Libera Dreams

Here comes a list of questions I thought I would like for Libera fans to answer

Mine are below !

The song you (probably) listened to the most :
Underrated song in your opinion :
Song they should do a new record of :
A song they should bring back on stage :
Underrated soloist :
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough :
The song you (probably) listened to the less :
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing :
A song that made you cry :
A song that helps you relax :
Favourite Christmas Song :
Christmas Song they should bring back :
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it :
Boy you liked to see on stage :
Boy you think left too soon :
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera :
A song connected to a special memory from your life :
Song connected to a special concert performance :
A song you get to pick a future soloist for :
A song you did not like from the start but now you do :
A song you still don't like as much as the others :
A song you loved but you've heard too much :
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song :
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) :
Can you sing it well ?
A song you know the lyrics by heart :
A song you would like a video clip for :
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to :

The song you (probably) listened to the most : I am the day, if I believe my Itunes account (I do)
Underrated song in your opinion : Ave Verum (Free)
Song they should do a new record of : Never Be Alone
A song they should bring back on stage : Jubilate Deo or, a more recent one, Come My Way
Underrated soloist : Jaymi Bandtock from the Angel Voices albums
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough : Merlin Brouwer
The song you (probably) listened to the less : Song of enchantment (can't even hum this one)
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing : One Voice
A song that made you cry : In Paradisum (Beyond)
A song that helps you relax : Sempiterna
Favourite Christmas Song : Veni Veni Emmanuel, tie position with Gaudete
Christmas Song they should bring back : White Christmas
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it : Spem in Alium, Thomas Tallis
Boy you liked to see on stage : Cassius Collard (smiley face) or Dominik Clarke (serious devotion)
Boy you think left too soon : Well, Cassius Collard
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera : Cormac is the obvious choice but since everyone knows about him, I am going with Andrew Johnston
A song connected to a special memory from your life : Ave Maria Caccini/Vavilov, I got a huge pain in my back, and my sister, a physiotherapist, came to my place to help, and she asked me what was this wonderful music we were listening to
Song connected to a special concert performance : Do not Stand by Leo Barron and Gabriel Collins, 2017 Westminster
A song you get to pick a future soloist for : Agnus Dei, with Morgan or maybe Ben Hill
A song you did not like from the start but now you do : Silencium (I love it so much now)
A song you still don't like as much as the others : O Lord Support Us, though I do enjoy it from time to time
A song you loved but you've heard too much : Sanctus
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song : Come My Way, Tadhg Fitzgerald
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) : Smile
Can you sing it well ? I think I'm doing a fair job
A song you know the lyrics by heart : Song of Life
A song you would like a video clip for : At Sea
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to : Sancte

Getting mine in early before everyone else's responses make mine look like ill thought out, uninformed rubbish.

The song you (probably) listened to the most : ooh. Either "Ave Verum Corpus" (FM) or "If" (DW).
Underrated song in your opinion : I don't know what others consider underrated.
Song they should do a new record of : Carol of the bells... no, I'm kidding, no idea. Maybe Danny Boy, yep, just re-listened, definitely that.
A song they should bring back on stage : Joyful Joyful
Underrated soloist : Daniel Catalogna
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough : Daniel White
The song you (probably) listened to the less : *stack overflow error*
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing : Bright Eyes - but maybe get Sam to update the arrangement a bit
A song that made you cry : If
A song that helps you relax : several
Favourite Christmas Song : I Saw Three Ships
Christmas Song they should bring back : O Holy Night
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it : Britten's Ceremony of Carols with dual performances in Norwich Castle and Wigmore Hall. Yes, that specific.
Boy you liked to see on stage : Oliver Mycka - his first concert was my first concert and in those first couple of years he was one of very few singers I could name/recognise
Boy you think left too soon : Daniel Catalogna
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera : Joseph McManners
A song connected to a special memory from your life : Sanctus
Song connected to a special concert performance : Ave Verum Corpus (Freddie Mushrafi)
A song you get to pick a future soloist for : Thomas Mushrafi - Ave verum Corpus
A song you did not like from the start but now you do : Lighthouse
A song you still don't like as much as the others : hmmm, I'd rather not answer, lol.
A song you loved but you've heard too much : Libera
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song : I simply don't have enough knowledge of soloists before 2015 to answer.
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) : hahahahahaha, oh, that's funny. Wait, are you serious?! Fine... No Libera songs, but legend has it there is a recording of me singing "Billy Elliot - Deep Into The Ground" It will only be heard again at the end of days, so hearing it, is one of the harbingers of the apocalypse.
Can you sing it well ? Rofl, no. Apparently Dante got the idea for the "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" inscription on the gates of Hell, after listening to me sing.
A song you know the lyrics by heart : none
A song you would like a video clip for : I Saw three Ships (I had a vague idea to do an animated one myself, that clearly never came to fruition)
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to : Nightwish - The Day Of... with onstage choir :p

I ended up answering in my initial post, I thought I was quoting but I was editing...

Citlec, well done on Deep Into the Ground It's a nice one !
Also, your last answer

I feel like I'm too much of a newbie to do this at the risk of being the Jon Snow (you know nothing!) or the Jar-Jar Binks (object of derision in an entire galaxy) of this panel discussion. But maybe I've seen enough old You tube videos of past members to comment so here goes.
The song you (probably) listened to the most : Ave Verum
Underrated song in your opinion : can't say. They all have their merits.
Song they should do a new record of : Love and Mercy- this song is too cute for words
A song they should bring back on stage : Love and Mercy
Underrated soloist : Nathan S.
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough : Freddy M.
The song you (probably) listened to the less : If
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing :Going Home
A song that made you cry : Lullaby
A song that helps you relax : Ave Verum- esp. while driving in LA traffic!
Favourite Christmas Song : Carol of the Bells
Christmas Song they should bring back : Silent Night
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it : Laudate Dominum
Boy you liked to see on stage : Dom
Boy you think left too soon : Neo
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera :Cai Thomas
A song connected to a special memory from your life : one year is too short to say
Song connected to a special concert performance : from the one in Lincoln- Sacris Solemnis was powerful
A song you get to pick a future soloist for : Lascia ch'io pianga
A song you still don't like as much as the others : If
A song you loved but you've heard too much : none,it's all good
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song : I think it's funny to call guys in their early 30's ancient (kettle=black?) but Ave Maria by Caccini by Ben P.
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) : not going there
Can you sing it well ? nope, flat as a pancake
A song you know the lyrics by heart : Amazing Grace
A song you would like a video clip for : 2022 Sacris Solemnis
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to :pretty much all of them but Cum Dederit

Sooooo many questions I'll give them a try though for the fun of it.

The song you (probably) listened to the most :
"Stay With Me" was my favorite song on the Free album and I've been listening to it since it was first released 20 years ago It was just such a unique song with new age, classical, and other elements - not to mention the use of a drum kit. It got me through the ups and downs in my life at that time. As I hadn't returned to it in ages, because of the abundance of albums in the last number of years, I decided to listen to it as I respond here And I'm reminds me why I love it so much.
Underrated song in your opinion :
I'm forced to list several that seem to get little attention:"Ave Virgo", 'Lament", "Salve Regina" which I find so beautiful but it is not a fan favorite, and "Venite Adoremus" which I also love but which others find less appealing.
Song they should do a new record of :
"Angele Dei". There have been quite a few soloists who nailed that song such as Rocco or, more recently, Morgan.
A song they should bring back on stage :
"Joyful, joyful" because it's just such a great song but they need to keep the descants like on the original live recording/DVD in the US.
Underrated soloist :
That's a tough one. Everyone has favorite songs and favorite soloist on that song but I can't think of a boy who was just totally underrated. I can think of a few soloists who were overrated....but we won't go there today
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough :
Merlin and Rocco. Both had in my view really nice voices and had lots of amazing solos in concert, but I wish they had done more in recordings at the time
The song you (probably) listened to the less :
"Stabat Mater"
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing :
Off the top of my head? "Sailing" or "Bailero". I'd have to really take a deep dive into the AV songs again which I haven't done in years at this point to give a better answer.
A song that made you cry :
"If"
A song that helps you relax :
"Ave Virgo", "Lead Kindly Light", and "Venite Adoremus"
Favourite Christmas Song :
Wexford Carol, no question
Christmas Song they should bring back :
Still, Still, Still
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it :
"There is a Balm in Gilead" is a beautiful piece. Here is another famous choir singing it as captured from their livestream during a service.

Boy you liked to see on stage :
Can't say. So many are just a joy to watch as they're very concentrated on their singing or expressive in line with the song. I would say that Freddie M on "Ave Verum" last summer was the most compelling in the way that he was just so focussed and in control.
Boy you think left too soon :
Not sure....
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera :
Can't say exactly but as was suggested about Comac that seems like a good choice given that he sings a lot of cross over as well as classical.
A song connected to a special memory from your life :
"Joyful, Joyful" the first time I saw Libera live as it was their opening song and made me really happy!
Song connected to a special concert performance :
There are so many now The "Joyful Joyful" above as well as "Nearer My God to Thee" when it was done a capella live a few times was amazing, "Exsultate" which played in my head after it was sung for hours afterwards in St Louis in 2017.
A song you get to pick a future soloist for :
Too difficult for me!
A song you did not like from the start but now you do :
"Stabat Mater"
A song you still don't like as much as the others :
"The Lamb"
A song you loved but you've heard too much :
"Vespera"
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song :
Liam O'Kane on "If" would love to hear the contrast with Daniel as they have some overlap in their singing style and vocal range.
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) :
As the famous prayer goes: "O god make speed to save us"
Can you sing it well ?
Yes, I can sing nothing quite well
A song you know the lyrics by heart :
Too many to count
A song you would like a video clip for :
"From a Distance"
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to :
"Venite Adoremus"

The song you (probably) listened to the most :Sanctus (over 120 times in concerts alone)
Underrated song in your opinion : Lead Kindly Light
Song they should do a new record of : Evening Falls (Thomas M solo with added harmony arrangement)
A song they should bring back on stage : Ave Verum (the other one)
Underrated soloist : Gabe Collins
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough : TDL
The song you (probably) listened to the less : Amazing Grace
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing : Sailing
A song that made you cry : If
A song that helps you relax : Be Still my Soul
Favourite Christmas Song : Still,Still,Still
Christmas Song they should bring back : Wexford Carol
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it : Totus Tuus, Gorecki (shortened).
Boy you liked to see on stage : Victor Wiggin
Boy you think left too soon : Benjamin Wevill
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera : Laurence Kilsby
A song connected to a special memory from your life : Sacris Solemnis (Dublin)
Song connected to a special concert performance : Ave Verum, SJSS, December 2022
A song you get to pick a future soloist for : Dreaming of Home, Thomas M
A song you did not like from the start but now you do : The Lighthouse
A song you still don't like as much as the others : Santa Will Find You
A song you loved but you've heard too much : The Fountain
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song : ??
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) : Happy Birthday to You
Can you sing it well ? no
A song you know the lyrics by heart : Happy Birthday to You
A song you would like a (new) video clip for : Footprints
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to : Jerusalem

The song you (probably) listened to the most : Sanctus ( all versions )
Underrated song in your opinion :Touch the Sky
Song they should do a new record of : Recordare
A song they should bring back on stage : Ave Verum
Underrated soloist : Ed Day
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough : Ed Day
The song you (probably) listened to the less : Stabat Mater
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing :All Through the Night
A song that made you cry : Lullabye
A song that helps you relax : Sempiterna
Favourite Christmas Song : In the Bleak Midwinter
Christmas Song they should bring back : Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it : In Dreams
Boy you liked to see on stage : All of them!
Boy you think left too soon : James Mordaunt
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera : Cormac Thompson
A song connected to a special memory from your life : San Damiano
Song connected to a special concert performance : Still no concerts for me
A song you get to pick a future soloist for : Tallis Canon, Morgan
A song you did not like from the start but now you do : How shall I sing that majesty?
A song you still don't like as much as the others : Santa will find you
A song you loved but you've heard too much : Smile
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song : Liam O' Kane, At Sea
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it) : Most of them since I'm a former choirister and a light soprano.
Can you sing it well ? Yes!
A song you know the lyrics by heart : They're too much honestly
A song you would like a video clip for : I’m Dreaming Of Home
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to : Mysterium

Citlec wrote: ↑<span title="Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:41 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : If

john45 wrote: ↑<span title="Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:14 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : If

Surpinto wrote: ↑<span title="Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:02 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : "If"

"I'm not crying, you're crying!"

When I was writing those answers, I realised I hadn't listen to the song in a while, so I did.

Still got a bit moist-eyed.


Loving reading all the different responses and ideas.

Citlec wrote: ↑<span title="Wed Aug 21, 2024 12:39 am">3 months ago</span>

Citlec wrote: ↑<span title="Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:41 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : If

john45 wrote: ↑<span title="Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:14 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : If

Surpinto wrote: ↑<span title="Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:02 pm">3 months ago</span> A song that made you cry : "If"

"I'm not crying, you're crying!"

When I was writing those answers, I realised I hadn't listen to the song in a while, so I did.

Still got a bit moist-eyed.


Loving reading all the different responses and ideas.

There's a surprising bit of unexpected overlap in the answers to some of these questions!

That's a lot of questions! In the time that I first saw and and started to thinking about some answers I can see a few of my fantastic ideas have been stolen (looking at you John with Evening falls). Because I'm somewhat sad I had already thought about this song being performed at a concert. In my mind it took place at the start of the second half, when the cathedral was darkened, very much like Mysterium. I have imagined that it could actually be sung by a lone boy starting at the back of the nave and walking towards the stage (so he is coming from behind the audience) or possibly as a duet with one high in the pulpitum and the other singer walking down the nave.

Anyway, I'll try my best to answer your challenge...

The song you (probably) listened to the most: This is difficult because I tend to change my listening habits regularly and songs I fixate on for a while (e.g. Cum Dederit) get replaced by another song (e.g. Ave Verum). Overall though it is probably Voca Me
Underrated song in your opinion : Hmmmh, tricky one. I remember that very few people like The Lamb from New Dawn which I think is Ben's best work. Sorry Surpinto but I have to disagree with you
Song they should do a new record of: I think I agree with everybody else's choices! How about Do Not Standby my Grave and weep. I haven't heard it in concert for years (I could look it up but I think it was perhaps Ralph in Arundel where he sang it from in front of the stage? Probably got that wrong)
A song they should bring back on stage: This one is easy - Mysterium (original version) with the staging from either 2009 or 2010 with organ intro and bridge.
Underrated soloist: I'm not picking a single person here. Everybody that sings is a star. The underrated singers are those guys who don't get to perform a solo but turn up three times a week to rehearsals and provide all those fantastic harmonies and descants.
Soloist's voice you feel wasn't recorded enough: So many people that only got a few recordings and then time or circumstances took away from us. I think I'd have to go to some of the great singers who had their best years snatched away by covid but I won't single one out. After thinking about it some more - Steven Gerahty - best voice ever so could always want to hear more of him even though there is no shortage of his work
The song you (probably) listened to the least: Joyful Joyful (Sorry Surpinto), America the Beautiful, Exsultate
Angel Voices' song you would like Libera to sing: See above - Evening Falls
A song that made you cry: Once an Angel, can't help but think of Robert
A song that helps you relax: Any Libera song really, it's what they do.
Favourite Christmas Song: How to pick one? I also love Still, COTB, Veni Veni, at 9 lessons they do Poor Little Jesus and I love that one, Wexford. Then we had Coventry Carol and Corpus Christie carol. Oh, forgot Silent Night (Three Chefs Christmas show). Love them all. But I'm going to pick O Holy Night as sung by Ralph and Stephan.
Christmas Song they should bring back: What Child is this
A song not from Libera but you would like for them to sing it: The Road Home by Stephen Paulus (as sung by King's). Probably want that at my funeral.
Boy you liked to see on stage: any/all. Yes I'm copping out.
Boy you think left too soon: Don't they all leave too soon? Somebody mentioned James Mordaunt and I could go with that.
A boy chorister not from Libera, but you would have seen him in Libera: James Rainbird
A song connected to a special memory from your life: Probably not what you mean but I always liked Nearer My God to Thee and they released the video on the day my father died so I kind of can't think of one without thinking of the other.
Song connected to a special concert performance: Mysterium (see Ed Day's 2009 version or Ralph and Stephan in 2010). Such creative staging and stellar singing
A song you get to pick a future soloist for: Pass
A song you did not like from the start but now you do: Nothing comes to mind far, I'll keep thinking.
A song you still don't like as much as the others: Ave Maria
A song you loved but you've heard too much: Sanctus
A song you get to pick a soloist for, but it's an ancient soloist who never sang the song: Pass
A song you can actually sing (at least part of it): None, I'm a terrible singer but if it's a non-Libera song I wish I could sing the Baritone in Cornelius' Three Kings
Can you sing it well ? Not at all
A song you know the lyrics by heart: At the risk of plagiarising other's work, it would likely be something From BETM as well!
A song you would like a video clip for: Boring but I would love to have the video of one of those Mysteriums from 2009 or 2010. Or the Voca Me they filmed when recording the Christmas in Ireland DVD but never released. With the bats that TDL awoke from the belfry and all!
A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to: This is actually quite difficult. Looking at the database on Libera Passion there aren't many Libera songs I haven't heard them perform and of the ones I haven't a lot of them I'm not disappointed about! So, it will have to be something quite niche like Three Ravens. I may come back and change it with a little more thought.

Yorkie wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 6:00 pm">3 months ago</span> That's a lot of questions! In the time that I first saw and and started to thinking about some answers I can see a few of my fantastic ideas have been stolen (looking at you John with Evening falls). Because I'm somewhat sad I had already thought about this song being performed at a concert. In my mind it took place at the start of the second half, when the cathedral was darkened, very much like Mysterium. I have imagined that it could actually be sung by a lone boy starting at the back of the nave and walking towards the stage (so he is coming from behind the audience) or possibly as a duet with one high in the pulpitum and the other singer walking down the nave.

OK, that would work very well.

"Do not stand..." was sung at the 2017 Westminster Cathedral Concert, soloist Gabe Collins, descant Leo Baron, Piano Robert Prizeman. Perhaps that was the time you chose to go to the VPT instead?

Yorkie wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 6:00 pm">3 months ago</span> A song you have never heard during a concert, and you would love to: This is actually quite difficult. Looking at the database on Libera Passion there aren't many Libera songs I haven't heard them perform and of the ones I haven't a lot of them I'm not disappointed about! So, it will have to be something quite niche like Three Ravens. I may come back and change it with a little more thought.

There are actually many songs that were never performed on stage, like New Heaven, Song of enchantment, Adoro Te, Anima Christi, At Sea, Ave Virgo (though a corean choir sang it on stage see there ...), Coventry Carol, Jerusalem, Lead Kindly Light... I'm too tired to make a full list

Yorkie wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 6:00 pm">3 months ago</span> That's a lot of questions! In the time that I first saw and and started to thinking about some answers I can see a few of my fantastic ideas have been stolen (looking at you John with Evening falls). Because I'm somewhat sad I had already thought about this song being performed at a concert. In my mind it took place at the start of the second half, when the cathedral was darkened, very much like Mysterium. I have imagined that it could actually be sung by a lone boy starting at the back of the nave and walking towards the stage (so he is coming from behind the audience) or possibly as a duet with one high in the pulpitum and the other singer walking down the nave.

john45 wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 7:31 pm">3 months ago</span> OK, that would work very well.

The boy walking down the aisle in my imagination even had a tiki torch aka Voca Me (for health and safety reasons this could be changed for a candle or lamp )

john45 wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 7:31 pm">3 months ago</span> "Do not stand..." was sung at the 2017 Westminster Cathedral Concert, soloist Gabe Collins, descant Leo Baron, Piano Robert Prizeman. Perhaps that was the time you chose to go to the VPT instead?

Nope, I was at Westminster - it was Arundel 2014 that I skipped for the VPT. Your memory is better than mine but still it would be good to hear at a concert again.

Padmachou wrote: ↑<span title="Thu Aug 22, 2024 8:18 pm">3 months ago</span> There are actually many songs that were never performed on stage, like New Heaven, Song of enchantment, Adoro Te, Anima Christi, At Sea, Ave Virgo (though a corean choir sang it on stage see there ...), Coventry Carol, Jerusalem, Lead Kindly Light... I'm too tired to make a full list

Ahh well, I guess there are lot's not performed live previously, but which is the song that really must be sung in concert? None of those leap to mind as an immediate yes. I guess Coventry Carol I mentioned but I need to remember that really wow song that I'd like to hear. Songs like Voca Me and Vespera that I wished to hear for so long before they finally sung them live.

Surpinto wrote: ↑<span title="Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:02 pm">3 months ago</span> A song you did not like from the start but now you do :
"Stabat Mater"

It took long to see you wise, but at last the world is round again. This song must make it to the live set list.

Anyway, hmm, that's a big pile of questions and plenty of them would be worth an own thread topic. That's why so far I've hesitated to fill in the form. My fun is to then discuss the replies in length and width, because the interesting thing is why we feel the way we replied. It's hard to do that here without "losing the thread".