Customer Reviews

Water & Light

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a huge Eric Whitacre fan, so I am always excited about his recordings. So far the best recording of his Choral works is the BYU singers, which is far superior to this recording. My biggest complaint is that nearly every piece from Water and Light is filled with vibrato. I have read some internet postings by Mr. Whitacre himself and he has said that his pieces are best sung without vibrato because the harmonies are designed to fit tightly together. All the vibrato makes the pieces not sound completely in tune (I'm am not saying that these performers are not capable of singing in tune, just that the vibrato makes the harmonies not quite as strong)

Eric Whitacre has taken the contemporary choral music world by storm. Since the release of his collected a cappella works CD (recorded by BYU Singers/Ron Staheli), choral music fans cannot get enough of his music.

Being such a fan, I bought this CD on a whim. I was excited for the opportunity to hear recordings of several pieces not included on the BYU recording (Little Birds, She Weeps Over Rahoon, Five Hebrew Love Songs).

Whitacre's music is as aurally stunning as it is difficult to sing, and the Choral Project does an adequate job of re-interpreting these pieces. If you've gotten use to the excellent quality of the BYU recording, you may be disappointed by this album--the balance and blend of this choir leaves something to be desired at times (not to mention the overly-offensive vibrato from several of the sopranos).

Perhaps the best track on the album is the Ticheli (mostly known for his band/wind ensemble compositions) "There Will Be Rest". If you aren't familiar with this piece, it's worth buying the album just to hear this one...

All-in-all, it's worth buying this album as long as you don't set your expectations too high.

As the previous reviewer, I'm a huge Eric Whitacre fan. If you're looking for a recording of his Five Hebrew Love Songs (which are stunningly beautiful), may I recommend "Beautiful River" by BYU Concert Choir (on Tantara Records). In comparing the two side by side...well there is no comparison.

I bought this CD because I had been looking for recordings of "Five Hebrew Love Songs," "She Weeps Over Rahoon," and "Little Birds," and wouldn't cha know this CD had all three! I was afraid this group would suck, but they don't! They are an excellent choir. These three songs are great, and so is every other song on the CD.

The A Cappella compositions by Eric Whitacre on this CD are very well sung. They aren't as good as the BYU Singers' performances of these peices, but they come very close. Out of 10, the Choral Project sings these extreemly challenging peices at a 9.7. On "Cloudburst" they use little diaphramatic attacks to bring out things I have never heard before in this peice. My only big complaint is that they sing "Sleep" way too fast. Slow down and let the beauty of the peice unfold!

As for the second half of the CD, it is great as well. Each peice is interesting and captivating, and they are all sung extreemly well. I especially loved "O Magnum Mysterium" and "There Will be Rest." I have sung both and know how challenging they are.

I loved this CD! It is deffinetly worth the purchase.

P.S. If I have spelled somthing wrong of done somthing gramatically incorrect, my apologies. Don't think it is a reflection on my musical knowledge.

Truly dissapointed with this one.

Of course, BYU's is better than this; the sopranos sound like they have an average age of 60.

The soprano section lives in some wierd dichotomy. During the "Agnus Dei" you get a particularly bad B-52 like vibrato, then during the 7/8 section of "5 Hebrew Songs" they sound like a mediocre State School College Choir with a breathy unsupported sound. Both instances weren't out of tune. They just lacked a firm foundation.

When the soloists in "Tonight Eternity Alone" come in with shocking vibrato and lack of professional musicality, I actually skipped ahead.

If you are looking for a great cd other than BYU's. Try the CD entitled "Cloudburst", sung by Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton on Hyperion Records. It will blow you away. Save your money on this one, unless you would like to use this CD to compare the differences between it and either BYU or Polyphony.

Paying a premium fee for this CD, I expected something a bit better than an average grade semi-professional choir.

Daniel, find some new sopranos if you want to continue to sell CD's for $17 a pop.

I don't know what these people are talking about. I've heard the BYU cd and it leaves me cold. The tone is so pure and thin that it has no life to it. The Choral Project breathes life into these pieces by Eric Whitacre. Another winner is Frank Ticheli's "There Will Be Rest". Simply stunning. A fabulous CD!