Libera @ Sacred Heart Curch, Bournemouth, UK

[Yorkie]

I'm guessing the pictures that Libera just posted are from their visit to Bournemouth. As far as I can tell, all the photos seem related to that and not to any other activities like preparing to record an album.

https://twitter.com/officiallibera/stat ... TG4ogqAAAA

Yes, definitely from today - no hint of an album yet.

[Yorkie]

Thank you for sharing! They did an excellent job. Not surprised they did the "Sanctus"

I thought the Sanctus was excellent. I was surprised that the priest described them as a professional choir. I know in many aspects they could be judged to be so but at heart Libera is a family of like minded individuals who love the tradition of choral singing. They have professional standards, but they are (thankfully) a million miles from sometimes cold world of professional for financial profit singer's.

[Surpinto]

I wonder who sang the solo on the "Gloria" (from the Messe Brève by Delibes). I tried to listen carefully several times, but could not identify the voice.

I thought the Sanctus was excellent. I was surprised that the priest described them as a professional choir. I know in many aspects they could be judged to be so but at heart Libera is a family of like minded individuals who love the tradition of choral singing. They have professional standards, but they are (thankfully) a million miles from sometimes cold world of professional for financial profit singer's.

They are exceptionally professional and well-trained. But there has always been heart in the way they are trained. Remember, how in an interview one of the parents said he put his son into Libera specifically because of the kindness and care of choirmasters like Robert as compared to other choirs?

I guess for some musicians the drive towards perfection sacrifices the love of singing and the heart of things in that regard.

[bamboo]

Libera were back in Bournemouth this morning to take part in the Easter Sunday 10.30am service which should be available on the church's website to view later:

#Edit# it's there now:

https://www.bournemouthoratory.org.uk/live-feed/

Go to the recordings tab and you can play it.

Anyone knows the names of the songs sang? I can't quite recognise some of the boys though Johnny's hair is definitely distinguishable!

[bamboo]

I didn't watch the whole thing, but looked through the video looking for the offertory and communion hymns. Here are some approximate times for what I believe they sang, though the boys weren't visible and the ambient noise in the church made it hard to hear:
42:00: Were You There, with solos around 43:00 and 44:50
1:08:00: Stabat Mater by Pergolesei (so not the one on the album)
1:12:00: A short song which I didn't recognize
1:13:00: Some version of Ave Verum

Anyone can help me identify the boys shown from 26:48 to 27:35 in this video - https://www.churchservices.tv/bournemou ... AnDjqyZZOw

[Yorkie]

Seems that some of the boys were back in Bournemouth on Sunday (I assume to do some further recording work for their upcoming album).

You can find the recording of the Sunday morning service in which Libera sang on the church's website.

https://www.bournemouthoratory.org.uk/live-feed/

[dani]

Ave Verum was sung

[Surpinto]

Ave Verum was sung

Yes it was!! I wonder who sang it. This is a really hard piece.

Unlike last time I'm unable to identify the mass setting. I'm sure there's some AI somewhere I can run the audio through (probably for a fee ), but AI isn't good with audio/video just yet...

[Citlec]

Really difficult to say for sure. The audio quality is just not good enough to get a good handle on the timbre of the voice. I'd be inclined to say Joseph, because to my ear there are certainly hints of his voice in that.

[Surpinto]

Really difficult to say for sure. The audio quality is just not good enough to get a good handle on the timbre of the voice. I'd be inclined to say Joseph, because to my ear there are certainly hints of his voice in that.

You're not alone in this guess as I've heard others say the same; though my ear isn't keen enough to tell. If it turns out to be Joseph, then he's in an even higher league as a singer than I had imagined.

[Mercurial909]

Really difficult to say for sure. The audio quality is just not good enough to get a good handle on the timbre of the voice. I'd be inclined to say Joseph, because to my ear there are certainly hints of his voice in that.

You're not alone in this guess as I've heard others say the same; though my ear isn't keen enough to tell. If it turns out to be Joseph, then he's in an even higher league as a singer than I had imagined.

If not Joseph the only other one could be Thomas M. From what I heard of him at Christmas (and elsewhere) he’s definitely capable.

[Citlec]

Really difficult to say for sure. The audio quality is just not good enough to get a good handle on the timbre of the voice. I'd be inclined to say Joseph, because to my ear there are certainly hints of his voice in that.

You're not alone in this guess as I've heard others say the same; though my ear isn't keen enough to tell. If it turns out to be Joseph, then he's in an even higher league as a singer than I had imagined.

If not Joseph the only other one could be Thomas M. From what I heard of him at Christmas (and elsewhere) he’s definitely capable.

Yes, it is possible it could be Thomas. What a coup that would be, the Mushrafi brothers really making that song their own. Given the popularity of Freddie's version, (3.3M views on YT) I'd not be surprised if Libera want to bring that back for the concerts in Japan and maybe SJSS. Whether it is Thomas or Joseph or someone we haven't thought of, I'd be delighted to hear it live again! *crosses fingers and toes and Amazon Prime's some four-leaf clovers and rabbits feet*

[Luckdragon]

If not Joseph the only other one could be Thomas M. From what I heard of him at Christmas (and elsewhere) he’s definitely capable.

I would love for it to be Thomas, but Joseph is the only one I can think of who has proven to have that kind of range and control at the moment. He's also a year younger and would (theoretically) have more time to master and maintain it. However, I'm totally open to being shocked and surprised.

No joyous remarks about the return of Deep Peace? I thought it was the song that sounded best over that audio.

[john45]

If not Joseph the only other one could be Thomas M. From what I heard of him at Christmas (and elsewhere) he’s definitely capable.

My money is definitely on Thomas. The crystal purity of his voice and his seemingly effortless control reminds me of TDL.
Besides, it's in his genes.

[Mercurial909]

If not Joseph the only other one could be Thomas M. From what I heard of him at Christmas (and elsewhere) he’s definitely capable.

My money is definitely on Thomas. The crystal purity of his voice and his seemingly effortless control reminds me of TDL.
Besides, it's in his genes.

Absolutely!
Plus he’d have been hearing Freddie practice it at home, maybe sang along with him, knows the song inside out.
The voice in Bournmouth sounds more mature than Joseph’s. Thomas will be 14 on his next birthday so his voice will have matured a bit since Christmas.

And actually Thomas does have very good range given the major solo he was chosen to sing elsewhere earlier this year. Plus he hits notes so purely just like his brother and his namesake,TDL.

It’s just that Libera has decided that the Hill brothers will dominate the soloing for the foreseeable, which means that Thomas and others don’t get to show the full breadth of their talents. Seems like history is repeating itself given how late they realised just what a phenomenal treble talent Freddie M had.

Apologies, I don’t mean to shade anyone. The Hill brothers are marvellous. I just feel that Libera have always had boys whose talents got lost in pecking orders or between age groups.