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As we finish out the first year of Behind the Score programming, I wanted to go back to some of my roots and share with you a beautiful choral work called Sleep, composed by Eric Whitacre. 

Eric is one of the major choir-music rock stars currently working today. This piece was written in 2000 with text by Tony Silvestri, and has sold millions of copies worldwide and is one of the most-performed choral works of the last quarter decade. Specifically for us, I wanted to point to some interesting and revolutionary voicings that Eric includes in his music that makes his music sound so unique. I hope you enjoy!

Unlisted Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/733050456/4ed8c95a9d

Files

Sleep (Eric Whitacre) - Behind the Score (Episode 24)

This is "Sleep (Eric Whitacre) - Behind the Score (Episode 24)" by Doug Helvering on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Comments

MrWondrous David Beckwith

I can't believe that woman flatulated during Sleep. The nerve! High pitch hurts ears, still ringing. Cochise. Happy anniversary, y'all! And how cool that you know Eric's celestial headbirths. He and I have been chums on the facebook friendship generator for a dozen or so years, and watching and hearing his evolution, especially with those wondrous live world jams of singing heads. Not a bad looking guy either. You have better leg. Don't tell Megs I said that. One of the more aurally interesting events that took place on the Harvard campus back in the '80s was the singing of this song, I am pretty sure, with Mr. Randall Thompson in attendance, as well as a song or two by Mr. Virgil Thomson who may have been there too. Both had matriculated therefrom, as I recoil. You would have dug it. Choral music is closest to Heaven. Thank you again. Durufle!

Anonymous

Thank you for this! This was a fantastic bookend to my May experience singing with Eric at Carnegie Hall; he doesn't really talk about the technical aspects of his pieces, focusing mostly on sound quality/imagery. I'd be curious to hear you dig into anything off his 'City and the Sea' collection with his 'oven mitt' piano technique (little man in a hurry!). Or something of Morten Lauridsen's!

Arrow2theACL

Doug, wouldn't you love a camera on the viewer, so you could see their reaction to this? That was breath taking.

Anonymous

Thank you, Doug! That warmed an old choir conductor's heart. Much as I love prog and rock, choir music is what stirs my emotions the most these days, especially with harmonies like these. The sound of human voices is totally unique in that department for me.

doughelvering

Morten is a former teacher of mine...a wonderful human. I'd love to dive into some of his music some time.

Illume Eltanin

I was introduced to this piece and Mr. Whitaker's music via his Virtual Choir 2.0 performance of it. Absolutely stunning introduction for the casual choir nerd, which I am.

Anonymous

This is breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you, Doug, for bringing this gorgeous music to our attention.

ax o'lotl

I'm very moved by your treatment of this piece. I became aware of the piece quite shortly after its premiere. no need to go into it here... just thanks.

Gerard Dion

Stunning! Beautiful! Thank you so much for presenting this piece! I am not very familiar with this type of music, so to here it and learn about it was most enjoyable!