If you look up a live version of this song from them, Kirstie and Kevin sustain that initial note but take a breath together right before the words "That saved a wretch like me". Everyone takes a breath at that time. Then, again, right before "once was lost". Then, again, right before "blind, but now, I see". It doesn't sound strange, in my opinion, when they do breathe.

Matt is featured on Mr. Grinch, O Holy Night, Prayers for this World. His voice is very versatile and beautiful. There is a lengthy interview with him on Peter Barbers KZfaq podcast. He gives a lot of his background and interesting bits about his journey with Pentatonix.

I think the "bagpipe drone" that Kirstin and Kevin are doing at the beginning is one where they both sing most of the time, but there will be a second or so every so often when one of them has to take a breath, which I'm sure they've choreographed to stagger throughout the note. But I'm really glad you picked up on it and mentioned it - so many reactors miss that completely! In this song when Matt is singing his bass harmony, to me he sounds almost identical to the way an old church pipe organ sounds. It's especially evident in the last part of Kirstin's verse, when he doesn't start singing until part way through - but when he does, it really adds to the spiritual feeling of the song. My Chains Are Gone was written in the early 2000s by Chris Tomlin, as an addition to the traditional hymn for the movie Amazing Grace. It has become something of a staple in many church choirs. The video was shot at the beautiful Wayfarer's Chapel in CA. Unfortunately, due to bad weather this past winter and spring, the church and the ground it is on sustained some damage, and is no longer open to the public - and may be closed permanently. 😭

Please, please, please listen to their newest version of Oh Holy Night! Matt really shines.

@tersommers told me things I hadn’t noticed. What I would say is that the depth of Kirstie’s low range seldom gets mentioned. The opening drone here or the opening notes in Kiss from a Rose. Even here, she turns to that rapid vibrato in upper chest range and we forget the drone.

Others have mentioned that "My Chains Are Gone" is by the US contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin, written for the soundtrack of the 2006 film "Amazing Grace", about William Wilberforce and the campaign to end slavery in the UK. I believe various Christian and Country artists were asked to write new versions of traditional hymns for the film. There is a YT of Tomlin performing a solo piano version of the song, and it sounds to me like Kirstie's verse is an arrangement of that. When Pentatonix does their patented arpeggios, it is often to mimic a piano or guitar accompaniment in the original.

This song gives me goosebumps every freakin' time! And I love the surprise of Kevin singing at the end. I can listen to these guys over and over! Thanks for the good reaction/review. I agree with you about Matt - I love his smooth, warm tone and think he's a fabulous addition to the group.

Thanks for the reaction! If u want to hear more of Matt and Kittie's fantastic belt, check out the latest version of O Holy Night. Matt will take u to church!

Yes, Matt it's amazing in O Holy Night! A MUST WATCH!

Chills all throughout this performance. Kirstie Soars! This shows how tiny she is!! Her power in her upper register is AMAZING!! Then the incredible Kevin.

I love that Kevin got to showcase more of his singing voice instead of just doing the percussion noises and he was definitely the right person to close out the song with his beautiful tenor tone. If you want to hear more about Kirstie you should react to their collab with Todrick Hall "Wizard of Ahhs" She sounds absolutely amazing and they also do a lot of new songs and songs in the Wizard of Oz.

One of my favorite songs by them!

There is always - rightfully - so much ooohing and aaahing about Mitch's upper register, but the middle and lower parts of his range are quite lush and beautiful, and it was really nice to hear them featured in this number.

15:01 - 15:03 look at Mitch's left arm between the shoulder and elbow. He actually has wings on his Jacket. There are two other spots One when Matt is singing and they are walking up, and then again right after this at they are walking again. It's only a split second, and I haven't been able to locate them, today. But they are they. I guess he got tired of being called an angel, and so he grew some wings.

The "amazing grace" and "my chains are gone" mashup was done by Chris Tomlin in 2009. It's a very popular mashup.

This is such a beautiful song and they did such a fantastic job.

A quick google search shows a Chris Tomlin was behind the Our Chains Are Gone addition to Amazing Grace. Apparently to show hope, redemption? Anyway, he's a Christian singer? I'm not religious, but I definitely can enjoy the music.

Thank you for reacting to this 😊 One thing that I love (besides all the vocals of course) is during some of Matt’s background, he truly sounds like a bass guitar. I have to remind myself that it is his voice. My favorite group ♥️

Great reaction. I love Pentatonix they are amazing live as well. If you would like t9nhear Matt sing more listen to Pentatonix sing "O'holy night " he sing beautiful. They all do, of course, but he has a large part in this. Have a great day.

Have you heard them sing Carol of the Bells @ Hollywood Bowl, the Christmas version? You don't know how Mitch can hold the notes. Everyone says Breathe Mitch, Breathe! Kiss FArom A Rose and O Holy Night are fire!

There was a phase in worship music about a decade back where they were taking old hymns and modernising them by the addition of a chorus, often altering the meter as well to fit modern sensibilities (as is the case here, taking it from the traditional 3/4 time into 4/4). Chris Tomlin arranged this one, but Scott Wesley Brown and others were contributors to the 'new and improved' hymns. That said, you gotta love how they make it sound like an a capella break in the middle of an a cappella song (:

Great reaction. If memory serves me correctly the initial note was supposed to represent bagpipes ( at some funerals they have bagpipes play Amazing Grace. Their harmonies are gorgeous. I heard them once discuss when they take breaths. In some songs they have to time them so they don’t all breathe at once. Their “music” would end if they all breathe at the same time. I also believe Mitch can circular breathe, meaning he can breathe in his nose while he sings a note. (have heard this) They all shine in this but I particularly love Kirstie’s solo. I believe Chris Tomlin blended in the Chains are Gone. ❤❤❤❤❤

My Chains Are Gone was written for the movie telling the story of Amazing Grace.

Did you notice that at the beginning of the song there was a single continuous note throughout the first verse? This is reminiscent of the drone note on a bagpipe.

Matt's father was/is a music minister at an evangelical church in Baltimore and Matt and his wife attend an evangelical church in Los Angeles, so I suspect he brought the song to Pentatonix. Matt and Avi both have 4-year music degrees. Matt went to Berklee College in Boston where he seems to have concentrated his training on his baritone range with a view to get a Broadway / contemporary pop sound. Avi, of course, trained as a basso profundo. But it seems to me that Matt has recently been training his lower range because, IMO, his lower notes are getting more resonant.

Always the ear candy!!!

I’m pretty sure that the pad in the beginning was done in post. When they do it live, they don’t worry about sustaining the note all the way through. The take air on “saved”, “once” and “blind” so the note stays true. They do, however hold it long enough to take breaths in between phrases, and in 3/4 that’s about twelve beats. Wanna see something crazy? Check out Kirstie, singing “The Disney Love Medley” with Voctave (another incredible a cappella group). She holds the last note (belting) for 16 beats! Incredible!

Alas, I can't carry a tune even if it was in a bucket. But, I do love singing. Your passion is front and center and admirable, much like the 'Fairy Voice Mother's' reaction to "Halleluja". She spoke of their 'arpeggio' use as well, I've never learned so much about harmonic singing than these two videos. TY.

It’s great to hear someone doing an incite full reaction from a technical point of view😊

A google search on the "My chains are gone" part produced this......"The "my chains are gone" part of "Amazing Grace" comes from a refrain written by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio for the movie Amazing Grace. Tomlin was inspired to write the refrain after learning about the movie's subject, William Wilberforce, and reflecting on the hymn's connection to slavery. While initially hesitant to alter such a well-known song, Tomlin discovered that an anonymous verse had already been added to John Newton's original poem in 1790. * The original hymn's lyrics were written by John Newton in 1773 to accompany a New Year's Day sermon. Newton, a former slave trader, penned the words based on his own experience of receiving God's grace and mercy. The traditional melody of "Amazing Grace" is American, and the song's structure is AABABA." Very interesting. Thanks for your really nice reaction.

So so great. I love they key changes at end of Mitch's solo. His solo is in his Amazing lower register. They are all superb in this one. We Pentaholics appreciate you. Greetings from South Africa

The first arpeggio section was when Scott was singing the second verse. It’s more subtle, but definthere. Check it out.😀

Awesome Reaction - Thanks so much!

10:07 One of my favorite textures of Pentatonix's sound is that you almost never hear the exact same sound twice in a song. For example, a different person sings the chorus each time; the person singing high goes low; they change the beat for just one or two bars; they throw in a sudden pause the last time; they change the key; Avi (more often than Matt) sings one bar of notes where he had spent the rest of the song only one rhythm , and several other tricks.

⚡⚡🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥⚡⚡

Catch Mitch's tiny wings!?!

Recommend their O Holy Night video.

It is Christmas in July could you please react to Oh Holy Night from them. I know you are going to be amazed!!!!

This is a Chris Tomlin contemporary Christian artist