Eric Whitacre = EARGASM!

[Advil]

I happen to be a huge fan of Choral music, I sing in a choir and also listen to choral works on a daily basis. I just had to share my love of Eric Whitacre with the head-fi community. His latest album, "Cloudburst and other choral works" is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it for anyone whose even remotely interested in this genre of music.

The song I suggest you listen to first is "Sleep" it's a bit laid back compared to some other songs but it's absolutely amazing. I witnessed my first headphone eargasm while listening to this song, at about 3:40 to 4:00 into the song. The part when the Soprano's go crazy, trust me, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about once you hear it!

Anyway, here's a link to the CD, I suggest you go for it and buy both albums, The complete a'cappella works and Cloudburst.

http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Whitacre-.../dp/B000E1XOUS

Two other songs you should listen to if at all possible prior to buying are Cloudburst and With a Lily in your Hand.

If you can listen to Cloudburst (the song, not album) in it's entirety, I can guarantee yet another eargasm.

http://www.ericwhitacre.com
http://www.myspace.com/ericwhitacre

 

[dulath]

Heh, we did a Whitachre piece every year for the three years I was in the Sprague High School Concert Chior. Water Night, Sleep, and Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine. Very deep and interesting music both to perform and listen to. I shall give this one a listen.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

^ I'll top that!

My marching band (Leigh High School of CA; I marched in it for three years so far with tenor sax) had Whitacre pieces we marched (and played, duh) to for two years now. Cloudburst was our opening song for this year.

 

[colonelkernel8]

Honestly, I hate Eric Whitacre music. I have had to play a large amount of his music and I can say that all of his music is rhythmically boring and relies too much on disonant chords and their resolution. Its really lame music...

I have played Sleep btw...the title does the song justice.

 

[gabedamien]

I like some Eric Whitacre music. He has a tendency towards a theatrical, mainstream, experimental, film-soundtrack-y sort of feel that turns me off. But Lux Arumque, Sleep (set to the original Frost poem, not the revised lyrics), and above all the heart-rending When David Heard truly touch me emotionally.

I sing a cappella so I adore beautiful blend and vocal technique. Big open chords and resolving dissonance both flatter these elements very well, so I personally am very, very moved by this sort of music. Coupled with the text of When David Heard, and I'm willing to forgive him for the bulk of his output.

I agree that rhythmically there's not much there, but I don't think it's necessary for this kind of music. Look at Barber's Agnus Dei (vocal arrangement of Adagio for Strings), Allegri's Miserere Mei Deus, Herbert Howell's Requiem, etc.

Of course, when the complexity of the chord progressions and the beauty of perfect blend and warmth in a cappella technique are married to compositions of greater rhythmic complexity, well... suffice it to say that Frank Martin's Mass is one of my favorite pieces of music of all time.

If anyone recognized the above program as the disc "Cathedral Classics" by the Dale Warland Singers, mad props to you. For the rest of you, BUY THAT DISC (if you like this kind of music). This was the first (and one of only 2 or 3) albums that actually managed to make me cry once. Granted it was during an emotional time of my life... regardless, superb sound.

Small audiophile note: my Whitacre disc (don't remember the name offhand - choral works? A cappella works?) has a slight bit of tape hiss. Oh well.