Voces8 performs Dougie MacLean's 'Caledonia' with choir
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- čas přidán 15. 03. 2020
- Beautiful music is what we need now, and there are few tunes as stunning as 'Caledonia,' sung by Voces8 with choir. Listen as the talented students of the St. Michael-Albertville Concert Choir, under the direction of Joe Osowski, join in on Blake Morgan's arrangement of Dougie MacLean's timeless song.
Performers: Voces8, St. Michael-Albertville Concert Choir
Song: 'Caledonia,' by Dougie MacLean (arr. Blake Morgan)
Venue: St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Michael, Minn.
Recorded Feb. 19, 2020, by Classical MPR
For Classical MPR:
Video: Veronica Rodriguez, James Napoli
Audio: Cameron Wiley
Post-production: James Napoli
Used with permission. © Kobalt Music - Hudba
I was so privileged to be at this concert. We don't usually get these experiences in USA flyover land. The beauty of the voices and the acoustics of that amazing church made this absolutely stunning. I can't help but laugh that this is an ancient Scottish folk song that dates all the way back to...1977, when Dougie McLean was sitting on a beach, homesick for Scotland ("Caledonia" was the name the Romans gave that land) and composed this in less than an hour.
I was able to attend this concert as well!
I thought I'd lost my mind for a second when I saw last fall that these guys were going to be the November event in a local church (a pretty massive Gothic-style Methodist church) in Lubbock, Texas. The church has a series of several events like this every year, and they've had some great international artists. It's an amazing thing. But this was just dropped into our laps. I still can't believe it happened. I'm not telling you anything you don't know when I tell you they were every bit as great as any of their videos here, and then some. Even met them at a reception afterward. I can honestly say I never had a greater experience at a musical event, at least not one where I was a spectator and not a participant. Stunning doesn't even begin to describe it.
As Minnesota native I have to take exception to such "experiences" seldom being available where you live. Perhaps it was because I grew up Lutheran but I'm aware of two Minnesota colleges, Concordia and St. Olaf, whose concert choirs travel internationally. Music in the Lutheran churches was always good, often spectacular. Both the Voces8 group and the choir are wonderful. This was a beautiful performance. My guess is that choir of young people and that director are doing wonderful music throughout the year.
That said I wonder if my cousin who is a piano teacher in Buffalo and her husband who was band director in Buffalo attended this concert. Small world.
@@curtisgrindahl446 Minnesota is indeed blessed with a long lived and very solid choral music pedigree. The same cannot be said for other Midwestern locales. They are, in fact, an outlier.
@@curtisgrindahl446 Point taken, but...Voces8?? An international group that may or may not have ever heard of our little slice of heaven?? With so few "artists" in "the business" in THIS country acknowledging that there's anything between New York and Hollywood, it is refreshing that "fly-over land" got the attention of one of the premier ensembles in the world.
The beauty of the perfect intonation of these singers - ensemble and choir - is delightful. When I started singing in really good choirs, I thought that what I was experiencing was the sound of heaven. Guys and girls, what you did here is just that sound.
I always love hearing Voces8 and they are great here, as usual. But I was also struck by the richness of the sound coming from the St. Michael-Albertville Concert Choir. They may be one of the best high school level choirs I have heard in a very long time. They are getting a tone and a resonance that is well beyond what is typical of a high school level choir, sounding more like not just a college level choir, but a REALLY good college choir. But I guess I am not surprised because the upper midwest produces some truly outstanding choral groups.
Thank you for the kind words. I was the director in this recording and I couldn’t be more proud of how my students represented our community that evening. It was a night I will never forget. Voces8 are truly champions of education and it’s been a privilege every time we have collaborated. Hoping to do it again very soon.
The chorus makes me cry every time. Blessed be!
The chorus makes me cry every time, too! I recently discovered this song and have been listening to it a few times each of the last several days. When I hear or try to sing “Let me tell you that …” I get choked up every time and can’t finish the line. It’s a simple statement of a fairly gripping emotion.
Absolutely brilliant. Calendonia is one of my all time favorites by VOCES8, and this version is stunningly beautiful. The richness and pureness of the voices is just incredible.
Had totally missed this. Absolutely love both VOCES8 _and_ Dougie MacLean.
I had the opportunity to see VOCES8 live, just kind of dropped into my lap. I can only say that if you ever get the chance, don't miss them. It was unforgettable.
I don't know if you can see the changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid that I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reasons why I seem so far away today
Oh and let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home
For if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Oh and I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing, found others on the way
Oh and I have tried and kept on trying
Stolen dreams, yes there's no denying
I have travelled hard with conscience flying somewhere with the wind
Oh and let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home
For if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Now I'm sitting here before the fire, the empty room, the forest choir
The flames that couldn't get any higher
Well they've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking
My way is clear and I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flow, well I will disappear
Oh and let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home
For if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Heartbreaking! Thanks so much for this performance!
Absolutely sublime!
I love Voces8 and I love this song. I’ve sung in many choirs, including some outstanding ones, and listened to God knows how many choirs. The sound that this choir makes is extraordinary. Absolutely gorgeously blended, balanced, rich, warm sound. This is as beautiful as any that I’ve listened to. I’m in awe of these singers and their director. Bravo. Thank you.
Beautiful 😭❤️
This is such art. Thank you for sharing this
Absolutely gorgeous sounds!
Absolutely beautiful.
Totally amazing. The resonance and balance of the soloists and the choir are spectacular!
I so love this! And Blake's voice is exquisite!
Literally goosebumps all the performance long
OMG this is just gorgeous! Those harmonies are absolutely amazing. Thank you!!!!
Beautiful piece and lovely singing
Absolutely breathtaking. 😍😢
Greetings from New Zealand ❤
I’ve loved “Caledonia” forever. It’s amazing to listen to this! Beautiful arrangement.
A stunning performance. Thank you Voces8 and the equally wonderful St Michael-Albertville Concert Choir. Love from Australia.
Simply Epic!!
Love from India🇮🇳
Really stunning !
What a fantastic evening! What a fine choir! Great opportunity for those students!
Como siempre, totalmente coordinado, afinado y sublime. 👏😍
This is beauty.
Che mazzata! Veramente eccezionali! 👏👏👏
Beautifully done ❤
You all sound amazing!!!
Thank you, from Lockdown Wyoming. Such a blessing to see this. Be well, everyone.😷💞🌟
Hey Melanie, from Lockdown Sapcote (Leicester, UK) Loved that song, and somehow in this Coronavirus I felt close to you guys in the US. I guess we are sharing something in the music. God bless.
Richard Dixon Hi, Richard, I was married to an Englishman for 40 years. We lived, worked, and studied at Oxford University for three years, then lived in Northamptonshire teaching at OLD Stratford Primary and admin. at Open University in Milton Keynes for another seven years before moving back to Wyoming. Love you Brits-be well, mate!🙋🏼♀️💞🌟
so great! i really wish i was there
Magnificent in every way. Having covered a few pieces from the folk canon please Voces 8 look at the many, many fine songsmiths that folk and roots music has produced. The vein is rich and rewarding.
This should definitely have more views
You can hear the harmonies so much better here than on the enchanted isle album, I love it! A lot of new things stuck out to me
There's another video of VOCES8 singing this live without a background choir on CZcams. The harmonies are even clearer there and it's my favourite recording of Caledonia by far!
Happy chills.
Exactly!!!
This is my school and we are singing with Voces8 tomorrow 😊
As a Scottish heritage lass I love this-but Bobby Watts’ is my favourite folk version if memory serves...
Blissful music
What if we never get to see choirs together like this again 😢
God is with us Brandon. Keep it close to your heart and don't let them take it.
As a Scot, I was surprised how much this beautiful song, full of longing for the homeland, was so suitable for the VOCES8 treatment. They are a supremely talented group of singers. However, it should always be a simple song, without mass voices, (the addition of the other large choir, however good) is not so appropriate.
Have you heard Voces8 sing Elgar: Nimrod (Lux Aeterna)? I defy anyone to find any choral work to compete in the emotion stakes with that.
Astounding, hankies at the ready!!
That Lux is staggeringly beautiful.
I cried and its real
💛💙
Somewhere there is a class or seminar or something that teaches audience members how to cough during the silent moments.
Ah, no it’s better than that! They are concentrating during the music, and then cough when released by the silence. They were just saving it up. Helps to think of it like that and I think there’s some truth in it. You don’t notice your cold when mesmerised by beautiful music.
How common for me to make a comment on Katie looking so smooth in the beautifully cut dress. Now, I will return to the performance, I hope! Thanks to you all!
I love this version. It is so different to every other one out there. Seems a really weird choice for a group like yours but koudos to whoever arranged it, they did a fantastic job.
This incredible arrangement was done by Voces8's immensely talented Blake Morgan, the tall, bearded guy.
@@YourClassicalMPR It would help if I read the blurb rather than just scanning! Thanks for identifying Mr Morgan and thank you Mr Morgan for this fantasic rendition.
4.14 really warm bass notes
Also Celtic Woman song. I love it.
not a celtic women song they only covered it.
Acknowledging that VO8 performers are singing an arrangement they might not be familiar with, I noted that the accompanying choir needed no sheet music for their parts. It’s great to see Voces8 in a "natural" environment with their voices still pure and clear in a non - studio recording. . Or maybe it’s all been remastered, but a nice rendition regardless.
The audio from this performance has not been altered in any way. If it had been, we would have removed the coughs and baby crying. ;-) You are hearing the live audio exactly as it was recorded with the microphones on view in the video. It was a magical performance.
1:11 the guy smashed the timing of the cough 🤙
Whose arrangement is this? It is breathtaking!
The arrangement is by Blake Morgan!
@@moishemillerr Thanks!
@@moishemillerr Who with his brother (one of the altos) was one of the founding members of Voces8.
@@davidhoadley39 Blake Morgan (Tallest gent in the center with long hair and Glasses) is the Only American in the group-He was not a founding member. The Founding Members were Barney and Paul Smith. Barney is still in the ensemble as Artistic Director-seen on the Far Left of the VOCES8 group on stage. Paul Smith leads the entire VOCES8Foundation. Blake Morgan previously sang with Cantus from the Twin Cities and Chanticleer in San Francisco be joining VOCES8 @2016 or 2017
@@woodwardwoodworks You are correct, of course. Paul Smith was at this concert too with one of his amazing arrangements and I got my names mixed up. Thank you for politely correcting me.
😭
I actually sang with them during this concert, but not in this song
ROCK KID526 - and where was the concert? Lucky you!
Whatever you sang, it was great because the whole concert was amazing.
David Hoadley ü
@@davidhoadley39 i sang the song Grace with them
@@karenpidcock9872 it was at Saint Michael, MN
There is nothing more choral than those first three chords 😂
Heavenly....simply heavenly.
レベル高い…！
H
First of all let me say I love Voces8. But this has to be the weakest harmony and arrangement from them I have heard. Not sure if its the recording or the acoustics, but it lacks something. Just my opinion and I will not stop listening to them just because of this recording. Caledonia is performed much better by Celtic Women on 'A new Journey' much more alive.
Wow...while I disagree with your assessment of this performance, I will definitely try to find and listen to your other reference. TY! Choral performances are always subjected to all kinds of acoustical inconveniences (reverb, recording and/or structural acoustics) and you just try to minimize them and do the very best you can. I found this to very uplifting and beautifully well done. I would have driven to Texas had I known they would be there.! Thank you for posting a civil opinion. You sir, are a true gentleman.
I'm not sure what you were expecting from Voces 8. They produce completely clinical (and almost completely soulless) virtuosic presentations of choral works predominantly of the Classical genre. Their musicianship is undeniable but when they need to be 'involved' in the music come up short.
It's got nothing to do with acoustics as these are just fine for a live performance. What it lacks is heart.
@@mitchm1770 Well, we all have opinions. My opinion is that you're utterly wrong. Here is an example of an intensely emotional performance by VOCES8 czcams.com/video/wPdh0loM2yM/video.html
Sadly this is a travesty of the original song.
I disagree.
It is not
Despite the talent of the singers. It has lost any of it's original charm. Plenty of music is universal. This isn't. Go and do a choir cover of a suitable song ffs.
This is a clueless comment.
Dougie obviously gave permission to have a choral arrangement of his song completed and it is here performed by one of the premier choral groups in the world with a hand from a youth choir doing an excellent job.
I'm not sure what you classify as a 'travesty' but the only travesty I see on display here is someone with a closed mind.
@@Chris-qt5cb in case you missed it the writer (Dougie MacLean) needed to give his permission for a choral arrangement to be published and performed.
Seems the only person who doesn't get that this is a 'suitable song' for choral treatment is you.
Totally amazing. The resonance and balance of the soloists and the choir are spectacular!
I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
So I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I came from
And that's the reason why I seem
So far away today
Oh, but let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia you're calling me
And now I'm going home
If I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything
I've ever had
Oh and I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
Oh and I have tried and kept on trying
Stolen dreams yes there's no denying
I have traveled far with conscience…