Right Now

[maartendas]

This week I joined my church choir again, after a short break - and we practised our first Christmas song this year The fun for the season has started
Though I don't play Christmas music at home until it's actually Christmas... well, I try to anyway

[Yorkie]

Congrats Maarten, I only wish I could sing. I'm happy to play Christmas music at any time of the year and I was listening recently to the first Libera Christmas album and it just keeps getting better and better. I don't think I appreciated it enough at the time it was released. Their version of O Holy Night is unbettered I think.

[TullyBascombe]

The 2011 or the 2013 version? I think I slightly prefer the 2011 version. Their version of Still, Still, Still and Carol of the Bells that year were excellent also.

[Yorkie]

The first one, 2011

[maartendas]

A wonderful thing happened to me yesterday. On my way home after some errands, I passed the Protestant church on the main street of my hometown. The doors are normally closed but now they were open. Curious, I looked inside and saw there were many lights glowing. It looked beautiful and I decided spontaneously to go inside. As I passed through the door, it was warm and mostly dark but for the many small candles around the altar. And what I immediately noticed was the music playing in the background: Libera! It was the Christmas album. I was greeted by a lady who handed out tealights and I made my way to the altar to light the one I had been given. I sat in the pews for about fifteen minutes, just taking in the peaceful atmosphere. I am going through a hectic time in my life and this was a wonderful gift of relaxation and peace. How wonderful to be so unexpectedly surrounded by lights and Libera sounds!

[TullyBascombe]

NPR broadcasts an opera from the New York Met every Saturday afternoon, yesterday it was Hansel and Gretel. As far as I'm concerned using adult female sopranos in the parts of the two children is ridiculous, the voices are all wrong. Still the orchestra was sumptuous. I would love to hear Libera sing 14 Angels accompanied by the New York Metropolitan Opera.

[maartendas]

Came home through the snow just before midnight and found Libera's Christmas EP in my mailbox... I say the spirit of Christmas is still with us!

[Surpinto]

Came home through the snow just before midnight and found Libera's Christmas EP in my mailbox... I say the spirit of Christmas is still with us!

Always great to come home to stuff like that waiting for you

[kinda_k00l]

Right now I'm listening to my Libera playlist (apparently).
I am in charge of my local church's children choir and we are rehearsing for our singing in masses every week. I show them Libera and they just love the group *haha, of course!*, some of them are even inspired by Libera to work harder. Am focusing on my own small vocal group too, hope we can be (amateur) classical singers in the *still very very very far* future.

Still making a list of Libera's CDs/DVDs to purchase. Any recommendations? (besides their Christmas in Ireland DVD, I'm getting that for sure)

(I also have to study for my courses at the university, but that's a whole different story and I don't want to even mention it...)

[Surpinto]

Well, why not listen to Libera while you study? I constantly listen to music while working.

The French language Libera forum, Libera Passion, has the full discography of all Libera albums.

Just a note though, you might need to use an online translator if you do not know French. Google translate is good and is you use the Google Chrome browser you can translate the page within the browser by right-clicking and asking for a translation.

Anyway, I recommend starting with "Libera", "Free", and "Hope". The first two because they are great early works to get better acquainted with their music and last one because it's the most recent. You can then fill in the gaps with the others as time and money allow.

[kinda_k00l]

The French website is just pure awesome! The one who has been working on it must be a big fan! I've checked out some songs on the two first album you suggested, they are lovely indeed. I'm also thinking of 'Peace' since it's also a strong one I guess, based on what I've found on Youtube. I'm listening to one of them right now.

About listening to music while studying, it is kinda impossible for me actually. Whenever I listen to music, I always concentrate too much on that alone (like what chord is being used, or where the harmony is going, 'oh this odd note is brilliant', things like that), and get distracted from whatever I'm doing.

[andmar]

The French website is just pure awesome!

Have you checked the German site http://www.libera-songs.de/ too? It's great and it is actually so easy to navigate, that you can use it without knowledge of the German language.

[kinda_k00l]

Have you checked the German site http://www.libera-songs.de/ too? It's great and it is actually so easy to navigate, that you can use it without knowledge of the German language.

I have checked it out, after having read your reply. That's a great one too (especially the information about the soloist(s) of each song).

[andmar]

Have you checked the German site http://www.libera-songs.de/ too? It's great and it is actually so easy to navigate, that you can use it without knowledge of the German language.

I have checked it out, after having read your reply. That's a great one too (especially the information about the soloist(s) of each song).

Yes, it is. And you have information about different versions of each song (first publishing year, lineup, soloists, on which CDs that one particular version appeared) and often interesting remarks about songs. The remarks are available in German only though.

[Prototype]

Right now I am browsing this and the photography forum while listening to Libera (currently playing is Twilight from Free)