VOCES8: This Is My Song (Finlandia) - Jean Sibelius arr. Blake Morgan

VOCES8 performs 'This Is My Song' to the tune of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, arranged here by VOCES8 tenor, Blake Morgan.

TEXT
Vv1&2 by Lloyd Stone, v.3 Blake Morgan

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
*This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

So let us raise this melody together,
Beneath the stars that guide us through the night;
If we choose love, each storm we’ll learn to weather,
Until true peace and harmony we find,
This is our song, a hymn we raise together;
A dream of peace, uniting humankind.

*modified from Stone’s original poetry

[mr.fordnite]

For those that don’t know, the song is a Finnish patriotic hymn that was commonly censored by the Russian government. It was performed under aliases or embedded in other works. Often times when the melody of this tune would appear in orchestra settings, Finnish citizens in the audience would stand up and sing the words together, in defiance of their occupation.

[johnross]

I am the grandson of a Finnish fisherman who emigrated to America with his family. I am in years of honor as I hear this.

[davebradford]

I want this to be sung at my funeral. It is my dying wish that all the people on Earth could know that they are kindred.

[staffanolofsson]

As a Swede, a neighbour to Finland, I just can welcome and love this interpretation. In our times, when all is changing, I also remember old times, when all was changing. This changing is not a new thing. When Sibelius wrote this, Finland also had difficult times. So music perhaps make us remember our history, and our long journey to democracy.

[RamblinRick_]

Fun Fact: After the 9/11 attacks, a service was soon held in the National Cathedral. This song was the centerpiece.

[richardwaugaman]

What a beautiful way to blend patriotism with respect for other nations!

[carollancaster]

Absolutely beautifully done…another goosebump moment from VOCES 8! My late husband was born 6/26/1945 in Helsinki, Finland. He & his parents immigrated to (eventually) Windsor, Ontario. He was very proud of his roots in Finland. My father was a vocal music teacher in Royal Oak (just outside Detroit), Michigan. I remember as a child hearing his high school choir sing this song at their Spring Concert & thinking (as quite a young child) what an absolutely gorgeous song Sibelius had written. Well, many years later, on 6/26/2009 (the day after Michael Jackson had died) I had arranged to have this song played by the pianist as we left the Chapel on our Wedding Day. 2 weeks later my husband would go into surgery to have part of one kidney removed. We thought we had made it through “the difficult part”. But then on 3/8/2020 (at the very beginning of Covid) “they” found the Cancer had had time to spread to both lungs & his brain. So began our very slow downward spiral to his death date-08/29/2022. And we thought that “we had beaten it” only to find out that “we” indeed hadn’t beaten “it”.
So this song will forever remind me of my Finlandian love 💕.

[gehe]

This is a hymn for the whole world. The heartfelt praise for the own country and at the same time recognition that other peoples feel that way too.
"... and we don't want to be above or below other peoples ..."

[avelai]

Hearing this, knowing that people I love are stuck in the Ukraine while russian bombs fall, fearing for their lives and losing everything they have, feels different. The lyrics song say it all: We all may be different, living in different places and countries, but we share so much - the same blue sky, the need for safety and a home, we are one as humankind and share beliefs, hopes and the feeling of love.
Such a beautiful song and such a beautiful message.

[phyhhsz]

Beautiful. Jean Sibelius is a composer forever loved by me.

[joukomaijala]

Wonderful voices, wonderful Finlandia!
Upeita aania, mahtava Finlandia! Greetings from Oulu, North-Finland. 🇫🇮🇫🇮
SLAVA UKRAINI! 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[sophiapostma]

I played this piece in my youth orchestra. It was Mr Piipo's last concert after 20 years of conducting the orchestra. He is 100% Finnish, so this was basically his send-off. It is one of my favorite pieces that I've played and it will always have a special place in my heart.

[spmoran]

A great Irish choir singing for love of the world . Peace is what we desperately need.

[BlueSky-ebsv]

Had to take a deep breath after 4:23. This is so incredibly beautiful. Voces8 must be something between Heaven and Earth.

[jot]

Finlandia is used for the one of the greatest hymns - Be still my soul! I am a Finn/Swede and so love my heritage. Sibelius composed Finlandia and my great Grandfather is in the Sibelius museum "Bagg - Matt" Matts Lindbäck for playing the violin.

[leechumbley]

When I was a child, my father played the symphonic version often. It is therefore bound up with those memories. I am flabbergasted at the beauty and skill with which you sing this piece. A little humour: my father quoted Sibeliius: "I have been all around the world. But in all my travels, I have never seen a statue to a music critic."

[JohnRDallasJr]

Brilliantly executed and cleverly produced. Thank you. With world news growing more disquieting, “This is My Song” sung to the melody of Finlandia, with lyrics by Lloyd Stone, offers more than hints of calming perspective: “This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine. This is my home, the country where my heart is; here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine. But other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine. My country's skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine. But other lands have sunlight too and clover. And skies are everywhere as blue as mine. Oh, hear my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for their land and for mine.” Again, my gratitude for your supreme effort.

[hollyh]

Voces8 - the most beautiful choir I’ve ever heard.

[MeowfaceMusic]

The hundredth time listening to this will be the best.

[GoGerman]

I didn’t know that I needed to cry today, but now I do