VOCES8: 'Laudibus in Sanctis' by William Byrd

VOCES8 sings William Byrd's motet 'Laudibus in Sanctis' in the VOCES8 Centre in London.

TEXT
Laudibus in sanctis Dominum celebrate supremum,
Firmamenta sonent inclita facta Dei.
Inclita facta Dei cantate, sacraque potentis
Voce potestatem saepe sonate manus.

Magnificum Domini cantet tuba martia nomen,
Pieria Domino concelebrate lira.
Laude Dei, resonent resonantia tympana summi,
Alta sacri resonent organa laude Dei.

Hunc arguta canant tenui psalteria corda,
Hunc agili laudet laeta chorea pede.
Concava divinas effundant cymbala laudes,
Cymbala dulcisona laude repleta Dei,
Omne quod aetheris in mundo vescitur auris,

Halleluia canat, tempus in omne Deo.

TRANSLATION
Celebrate the Lord most high in holy praises:
Let the firmament echo the glorious deeds of God.
Sing ye the glorious deeds of God, and with holy voice
Sound forth oft the power of his mighty hand.

Let the warlike trumpet sing the great name of the Lord:
Celebrate the Lord with Pierian lyre.
Let resounding timbrels ring to the praise of the most-
high God,
Lofty organs peal to the praise of the holy God.

Him let melodious psalteries sing with fine string,
Him let joyful dance praise with nimble foot.
Let hollow cymbals pour forth divine praises,
Sweet-sounding cymbals filled with the praise of God.
Let everything in the world that feeds upon the
air of heaven
Sing Alleluia to God for evermore.

Paraphrase of Psalm 150

[CaptConvent]

This piece is over 400 years old, and this is probably the most perfect performance in it's history.

[j.b.zippro]

Most beautiful rendition of Psalm 150 I ever heard...

[Elias_Crim]

Has anyone else noticed that this video is beautifully edited to capture the entrances of different voices in quick sequence? So much better than simply putting the camera on random singers with no attention to the score!

[magikarpolycarp]

Renaissance choral music = the pinnacle of western civilization

[homhomtube]

Diese Aufführung beinhaltet so Vieles: subtil den Byrd'schen Kraftlinien mit Freude nachspüren, sehr überzeugender Ausdruck innerer Bewegheit ohne falsches Pathos, einfach wunderbar,
was für ein Geschenk an uns!

[pederbolstad]

William Byrd just sat up and said, "That is what I heard in my head!"

[TrevorJones-fe]

This is just about the most perfect I have heard from this already perfect ensemble. Bravo. Wonderful, beautiful.

[martinfalls]

Joy, Joy! Thanks, VOCES8. Just look at the fun they're having presenting this beautiful motet! Thanks, William Byrd. Love & joy to all. Our time here is so short. Let's get it where we find it. - Obscure choral singer

[terryscott]

Bet William Byrd wouldnt believe that such a wonderful choir would be singing his glorious harmonies almost 4 centuries after his death. Incredible performance. Incredible composer.

[graemeroberts]

Voces8 always reminds me that I am vastly grateful to be alive in a miraculous world in which men and women can sing in harmony. Pure joy!

[ralphwagenet]

Great music, wonderfully sung with a twinkle in your eyes - what more fun could there be than that?

[riverwildcat]

Marvelously complex and rich. Sterling performance!

[Inuyashagirl]

There has never been and probably never will be a more sublime instrument than the human voice

[chiefkev]

I discovered VOCES8 last month and cannot stop listening to them. So good for my soul! Massive blessings to you all!

[nerdguy]

A lot of health problems in our family right now. But this is healing and reminds me that I live in God's grace and love.

[RalphLooij]

When you think you have a favourite recording of this piece, suddenly this recording appears. Just perfect; clarity, transparency!

[larrymiller]

I sit captivated as I listen in High-Fidelity Stereophonic sound. This is the stuff voces8 excels at. They make it look easy, as if they were just handed the charts and started singing. This is their meat and potatoes, their steak and gravy, their cake and ice cream. And they are having fun.

[counselor]

They love what they are doing. It’s easy to love singing when you’re this good at it.

[josecanale]

Voces8 is a group of angels that live with us.

[denekaraus]

Byrd, Bach, they sadly never heard their works performed so very beautifully as this.