Songs You May Have Missed #400

26 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

luminosa

Libera: “Ave Maria” (2001)

Next time you want to slow your heartbeat down and find a quiet, reflective–dare I say prayerful–moment, you could do much worse for background music than London boy choir Libera.

Although some tracks are overlaid with electronic effects that would horrify classical purists (I too think they detract rather than adding to the music’s appeal) when the focus is on the sublime vocals and instrumentation is kept to a minimum the results can be spectacular. Such is the case with their rendition of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/09/29/songs-you-may-have-missed-183/

Songs You May Have Missed #183

29 Sep 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

libera

Libera: “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” (2004)

I won’t list all the accomplishments and accolades this all-boy choir from south London have garnered–you can Google them and read it in detail elsewhere. But worth two and a half minutes of your time here is their treatment of Mary Elizabeth Frye’s poem from 1932.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been as powerfully moved by a piece of music as I was listening to this after the loss of a loved one. I hope you find comfort in this song sometime in your life. Keep it with you.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle, gentle autumn rain

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft, soft starlight, starlight at night

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.

 See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/04/26/songs-you-may-have-missed-400/

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