An exquisite, deeply sensitive, subtle and alive rendition of Rest by RVW, with an impressive range of very fine voices, captivating in their rich harmony, and perfect expression of those most moving and challenging words, made real, made sense of, by the sublime music, and not least a choir guided and raised to a pinnacle of achievement by Olga Spriggs.
Im in a mixed select choir at my school and we're doing this and this is the first time I'm hearing it in full because my teacher played it for the class a day I was not there and it is SO BEAUTIFUL im a tenor 2 for this.... basically just tenor though because there Is only like 1 split between tenor 1 & 2.
TEXT (Christina Rossetti): O Earth, lie heavily upon her eyes; Seal her sweet eyes weary of watching, Earth; Lie close around her; leave no room for mirth With its harsh laughter, nor for sound of sighs. She hath no questions, she hath no replies, Hushed in and curtained with a blessed dearth Of all that irked her from the hour of birth; With stillness that is almost Paradise. Darkness more clear than noon-day holdeth her, Silence more musical than any song; Even her very heart has ceased to stir: Until the morning of Eternity Her rest shall not begin nor end, but be; And when she wakes she will not think it long.
Exquisite performance. I first heard/sang this piece at a high school district or regional chorus festival in 1977 or '78. The text grabbed me at the time and never left. When my mother died in 2000, I asked that the text of Rosetti's poem be read graveside at her burial. But even though it was only being read, in my mind, I was hearing this setting!
Death is hard to accept. This piece leads us towards that in the most serene and subtle fashion. Beautifully sang.
Brought tears to my eyes. Sang this in high school in about 1974. Beautiful.
So did I at McLane High in Fresno, CA in 1974! Sam Barkman, director. Did we sing this together?
I sang this in high school in 1990. I still love it to this day ❤
Exquisite. This should be the reference recording.
Yup!!
An exquisite, deeply sensitive, subtle and alive rendition of Rest by RVW, with an impressive range of very fine voices, captivating in their rich harmony, and perfect expression of those most moving and challenging words, made real, made sense of, by the sublime music, and not least a choir guided and raised to a pinnacle of achievement by Olga Spriggs.
Im in a mixed select choir at my school and we're doing this and this is the first time I'm hearing it in full because my teacher played it for the class a day I was not there and it is SO BEAUTIFUL im a tenor 2 for this.... basically just tenor though because there Is only like 1 split between tenor 1 & 2.
TEXT (Christina Rossetti):
O Earth, lie heavily upon her eyes;
Seal her sweet eyes weary of watching, Earth;
Lie close around her; leave no room for mirth
With its harsh laughter, nor for sound of sighs.
She hath no questions, she hath no replies,
Hushed in and curtained with a blessed dearth
Of all that irked her from the hour of birth;
With stillness that is almost Paradise.
Darkness more clear than noon-day holdeth her,
Silence more musical than any song;
Even her very heart has ceased to stir:
Until the morning of Eternity
Her rest shall not begin nor end, but be;
And when she wakes she will not think it long.
Haunting and gorgeous poetry
Love this piece
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Exquisite performance. I first heard/sang this piece at a high school district or regional chorus festival in 1977 or '78. The text grabbed me at the time and never left. When my mother died in 2000, I asked that the text of Rosetti's poem be read graveside at her burial. But even though it was only being read, in my mind, I was hearing this setting!
Really rather well executed indeed!