One of his most captivating works is sleep, a choral a cappella setting of charles anthony silvestris poem of the same name in the video above, the eric whitacre choir hums a wordless version of the introduction to sleep. Enjoy the best eric whitacre quotes at brainyquote. Grammy awardwinning composer and conductor specialising in choral music one of the most popular musicians of his generation graduate of the. Eric whitacre conducted a wordless version of sleep. He has also written a large number of wind band compositions and some electronic music. His pieces are sung and played around the world by thousands of choirs and instrumental ensembles, and his innovative virtual choir productions have been viewed over 15 million times. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Eric whitacre has spent most of his career conducting traditional choirs. The virtual choir is a global phenomenon, creating a usergenerated choir that brings together singers from around the world and their love of music in a new way through the use of technology. Since i first fell in love with choral music when i was 18 and began composing at 21, ive been listening to these recordings of british choirs. January 15, 2017 my thoughts on why we sing, and why it is so important. Eric went on to the juilliard school, earning his master of music degree and studying with pulitzer prize and oscarwinning composer john corigliano.
Including popular songs lux aurumque, the marriage, the seal lullaby, and sleep. I dont know if it is a spiritual, physiological or psychological phenomenon, but i believe now more than ever that singing is a universal, builtin mechanism designed to cultivate empathy and compassion. Eric whitacre is one of the mostperformed composers of his generation. September 28, 2006 tom schnabel is in love with the work of choral composer eric whitacre. Eric whitacre american composer born on january 02, 1970, eric whitacre is a grammywinning american composer, conductor and speaker, known for his choral, orchestral and wind ensemble music. Relive the eric whitacre singers performance at the. I know this text from the eric whitacre piece, sleep. In addition, he has composed works for orchestra and an opera, paradise lost. Download for free in pdf midi format, or print directly from our site. Today, he has published more than four dozen choral works, conducted in some of the most esteemed halls in the world, and featured on dozens of. The evening hangs beneath the moon, a silver thread on darkened dune. Eric whitacre born 2 january 1970 in reno, nv is an american composer of choral, wind band and electronic music.
This is a beautifully crafted a cappella work for satb choir divisi. Eric whitacre sheet music free download in pdf or midi on. Then, in 2009, a fan video posted to youtube sparked a crazy idea. Eric whitacre has 15 books on goodreads with 43 ratings. Addedtone sonorities in the choral music of eric whitacre. It was completed in 2001, and has been performed countless times since, including by whitacres virtual choir.
In a moving and madly viral video last year, composer eric whitacre led a virtual choir of singers from around the world. After that heartbreak and disaster, whitacre looked around for an alternative piece, and it wasnt second best. Addedtone sonorities in the choral music of eric whitacre angela hall follow this and additional works at. About deep field latest music catalog recordings shop events contact mailing list the. Quotations by eric whitacre, american composer, born january 2, 1970. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Sleep eric whitacre by choral music published on 20110928t21. Voces8 performs sleep by eric whitacre in st stephen walbrook church in london. Born in 1970, he studied composition at the university of nevada, las vegas and the juilliard school with notable composers including john corigliano and david diamond. Eric whitacres most popular book is pirates of the caribbean. Listen eric whitacre singers at the cathedral of st. Eric whitacre sheet music books sorting and filters. Grammywinning composer and conductor eric whitacre is one of the most popular musicians of his generation.
A cappella this expressive, lush choral work by eric whitacre combines an enigmatic text and expansive chordal harmonies into a sublime musical statement of release and quiet resolve. I just fell in love with that sound that pure, clean, pristine sound and i think its probably been the biggest influence on my sound. The composer, after long deliberation, decided to ask his friend and brilliant poet, charles. He talks through the creative challenges of making music powered by youtube, and unveils the first 2 minutes of his new work, sleep, with a video choir of 2,052. This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by washington university open scholarship. Eric whitacre is currently considered a single author. Emi music publishing, ascap, latinautor, adrev publishing, and 8 music rights societies. An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, eric whitacre b. From the composer of the much performed cloudburst, here is a new collaboration between eric whitacre and poet charles anthony silvestri, drawing on the mystical moment between awareness and sleep. This a cappella collection of pieces for mixed choir by eric whitacre is the first available printed music compilation of its kind for the composer. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide.
Eric edward whitacre born january 2, 1970 is an american composer, conductor, and speaker known for his choral, orchestral, and wind ensemble music. Sleep eric whitacre by choral music free listening on. They toured with a program called music for sacred spaces, and they gave an amazing performance at the cathedral of st. Many of whitacres works have entered the standard choral and symphonic repertories and have become the subject of several recent scholarly works and doctoral dissertations. What dreams may come, both dark and deep of flying wings and soaring leap as i surrender unto sleep as i surrender unto sleep. He is also known for his virtual choir projects, bringing individual voices from around the globe together into an online choir. Its a sublimely beautiful piece which i have had the pleasure of performing in the past. This hardcover book is a new way to enjoy and share the poem, with lavish illustrations by anne horjus. Eric whitacre is an american composer best known for his choral music. In our catalog, you can find eric whitacre sheet music for piano, drums, flute, saxophone, trumpet, guitar and almost any other. Without silvestris words, the crunchy harmonies under the main melody sound even more heavenly. See new and popular eric whitacre songs, uploaded by musescore users, connect with a community of musicians who love to write and play music. His second album on decca water night featured many of his orchestral and entered the classical charts at the no.
Part of a series of interviews i did with music retailer j. With a text by celebrated american poet charles anthony silvestri, it is a particularly moving perspective on the journey into sleep and, finally, to dream. Eric edward whitacre born january 2, 1970 is an american composer, conductor, and. Then i surrender unto sleep, where clouds of dream give second sight.
Download and buy printable sheet music online at jw pepper. Eric whitacre news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message. The text was originally written to accompany whitacre s enormously popular choral work sleep. His choral works and band works have rapidly become accepted. Eric whitacre is one of the bestloved composers and directors active today. Youll find a wide selection of eric whitacre sheet music, songbooks, and music books at sheet music plus. If there are noises in the night, a frightening shadow, flickering light, then i surrender unto sleep, where clouds of dream give second sight, what dreams may come, both dark and deep, of flying wings and soaring leap as i surrender unto sleep, as i surrender unto sleep.
They discuss the text and compositional techniques. Eric whitacre sheet music and music books at sheet music plus. He has also served as a guest conductor for ensembles throughout europe, asia, australia and the americas. Last year, eric whitacre brought his awardwinning u. Eric whitacre, eric whitacre singers licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of decca umo. Find related search and trending suggestions here this is a beautiful slow tune if you do not yet know the music of eric whitacre, then this is a good one for that reflective moment in your programme. Eric whitacre began his music career singing in his college choir. The music was originally composed to set the words of robert frosts poem stopping by woods, but owing to complex legalities involving the poets estate the work had to be withdrawn. For a modern composer, whitacres choral music is surprisingly.
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