Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - 'Lux Aurumque'

Last summer I asked my choral director if we are ever going to sing Arvo Pärt and she said, well we are singing Whitacre next year. With my impending Europe trip, I did not jump at the computer and research this unknown to me composer. I wish I had though. When I finally had to part with the Duruflé requiem and welcome the music of Eric Whitacre into my life, I was amazed by such beautiful music that seems to float and move. He also seems to be a genuinely nice person and is quite in touch with musicians and singers, now that surprises me, because my experience with musicians is different (with the exception of the wonderful and humble John Cage).

So anyway, I don't want to delve deeper here but share this fantastic idea of Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir. Composer Eric Whitacre and producer Scott Haines called people to record their voice part of Lux Aurumque directed by Whitacre. Six scholarships were awarded. It was very exciting, because they were announced on different days and the chosen singers were just brilliant. So all in all, Haines mixed the 185 voices on 243 tracks with people from 12 countries and produced this wonderful music video. Haines did a superb job, because the sound for sure transcends little computer microphones. They must be wizards.



Beyond the wonderful music and the novel idea, this is a perfect example of the potential good of the internet. The power of music as the universally understood language married with the possibilities of modern technology bring together people from different backgrounds and beliefs, cultures and races and unites all in a moving piece of music. This is the second video of this kind, last year they also did Sleep with Virtual Choir. I hope this is not the last Virtual Choir project, I would love to attempt a part myself. For now though I am happy to sing five of Whitacre's pieces this spring with Sounds of Stow.