“O God Beyond All Praising” uses the Thaxed melody by Holst as does “I Vow to Thee My Country,” but the lyrics were composed by Michael Perry in the 1980’s. I personally didn’t know it was a contemporary hymn the first time I heard it.
Oh, I love that melody. That last time I heard “I Vow to Thee My Country” was when Diana, Princess of Wales died. In fact, at her request, the song was sung at both her wedding and her funeral.
Ah thanks for that. It must have been a hymn then. I was confused as I haven’t heard it for years and the fact that there are parts just for the cantor led to think that it was a psalm.
It’s technically not “contemporary” since the melody is early 20th c.“O God Beyond All Praising” uses the Thaxed melody by Holst as does “I Vow to Thee My Country,” but the lyrics were composed by Michael Perry in the 1980’s. I personally didn’t know it was a contemporary hymn the first time I heard it.
Basically, I usually go with when the music is composed. Sort of like people don’t call “Non so piu” from “Le Nozze di Figaro” a song by Da Ponte (the librettist - person who wrote the text of the aria). They refer to it as a piece by Mozart since he was the composer of the music.Yeah, I also like the intro of Jupiter from “The Planets”, in addition to the thaxed melody. I believe Sarah Brightman used it in one of her songs.It’s technically not “contemporary” since the melody is early 20th c.
And just a little trivia on “O God Beyond All Praising”. Thaxted is actually the area where Holst is from. The original melody is from his symphonic tone poem,“The Planets”. Holst took his Jupiter melody from “The Planets” and adapted it (ie refined it) for the “I Vow to Thee My Country” hymn in the early 20th century.
I have to admit, the only thing I like Sarah Brightman singing is Christione in the Phantom of the Opera (well I guess since it was composed for her, she would sound good in it. I’ve seen it live about 4 times, and she was definitely the best) and Weber’s Requiem. Otherwise, I’m sorry to say after seeing her live in concert, I was totally turned off to her. But I digress…
I agree about Sarah Brightman. Her voice is constricted and pop-like at times. However, I am grateful that she had persuaded Ennio Morricone to allow her to adapt “Gabriel’s Oboe” into “Nella Fantasia”.
It’s a sweet voice, although a bit disappointing… She’s old enough for her voice to have grown and mature (in her late 20s), but she still sounds like an 18 year old aspiring opera singer with little experience (even though she has had plenty of experience performing) and little knowledge on what to do with her voice. There is no real body to it. She sings with only half of the voice and not “from her toes” - no depth, thus leaving me uninspired and not transported to a spiritual level, which is what I look for when listening to classical singers.
Haha, you wouldn’t happen to be a member on the NFCS or Classical Singer Forums would you?It’s a sweet voice, although a bit disappointing… She’s old enough for her voice to have grown and mature (in her late 20s), but she still sounds like an 18 year old aspiring opera singer with little experience (even though she has had plenty of experience performing) and little knowledge on what to do with her voice. There is no real body to it. She sings with only half of the voice and not “from her toes” - no depth, thus leaving me uninspired and not transported to a spiritual level, which is what I look for when listening to classical singers.
Of course, I’m listening from an operatic point of view, as a professional opera singer, and as someone from her generation who has been fortunate enough to work with enough people also from the same generation who’d sing her right out of the theater.
That said, from the cross-over point of view, I’d say it’s nice and is the kind of voice that fits in that genre. She’s one of the better ones - maybe one of the best. It’s a safe, sweet voice and not so overly-saccharine like you’d hear from other people in the genre. Physically, she works right in with the genre as well, so she’s a perfect match and kudos to her for being able to break into it.
BUT now we are totally off-topic and will stop here. I’ve enjoyed our conversation, though. Always nice to discuss voices.
Glad you liked it! I discovered his music quite unexpectedly while browsing the internet for new music. It’s too bad his music is only commercially available in the UK. I saw an inteview that he did where he says that going to Mass regularly is very important to him, so I definitely like him.WOW! I have to say, after listening to Alfie Boe, I have found a new favorite! He really does justice to some classics that I love like, “Be Still My Soul.” Thanks for the link!
Thanks, a lot of people seem to like it! It looks like Pope Benedict is surrounded by his secret service and they’re praying the rosary.
I like that hymn a lot and love it when we sing it at church. I also really like the music of Taizé.