28 Singers, Mixed Auditioned Group
I chose this because as a group, the blending and locking of chords is very good. The phrasing is also phenomenal. One particular spot of fluidity is at 2:03 where the women continue right into the next phrase. There are however some issues of blending within the sections, particularly in the altos and tenors. This is particularly evident when it is either just the women, or just the men. I don't quite know how to classify the diction because I am familiar with the song, and it is not exactly the highest quality recording. In general, I think that the "st" sound was a bit much, but it may have been used for a separate reason. It is easy to tell from the sound that most, if not all of the singers (and conductor) are emotionally invested in the piece and have reflected on the text. I believe that this is a recording that I would play for my choir if I had the chance to perform this piece.
I agree with you, Zach. The blend of this ensemble is wonderful. Their tonal blend is great, but also, the diction is incredibly unified for a high school ensemble. The expression is most likely the work of the conductor, but even so, this is a great rendition of a beautiful song.
ReplyDelete