VOCES8: 'Ne Irascaris Domine' & 'Civitas Sancti Tui' by William Byrd
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 เม.ย. 2019
- VOCES8 performs William Byrd’s double motet ‘Ne Irascaris Domine’ and ‘Civitas Sancti Tui’ in the Gresham Centre in London.
Audio available at orcd.co/end4pyk
Text
Ne irascaris, Domine, satis
et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis nostrae.
Ecce, respice, populus tuus omnes nos.
Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta.
Sion deserta facta est, Jerusalem desolata est.
(Isaiah 64 v. 9)
Translation
Be not angry, O Lord, still,
neither remember our iniquity for ever.
Behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
The holy cities are a wilderness.
Sion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. - เพลง
I am a Jamaican musician who is well acquainted with William Byrd. I listened to this on the morning my Mother passed away. I also stood on top of The Mount Of Olives in Jerusalem listening to this, and was indeed blessed. I think this Choir performs a brilliant rendition of this piece. Bravo.❤
To anyone who is listening this, I pray that whatever is hurting you or whatever you're constantly stressing about gets better.May the dark thoughts, the overthinking, and doubt exit your mind right now.May you receive peace and blessings.Amen🙏🏽
What a truly beautiful thing to say. May you be greatly blessed. Rev Dev
Can you imagine how pleased the composer would be to know this would be sung so beautifully and heard so widely in the year 2020?
He'd be thrilled. See my screenplay about the life of Byrd here: www.amazon.com/dp/1520194846/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_JchWEb2MJ6CR7
The composer probably had some of the best singers of his time to do it. There is no hint that singers in the past did not as well as singers today.
@@adamabele785 So? That doesn't change the validity of Bill Brockman's remark.
@@ruthkastner6248 Is there a video clip of it?
Ruth, I just tried to buy your screenplay on Amazon for my Kindle, bu5 for some reason, it could no5 complete the purchase. I will try again, but you might like to check in case they have got some problem.
Sitting in my church all alone with Jesus, meditating and praying on this frosty Monday morning, the Second Week of Advent. The sun is shining through the stained glass and the sound of your voices resonates so beautifully in the empty church. Come Lord Jesus.
I envy you that you can do that.
I've been listening to some other a capella groups lately, and the experience has convinced me that NOBODY rivals voces8 for perfect balance and blend. These guys spend as much effort in listening to one another as they do in actually singing, and it pays off in performances as ravishing as this one.
You have been paid a wonderful compliment. Our 2 year old granddaughter heard this playing. She moved slowly as though not knowing what to expect. Standing frozen, she only moved her mouth to mirror what she saw.
I was close to tears seeing her amazed by what she heard.
Truthfully I can say I am one very contented Grandad. I am grateful for being able to experience this.
The innocence in children instantly recognizes the sublime just as it fears the ugly naturally and only becomes desensitized when the world accustoms the innocents to evil and impurity. The innocence in children is one of the most beautiful, divinely pure gifts we are given and should protect with all we have.
Laura, very well said!
@@laurapatrie1418 Remember what Jesus said about those who despoil that innocence. That's how special they are in the eyes of their Maker. It is that to which He wants us to attain once more when He tells us that until we are as children, we cannot enter His house. Our children and grandchildren, in their innocence, are our guides.
You may have a future serious vocalist there.
Kenneth Masters: Her Mother is, so there is a chance.
Herrlich britisch !
Und eine sehr gepflegte und anspruchsvolle Chorkultur, fast meditativ.
Diese Ruhe braucht die Welt zurzeit, besonders in diesen wirren Zeiten.
No instrument, no auto tune, just pure angelic voice.
There is no sound on this planet more beautiful than this group produces.
From their voices to God’s ears. And, thank God, to ours. God bless Voces8🎼❣️
Reality really isn't your strong point is it?
Try this instead:
th-cam.com/video/P4dSiHqpULk/w-d-xo.html
Ahem. The Tallis Scholars.
@@Tinker1950 You had better reevaluate your view of reality. Maybe it is is a bit biased and needs some refreshening.
I recommend you listen to the Cantique DeJean Racine that's here on TH-cam. Search for the one conducted by paarvi (Paris Philharmonic). You will feel uplifted
@@Tinker1950 And choral singing isn't your strong point either!
You might try a bit of charity as well- better than being vexatious.
How THRILLED Byrd would be to know that this glorious composition has become a beloved favourite, over 400 yrs after he wrote it.
It has just reached No. 40, in the BBC's Classic fm's most beloved pieces of 2023, the 400th anniversary of his death!
Isnt that astonishing and gives us all hope! *Who knows what impact we will have on generations 400 yrs from now!*
It is very humbling to think of it... we are merely a blink in the history of our world! ❤️🇮🇪🇺🇦🙏
Imagine this celestial rendition being played on any active battlefield on this planet. I can just see the soldiers putting down their weapons and going home to be with their families.
Please send to Putin..................
Have you seen Children of Men?
Go learn what US soldiers actually played in Afghanistan. It don't bode well for their response to celestial renditions. I can see them shooting and fragging the audio equipment. In Nam some made ear necklaces.
This is the purist choir I've ever heard. They are absolutely flawless.
It's them and the Tallis Scholars, head above everyone else.
@@rickc2102 I'd also recommend Tenebrae and the Gabrieli Consort
@@Imakeeeeeno Tenebrae is even better imho...but all of them need 1 good deep oktavist singer....that dark layer voice would make everything better
Tenebrae are two, three or more voices too many....some of them get lost in the extra volume for mine. Don't get me wrong, they're fantastic too, just personal preference.
I like this lineup of VOCES8 girls too......they drive my imagination!
They are super but Britain produces some other stuff ensembles too that excel . Eg I Fazioli. You might also like to check out the Adelaide Chamber Singers a group of about 16 often in performance.
I am going to single-handedly push this video over 1,000,000 views.
You got work to do, sir :) half a mil to go
I'll help you!
Sorry to say but I believe that TH-cam shows only as one view per device you have... no matter how many times you watch this.
@@richardd5695 I've been unable to find an official source for how TH-cam counts views. Someone claimed that TH-cam counts one view per browser session as detected by a session cookie.
Paul yes you may well be right. TH-cam obviously isn’t real forthcoming about how the views are counted.
Some of the purest polyphony ever! When the sopranos and altos make their first attackless entrance out of the ether it is just breathtaking.
As someone who was fortunate enough to sing in a very good small choir I'd like to stress the level of artistry that goes into achieving this quality of purity and vocal blend. Voices8 is a wonderful ensemble.
And as a chorister I can say from experience that there is nothing more challenging or more satisfying than performing William Byrd - you find layer upon layer of depth and meaning in his work. He is a greatly underestimate composer, and at his best he is the equal of Bach himself.
We need more of this during this tough time in the world.
If there is music in Heaven, it most certainly must sound like this!
It's gonna sound a lot better than this in Heaven!!!!
@@BLehman828 Yes. I agree! Perfect harmony.
Music written by a genius, facing religious persecution , performed by singers on top of their craft. Simply superb, thank you.
The voices are free of annoying vibrato……sung with an ear for the swelling of the volume and the tapering off of the dynamics as the phrases come to each close. This is so good it actually hurts!
Agree. Amazing when vocalists use their developed instrument without vibrato. Without vibrato, there is nothing to hide behind, just the amazing beauty of their souls thru their voices.
Fabulous. My 21-month-old daughter just sat and listen/watched all of that. The first time she's been quiet all day! Thank you!!
I am speechless at the beauty and purity of these eight voices focused on such a perfect and timeless piece.
Lends perspective and quiet to the insanity of today's world.
So viel innere Kraft ganz ohne äußeren Pathos: ansatzlose, direkt ins Herz gehende, daher beglückende Horizontverschmelzung über 4 Jahrhunderte: großen Dank fürs Teilen!
Heaven should sound this good.
This type of choral singing is so soothing in a world of hustle & bustle, it is a source of refreshing for me
There is NO purer sound in the known Universe! Angels listen and weep for joy. And, so do I. . .
paul w To each his own. You don’t say if you find beauty in this absolutely Marvellous Recording.
If you not, you obviously were not in line when Heart and Soul were given out. Good luck with “om” !.
Finding voces8 has been very healing to my heart. I thank you so much.
I despaired a little when Emily Dickens left. The more I hear how perfectly Eleonore and Andrea are in sync the more I realize how perfect a partnership can be between parts. It's really stunning how seamlessly they blend.
Now it’s 2023! This work will endure, and may VOCES8 sing long into the future.
When you've all finished lauding the singers, can we have a word or two of appreciation for the man who wrote the damn thing? My God, but William Byrd was truly a genius on the level of Bach!
Indeed, Mr Byrd is a forgotten master, and among the greats of the period and ranks with Palestrina, and La Victoria
@@timothyboles6457 He is not forgotten by anyone who listens to music of this period. Even the Germans and French recognise the genius of Tallis, Byrd, and Dowland.
@@DieFlabbergast LOL - that's saying lot ;)
@@timothyboles6457 Mr William Byrd is far from forgotten. This particular combination of pieces may not be heard often, but the masses and many motets are certainly very popular. How about his 'Ave Verum Corpus' for instance?
@@timothyboles6457 Gone but never forgotten. In a previous lifetime, when I could sing with friends in person, I sang the Civtas Sancti Tui. I count my blessings every day now that I got to sing with them..what a gift it was. I kinda had a feeling that it wouldn't last. I was so shocked when it suddenly ended. Now will be surprised if I ever get to sing with them again.
Oh, to have been gifted with a voice like that!!! I have never heard a better choir nor more angelic sounds than they produce. This must be what angels sound like.
All of you are wonderful ambassadors of extraordinarily beautiful and healing music. Though the words are sorrowful it's as if God's presiding grace is over whatever desolation has befallen Jerusalem, (Isaiah's hope is not diminished). Thank you for your ongoing marvellous renditions of these great masterpieces of choral music. William Byrd, though in glory I'm sure, would be truly struck by the authenticity of his intentions in your impeccable recordings of his works.
I can't like this video enough, whenever I'am watching it. 'tis divine, simply divine!
Troppo troppo bravi!!!!!!!! Immensi! Non ho parole.
Holy Moses. Those bass notes....
The basses, yes; plus the bell-like tone the sopranos sometimes get. Chills
Is this smoothed in the post process? I can’t believe the smoothness of the bass tone... it is amazing.
@@st14 you know, I don't think it is. I remember when they came out with their Lux Aterna vid and people could not believe that they were unaccompanied. 😂 They were so in tune that they sounded like a pipe organ. Jonathan (bass) is just that good!
JamzieGames They do sound amazing. But it is live sound. I’d love to hear them live. They record into 8 individual mics and some sound engineering is done on it. The question is how much. We won’t know without hearing a live performance. To see the mics, take a look at Shenandoah from Abby Road: th-cam.com/video/t8xbY9Iyxpo/w-d-xo.html
Simply the best bass I've heard in years. He's like a cello + organ with 128 foot pipes. I've never heard anything like it.
In the pandemic I find myself turning often to the polyphonic masters more than great composers of any other style or period.
Be not angry O Lord, remember not these iniquities, but extend your grace and peace unto the one in need of it.
We beseech your blessing unto the innocent, may they live in peace and prosper evermore..
Dieu, que c'est beau. Divine polyphonie, chanteurs admirables et William Byrd, compositeur que j'aime particulièrement. Il est de rares moments dans cette vie si sombre où luit la Lumière divine d'une musique qui nous transporte vers l'Idéal. Dostoïevsky disait que la beauté sauvera le monde....
C'est vrai. Avec cette musique on verra des miracles.
@Stigma Max / Mais la beauté absolue est une marque, un témoignage du Divin, de l'Idéal. En concourant à notre élan vers la transcendance, elle nous approche du Divin.
Je vous dis tout cela bien qu'agnostique ! mais oui ! Je crois en l'Absolu, l'Idéal mais je ne crois pas en un "dieu-personne" et je rejette tous les dogmes que je tiens pour des créations humaines. Cela ne m'empêche nullement d'espérer, de tendre vers l'Idéal, l'Un.
Dostoïevsky ne s'est pas trompé, soyez en sûr. Recherchons et cultivons la beauté absolue ! amicalement.
@Stigma Max so in the end Dostojewski is right.
@Stigma Max Out plûtot, ceux que Lui a choisi de sauver. Voir par exemple Éphésians 1:4-5. La question se pose.
@Stigma Max Le "message" divin est la présence de l'Esprit partout, dans l'ensemble du Cosmos. C'est la marque de la présence divine en chaque être. Ce qui demeure après la mort n'est autre que la conscience que nous pouvons (ou non) avoir de cette Présence, en nous, certes, mais aussi en notre prochain. Je crois comme Teilhard de Chardin à la convergence des Pensées ( des "âmes" ?) vers ce "point Omega" qu'il définit comme le Christ mais qui est pour moi l'Un qui veut reconstituer son Unité absolue. Ce n'est qu'une fusion, La fusion absolue. Tout le reste ressortit de la mythologie. Le "séjour" terrestre n'est qu'un épisode pas bien drôle mais par la faute de l'humanité. J'ai une pensée pour le monde animal si maltraité et je suis convaincu qu'il a sa place aussi dans l'Un. Aïe, je vais me faire pas mal de contradicteurs !!! tant pis.
Sang this last night with 8 friends all good readers in Baltimore. It is a monumental work of Byrd and curiously not that hard to sight sing
This gives me goosebumps every time, moves me to tears with astonishment,
Byrd was a genius
Simply superb. Worship that sounds like worship.
Einfach wunderbar❤️
"Sion deserta facta est...Jerusalem desolata est." (6:44)
These haunting passages always make me imagine William Byrd, devout Catholic that he was, contemplating the darkness of the fierce iconoclasm of his age.
Perhaps he had entered into a formerly ornate church sanctuary that had been whitewashed and stripped down, statues and stained glass destroyed, in the revolutionary fervor of the Puritan revolt.
Or perhaps, while traveling, he encountered one of the many ruined monasteries stolen by the crown and the wealthy landowners of the Tudor era -- barren, empty stone walls just beginning to be overgrown by ivy and moss.
With his towering musical gifts he was able to channel suffering and sorrow into pure beauty as he composed this exquisite lamentation for what had been lost.
Superb!
Beautiful observation, wonderfully expressed. Thank you.
Excellent supposition which is entirely possible given the time period-ty!
Well said.
You may enjoy my screenplay about the life of William Byrd, which deals with these tragedies: www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQXZ1K9/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_1YSBFbYCPVCSY
I have listened to this video no less than 50 times since I discovered it a couple of years ago. At the risk of hyperbole, I would say that I have never heard either music or performance as "sublime" as this. The word "sublime" is used often referring to performances I often find quite substandard. This performance stirs my heart in a way that very few other pieces or performances do. This is as good as singing gets in this human form. To me, this is what the voice of "God" sounds like! Straight to my heart, bypassing my analytical mind. All of you listening to this,...I know you are moved too. You are hearing "God's" voice through this performance! Peace and LIght to you.
The best performance of the piece I've ever heard. Much slower - two minutes longer than any other performance - turns Byrd's music to a liquid gold! Masterpiece by Masterperformers!
This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.
This is the serenity of the Divine.
As I sit here... Afternoon tea break from remodeling the house... Hard to go back to work with little tears of joyous appreciation... And the goosebumps...
Well this is disgustingly good isn't it? The tuning impeccable, the blend and balance, timing and resonance perfect. It feels suitably intimate and I can imagine Byrd would love to hear his music performed so beautifully.
Knob
@@stephenfurlong7505 why are you calling him a knob?
Can we just stop for a sec to appreciate the perfection and supreme beauty in the mini men's chorus moment at 7:07?!! My soul smiled. Balance, timbre, vowel symbiosis...good heavens that was sublime, tenors and basses.
Gosh, I got goosebumps from this!
That ‘Zeee-on’ might be my favourite moment in all music. I sing soprano in a chamber choir (decent amateur), and the first time I ever sang this piece in a rehearsal (aged 19) there were 2 excellent basses standing behind me. I felt the sound vibrate my bones.
One of those basses, David, died a few years ago. I think of him every time I hear Civitas. We sang it at his funeral. He had a voice like melted chocolate and a wicked sense of humour. The other of those basses, Maxime, is getting married soon. Lockdown has sharpened my appreciation for the crystallised moments of pure beauty and the lifelong friendships that you get from choral singing. I miss it so badly.
In this time of lockdown and social distancing, "Jerusalem deserta est" seems particularly apposite!
THANK YOU!!!...THANK YOU!!!...THANK YOU!!!... AD INFINITUM!!! THANK YOU!!!!....
Изумительно красивое пение и красивые хористы!❤❤
may VOCES8 come to sing in the ruins of Notre Dame de Paris !
Vive La France!!
May they sing in the authentically rebuilt Notre Dame de Paris!
Don't just rebuild the church. Rebuild the faith!!
Then we’d be obligated to invite the fake, secular, empty suit politicians.
Tough call.
Why mess with the speed of the performance at all? I know you only slowed it a little- but it’s visually obvious that the video was recorded faster and has been slowed down a click or 3 in production. Guys, I think this poor practice and is akin to the way Google enhances those photos they use as screen savers. Is gives an artificial quality to the sound and isn’t improving any part of the video. Plus, as a choir director myself, I think it’s more helpful to the choir “industry” to be completely honest in delivering your actual sound- not an idealized sound without a disclaimer.
It sounds like velvet to my hears. Magnificent.
thank you
“The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, the most moving... And even the greatest virtuoso in the world will never be able to give you even a fraction of the emotion that a beautiful voice can give you. That is our share of the divine.”
― Anna Gavalda
Joe R, what a lovely and moving moment. Thank you for sharing it. How blessed your Granddaughter is to have a Grandad who exposes her to this beautiful, noble, and God-honoring music. God bless you and your family!
Along with all the praise for VOCES8 and William Byrd--all of it so well deserved--I'd like to praise the audio engineers, the videographers, and the video editor. Fabulous production in these videos!
Absolutely magnificent. What beautiful voices. No rush...no hurry... just wonderful music.
The word that always comes to mind with this group is balance. It's incredible. That and their uniform ability to match vowel placement is impeccable. That's what separates them from most other groups.
A deep expression of love, beyond human words. Your voices touch at the core of our very being. Thank you!
Superb. The passage at 6:45 - “Sion deserta facta est” followed by “Jerusalem desolata est” is surely one of the finest moments in all of British choral music, here rendered immaculately. Thank you, VOCES8.
Yes, I come back to this spot again and again. If I can write even a few phrases of music so true in my life...
I thought the same thing. I listened to this for the first time yesterday--along with several others--and this morning I remembered that part especially. Amazing.
@@nelsonmartinmusicawe inspiringconnie fitzelle
Perhaps in ALL music.
When God speaks, it is music; for each communicates to each other as well as to those with ears to hear.
Why does God need to speak? An almighty would directly share awareness with all creation. There is no evidence of this. Why must beings choose or reject eternal truth? Has Brahma in truth forgotten his unity? Conditioned delusion is not verifiable analysis.
@@rabokarabekian409 Intellectual analysis can get in the way of experiencing God.
Celestial!!most beautiful harmony beyond belief...I call this “holy music”!THANK YOU VOCES8
the togetherness choral music brings is just magical. Their music inspires me often
To the blokes, between you, you must just about cover every octave. To the Ladies, you are angels and to all of you, it is heaven to hear you and NEVER stop what you do.
Such a glorious performance with incredible control, blend, contrast, pitch and balance delivered with sensitivity beyond words. Thank you for this purely spiritual personal experience.
Listening to these voices,my heart begins to be calm,my brain starts to throw away its mess and my emotion takes back its passion and joy …
Thank you God and eight voices !
This group's praise washes my soul. Thank you.
Incredibly beautiful specially in these times of musical poverty. Congratulations from Buenos Aires.
William Byrd, together with Palestrina, reflect the best of Renaissance!
Well, a good representative SAMPLING of the best of the Renaissance. John Dowling and his exquisite lute compositions, John Taverner (an insanely under-rated composer!!), Thomas Tallis (as in Spem in Allum and a TON of totally fantastic stuff), the Gabrielli boys if you like brass music, the myriad secular Chansons and Madrigals (King's Singers do madrigals like almost nobody else!!), Ockeghem (another under-rated bloke!!), Josquin des Prez (some of his stuff is EVERY whit as good as anything Palestrina wrote)..... the Renaissance covers 250 years of WONDERFUL music, and hundreds of composers whose music has survived the ravages and misfortunes of hundreds of years and made it possible for us to enjoy heaven on earth here in the 21st century.
I agree 200%
… never heard this piece in nowhere near warm, touching and expressive way before. I can not but listen to it over and over again and each time it leaves me speachless near to tears. Sublime performance second to none!
Not a performance. A true joyful noise unto our Lord.
So beautiful. Thank you so much. I think we will all miss hearing Eleanore's magical Soprano. All of the best to her.
Ihr seid atemberaubend. Tief berührend. Danke.
So beautiful, so heavenly performed: it is really jaw dropping!
For this be a mere glimpse of what the voices will be like singing in God's heavenly kingdom!!!
This is it. There is no more. And it's good enough. More than good enough.
You have touched my soul.
Had the amazing pleasure to see them recently at Bradford on Avon. What pure musical refinement, and great joy and amazement to finally see them perform, confirming all these comments below. They helped carry many of us through this lockdown!
2022 in Atlanta GA...what a performance!
Can you imagine how many tears were shed upon the raging rapids of songs like this before recorded music?
Music of the heavens.
Voces 8 in superb imperious form, quite simply the best performance of one of music's great compositions - respect
They are not performing. They are genuine. They sing with spirit.
@@jdbreaux8080 what do you mean they are not performing? and what did I say that inferred they weren't genuine? of course they're genuine
I've listened to this so many times now...so incredible!
Heavenly.
gorgeous
Csodálatos mű és gyönyörű hangok. ❤
This sound was created in heaven and is manifested through these totally beautiful voices...absolutely magnificent!
Don't be ridiculous. Get a grip on reality.
Don't like the sounds of heaven, then "GO TO HELL, ASSHOLE!"
@@UkeOne
Ah, the instant vacuous 'christian' response.
Are you demanding 'respect'?
Try this instead:
th-cam.com/video/P4dSiHqpULk/w-d-xo.html
+UkeOne How very christian of you. Sadly, these are the sounds of people, not heaven. A man created this music and men and women are singing it. Heaven is not required.
@DaveDexterMusic The singing IS heavenly!
You're being a dick.....and John Walker is an arsehole.
You emboldened "new" atheists are insufferable, easily triggered bores.
spine chillingly beautiful..
I’ve never heard female singers sound like a trumpet before and the unison between the two sopranos is astounding. The intonation in general is so good it’s scary. And the Byrd is beautiful - I don’t think enough people know he could write like that.
Thank you so much for bettering my day with your music. Such a blessing! I couldn’t hold my tears back any longer. Such beauty in all of your voices and coming together as one. Such perfection!
Such harmony.Almost ethereal.💜
I've watched and listened to this so many times now, and I still can't get over parts of exquisite beauty scattered throughout:
The resolution of the harmony from 7:00 to that 'est' at 7:05. It's so hard to believe there is no instrument other than multiple, richly layered, smooth-as-silk human voices here (my ears still expect a pipe organ or strings to be in the background).
And then there's that rumbling, majestic bass starting at 7:07, goodness me!
The 'desolata' section from 8:17 to 8:50 and thereabouts is heart-wrenchingly poignant. What makes it even more beautiful is seeing how the singers' expressions match it so well (8:30!).
Absolutely beautiful performance, thank you so much!
Stupendous intonation, phrasing, light and shade and atmosphere. Hats off to vices 8!
Très,très beau motet de Bird et quelle merveilleuse interprétation de ce formidable ensemble qu'est Voces8, découvert par hasard: certainement la plus dépouillée mais aussi la plus "poignante"!!! MERCI pour ce moment d' extase...
I'm unabashedly a fan of choral music, but this is one of those rare pieces that makes me feel connected to the divine, just by listening.
God bless you Voces8
Sigh... Listening once again. Just beautiful.
Incredible performance. It transports me to another realm where God reigns and we are safe and secure. What a blending of voices!
Great music, exquisitely performed, will find its audience. ❤️
I'm drowning in a pool of my own tears. - Jerry of San Diego
wunderschön!
Voces8 has played a significant part through their TH-cam videos, in helping me get through the COVID19 restrictions. Many, many thanks for all your exceptional recordings.
Music from another world - with a wonderful performance - magnificent.
I keep coming back to this recording. This is the best of the best choral sound! The blend, balance, and intonation are amazing. As a countertenor myself who sings in a mixed alto section, I'm impressed by how well the male and female altos blend with each other and with the rest of the ensemble.
I am also a CT and really enjoy singing in a "half and half" alto section when sopranos are the top part. IMO this works for all periods of music, not just early, with the possible exception of the Verdi Requiem...
However, there's also something very special about all CTs singing the Superius (or Medius) part in Renaissance polyphony with high tenors on Altus (or Contratenor) - witness v=yZe16Mpsmg8 (Lobo, Versa est in luctum - Gabrieli Consort), v=T1MjiR5EG88 (Ribera, Vox in Rama - Continuum), v=m8Cw-i-IyM4 (Vivanco - De Profundis)
Have enjoyed following your collaborative music and song for years.
It always just touches my inner being, and I thank you.