The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach present: The Combined Chamber & University Choir. Dr. Jonathan Talberg - Conductor
In the fall of 1963, my high school choir had been rehearsing this piece. After the assassination of JFK, the school held a memorial service that ended with this. Not a dry eye in the place. I haven't heard it again until now and every memory comes pouring in. Beautifully done.
Beautifully light touch by the pianist - have heard some versions where the accompanist pounds it out like a march. One of my favorite pieces that ended up defining my life view for the past five decades - and this conductor did it wonderful justice.
This is a fantastic performance! I haven't heard a better one! I sang this in 1989 in high school and was my favorite song we ever did. Thank you for sharing this on CZcams!
My high school chorus, Morrow Senior High, Morrow, Ga, under the direction of our chorus director, Ron Shuff, first performed this at District Music Festival in the Fall of 1972. We later sang it at our annual Spring Concert in 1973. It has remained one of my favorites & I can not hear it enough. It's difficult to believe it has been nearly 50 years since I last participated in singing it!
Encina HS (Sacramento) class of '77 here, and ditto. No choral piece draws such an emotional response from me like this one does. We were so privileged to have a director, Jack Carey, who believed in us enough to trust us with great music (and not just awful arrangements of current pop stuff 🙂).
One of my most favorite pieces to sing ever, the other being "The Last Words of David" which is the the text of II Samuel XXIII 3, 4 set to music by Randall Thompson. Both of them are nothing short of exquisite!
O Star (the fairest one in sight), We grant your loftiness the right To some obscurity of cloud- It will not do to say of night, Since dark is what brings out your light. Some mystery becomes the proud. But to be wholly taciturn In your reserve is not allowed. Say something to us we can learn By heart and when alone repeat. Say something! And it says, 'I burn.' But say with what degree of heat. Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade. Use language we can comprehend. Tell us what elements you blend. It gives us strangely little aid, But does tell something in the end. And steadfast as Keats' Eremite, Not even stooping from its sphere, It asks a little of us here. It asks of us a certain height, So when at times the mob is swayed To carry praise or blame too far, We may choose something like a star To stay our minds on and be staid.
The level of musicality in this performance is extaordinary. Easy piece to learn, extremely difficult to perfect. Thank you for sharing this beautiful interpretation of one of my favourite choral works.
Understood the comment that one you've sung this song you will carry it in your heart forever. And the amazing singers in my life...this brings each of them back to me. The beauty of pure and clear sopranos simply floating those notes. And the base line highlighted the true basses in our choir. A great listen and wander down memories' lane.
Probly the 100th time I've watched this over the last few years. It is one of my favorite pieces to sing, one of my favorite pieces to conduct, and you guys just NAIL it!!! Conductor is amazing! Interp is awesome, gestures alternate between strong and elegant....and he does what I believe is the most important thing --- he has taught it well enough that they are all performing the Same piece. Not every beat is delineated, long lines are evident, his body lifts with the long legato line.......Absofreakinglutely Awesome!!!!!! .....Thanks for sharing 😎😎😎
@@cubearcub After having sung it a few times, my musical adventures led me off into the world of Musical Theatre- as an singer/actor/almost-dancer....lol....and into Music Directing/Conducting, and, sometimes Stage Directing. Along the way I have been hired by, and/or created my own choruses to Music Direct. My first season I programmed a "greatest hits" choral concert. Opened with the first chorus from Carmina Burana, and selections included The Heavens Are Telling, Hallelujah from Mount of Olives, Cum Sancto from Vivaldi, Sure on this Shining Night - Barber, Jubilant Song -Dello Joio, etc,etc,etc ---- and we closed with Choose Something --- I'm not sure which in my life was more "transporting" --- singing it, or Conducting an AMAZING collection of singers and pianist. Such Joy in my heart and memories. ......thank you for reminding me if it 😎😎😎
Simply sublime. I happen to prefer the chamber orchestra version, just because Randall Thompson was also great at scoring for instruments, but this is still exquisite. Great accompanist too! He really breathes with the choir, which is the hardest and greatest achievement in accompaniment.
Very beautiful- good job! I sang this in a choir back in the 70's conducted by Randall Thompson himself in Brookline ,MA. I have never heard better that you.
I'd LOVE to hear a choir of men and boys perform this. I think that boy trebles doing the women's parts would give it that pure, crystalline quality that I think both Frost and Thompson had in mind.
Gee, Gus, if you ever return it was about 67 or 68 when I sang this with a mass choir. what an experience. My band director missed sending in an app. for an elite band gathering and thought I would be upset by going to sing instead, It was totally awesome as is this piece of music.Many Kudos to the choir and musicians, This piece is totally clean and awesome.
In the fall of 1963, my high school choir had been rehearsing this piece. After the assassination of JFK, the school held a memorial service that ended with this. Not a dry eye in the place. I haven't heard it again until now and every memory comes pouring in. Beautifully done.
This piece is like a fine work of art and once you have sung it you will carry it in your heart forever.
I absolutely love this piece. It's been a part of me since high school choir.
I too sang this at a music adjudicator conference in my Jr year of High School. 1968! Great memories as-I still rembered my part! Wonderful. THANKS 😊
What a magnificently emotional and CLEAN performance?!?! Wow!
Beautifully light touch by the pianist - have heard some versions where the accompanist pounds it out like a march. One of my favorite pieces that ended up defining my life view for the past five decades - and this conductor did it wonderful justice.
I sang this in college. Agreed...the choir is excellent and the pianist is accompanying just right.
The most exquisite choral piece I’ve ever heard. And the breath control! 🎶
This is a fantastic performance! I haven't heard a better one! I sang this in 1989 in high school and was my favorite song we ever did. Thank you for sharing this on CZcams!
My high school chorus, Morrow Senior High, Morrow, Ga, under the direction of our chorus director, Ron Shuff, first performed this at District Music Festival in the Fall of 1972. We later sang it at our annual Spring Concert in 1973. It has remained one of my favorites & I can not hear it enough. It's difficult to believe it has been nearly 50 years since I last participated in singing it!
Encina HS (Sacramento) class of '77 here, and ditto. No choral piece draws such an emotional response from me like this one does. We were so privileged to have a director, Jack Carey, who believed in us enough to trust us with great music (and not just awful arrangements of current pop stuff 🙂).
This performance was one of my favorite moments of that year. Singing with these people was and still is the most treasured experience I have.
I miss singing in this choir so much! Gives me chills every time I hear it!
Wonderful job! Just looking for this song that we sang back in the 70's and ran across this video. Thank you for sharing. They did a great job.
One of my most favorite pieces to sing ever, the other being "The Last Words of David" which is the the text of II Samuel XXIII 3, 4 set to music by Randall Thompson. Both of them are nothing short of exquisite!
Far and away the best performance of this beautiful piece available on CZcams.
O Star (the fairest one in sight),
We grant your loftiness the right
To some obscurity of cloud-
It will not do to say of night,
Since dark is what brings out your light.
Some mystery becomes the proud.
But to be wholly taciturn
In your reserve is not allowed.
Say something to us we can learn
By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And it says, 'I burn.'
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.
It gives us strangely little aid,
But does tell something in the end.
And steadfast as Keats' Eremite,
Not even stooping from its sphere,
It asks a little of us here.
It asks of us a certain height,
So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.
Thank you for words
Rest in peace miss ward who taught us this piece.
The level of musicality in this performance is extaordinary. Easy piece to learn, extremely difficult to perfect. Thank you for sharing this beautiful interpretation of one of my favourite choral works.
I'm pretty critical and this is a fabulous, beautiful job! I hope everybody there (and you all) realized how fortunate it was to hear you.
Sang this in high school 1966. Heartbreakingly beautiful, along with Last Words of David!
Amazing rendition of this beautiful work!
Understood the comment that one you've sung this song you will carry it in your heart forever. And the amazing singers in my life...this brings each of them back to me. The beauty of pure and clear sopranos simply floating those notes. And the base line highlighted the true basses in our choir. A great listen and wander down memories' lane.
The best yet. Those young people, the pianist and conductor are all special. Thank you.
Major respect to those who aren't relying on reading sheet music. It's not an easy song to perform!
Facts.
If you know how to read music, and you listen to the parts around you, it's really not that difficult. But, you MUST listen!!
Probly the 100th time I've watched this over the last few years. It is one of my favorite pieces to sing, one of my favorite pieces to conduct, and you guys just NAIL it!!!
Conductor is amazing! Interp is awesome, gestures alternate between strong and elegant....and he does what I believe is the most important thing --- he has taught it well enough that they are all performing the Same piece. Not every beat is delineated, long lines are evident, his body lifts with the long legato line.......Absofreakinglutely Awesome!!!!!!
.....Thanks for sharing
😎😎😎
Yes!!
I cry every time. Been singing this one since high school
@@cubearcub
Me too
First sang this in....gulp....1974
Lololol
😎😎😎
@@rugby8-Philadelphia 1991 for me :)
@@cubearcub
After having sung it a few times, my musical adventures led me off into the world of Musical Theatre- as an singer/actor/almost-dancer....lol....and into Music Directing/Conducting, and, sometimes Stage Directing. Along the way I have been hired by, and/or created my own choruses to Music Direct. My first season I programmed a "greatest hits" choral concert. Opened with the first chorus from Carmina Burana, and selections included The Heavens Are Telling, Hallelujah from Mount of Olives, Cum Sancto from Vivaldi, Sure on this Shining Night - Barber, Jubilant Song -Dello Joio, etc,etc,etc ---- and we closed with Choose Something ---
I'm not sure which in my life was more "transporting" --- singing it, or Conducting an AMAZING collection of singers and pianist.
Such Joy in my heart and memories.
......thank you for reminding me if it
😎😎😎
Simply sublime.
I happen to prefer the chamber orchestra version, just because Randall Thompson was also great at scoring for instruments, but this is still exquisite. Great accompanist too! He really breathes with the choir, which is the hardest and greatest achievement in accompaniment.
So beautiful....I love the balance between soprano and bass. It is very memorable to me.
This is excellent! Choir, pianist, and conductor do a stunning job. The sound, diction, and emotionality are top-notch! Bravi!
Amazing rendition! We sang this in high school along with Last Words of David.Two of the best pieces ever written!
BRAVO!!
Exquisite!
Brilliant!
Very beautiful- good job! I sang this in a choir back in the 70's conducted by Randall Thompson himself in Brookline ,MA. I have never heard better that you.
Tellement délicat, c'est magnifique
Impeccable, beautiful, and touching in every way! Bravo to all!
It could do with a bit less vibrato from the sopranos . . .
We san it in 1966 and it is my favorite piece of music.
This is just beautiful. I sang this in high school in 1980. This rendition is nearly exactly what I remember from almost 40 years ago. Thank you.
High school we sang this. Great song!!!! Poetry
....also.....Excellent low D for the basses!!!🤪🤪🤪
I'd LOVE to hear a choir of men and boys perform this. I think that boy trebles doing the women's parts would give it that pure, crystalline quality that I think both Frost and Thompson had in mind.
Crystalline quality?
Bravo, a superb performance of a remarkable piece!
Utterly stunning.
I sang this song when I was in chorus probably back in 2001 or 2002? We also sang 'The Road Not Taken" Two of my favorite pieces we did.
Yes. Still gives me goosebumps
Just beautiful.
What a stunning performance - bravo tutti ! Iove the placement of the choir around the room.
It's like to fly with the shattle , on these composition; so high !
Bravo Randall , i know to the Alleluja of these Thomson.
Gee, Gus, if you ever return it was about 67 or 68 when I sang this with a mass choir. what an experience. My band director missed sending in an app. for an elite band gathering and thought I would be upset by going to sing instead, It was totally awesome as is this piece of music.Many Kudos to the choir and musicians, This piece is totally clean and awesome.
Beautiful sensitive performance, singers, conductor, and pianist.
Bravo!
Wonderful performance! I'm sending this to my choir for their study.
Bravo! Very moving.
My favorite part is the word "language" and the way the notes play off of each other.
Lovely performance!
Superb!
Nice to hear phrases done w/nuance.
Exquisite:)
My choir is doing this for the fall concert
We looked at many versions to show a Humanities class. This version id best.
Great work! What is the small group of non singers doing?
WHICH university? Conductor? Pianist? Beautifully affecting performance.
This is a FABULOUS performance. Who is the conductor?
Dr. Jonathan Talberg
uPLifting 🌟
Which college is this and what city??
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA, USA)
but no mention of Robert Frost