the conductor’s back. Sublime version though.

[@us-Bahn]

Excellent blend. Singing in an empty Ely Cathedral certainly isn’t going to hurt a performance. The final mix made the bass sound like he was there in spirit, not in body. More definition, more presence, & more diction on the bottom is needed. But overall very nice to listen to.

[@0xSol_Invictus]

This looks like the Gesualdo Five?

[@adrianwright8685]

six?

[@debrabrabenec]

It is a five part motet.

[@andriesgouws6217]

Music apparently composed circa 1612

[@dirkjanriezebos2240]

The sound is beautiful, but I suspect this has added reverb..so not entirely natural.

[@mavisemberson8737]

In an empty English Cathedral.? This one at Ely is very large Many groups try to use medieval churches. because of the stone architecture gives this effect. No timber pews or curtains.

[@blinkvideo]

Can't figure out why you need a director.

[@parzenbua]

King david was in war with his son absalom, wasn't he?

[@arnoutmalfliet4913]

indeed. With 'Abba-Sjalom' (Father of peace). As if the word means war. (Like 'Jeru-Sjalom').

[@parzenbua]

@@arnoutmalfliet4913 Thank you