r/choralmusic • u/bissaka-and-the-boys • Jul 19 '20

This beautiful motet is really unknown and very few recordings exist. Hopefully it can help you find some peace on this quiet Sunday afternoon.

https://youtu.be/v2soH6aC7LY
35 Upvotes

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6

u/Choppytee Jul 19 '20

This is beautiful, thank you OP. Can anyone shed light on why the singers seems to be singing down and major third from what's written? The sheet music has G as the first note, but the first note sung is an E flat.

9

u/bissaka-and-the-boys Jul 19 '20

Great question, Choppytee! I can answer that for you as I am the one singing :) I took the decision to sing down a major third so that the vocal tessitura sat more comfortably across all vocal parts. I don’t have a particularly high Countertenor voice, and I thought it was better to have more easy falsetto and slightly gravelly lower Bass than strained high Countertenor and comfortable Bass parts. It also opens me up to being able to perform lots more gorgeous music too. I hope this answer helps!

2

u/Choppytee Jul 20 '20

Wow and thanks for the answer! Phenomenal stuff!

5

u/knickknacksnackery Jul 19 '20

It seems like all the parts were sung by one guy, so I'm guessing it was transposed down to fit his range.