This poem, this composition, this ensemble, this performance, this recording is the absolute pinnacle of choral music. Unforgettable. Transporting. Celestial.

It's good to hear a virile "mature" sound out of college students. Lovely. Well done!

Great choir, Great pianist, Great conductor, Great composer!!!

I appreciate the strong male start and through the entire piece that enfolds the female parts throughout.Wonderfull!

Rene Clausen arrangements always take me to a heavenly place. I believe he could make me cry with Yankee Doodle - or just about anything he arranges. He inspires the best in his choirs. What a gifted man.

Such an amazing well grounded bass section

I attended Concordia from 1975-79 while the legendary Christiansen was directing the choir. I am always so proud to hear this choir perform -- they are the very best. The Agee poem upon which this piece is based always makes me think of the north country. Gorgeous stuff.

Absolutely beautiful!!

Our choir is singing this at a service honoring in our search for a new minister. It is an extraordinary musical statement of the awe our Congregation is beginning to feel in finding a spiritual leader for our church. Barber's piece is so profoundly mystical and yet conveys, for me, a community response that is so universal to the mysteries all around us. John Marohn, Co-chair UUCB Ministerial Search Committee

Absolutely lovely and beautiful! Lovely and rich men's section. We are singing this in my church choir for our Christmas Eve carols and candlelight service.

The choir did a really stellar job here, but I wish to talk about the piano accomp. Polyphony with Director Stephen Layton did this piece with Morten Lauridsen at the piano as did The Singers with Lauridsen also at the piano. Yet this is THE best accompanist that I have heard play this piece. So ABSOLUTELY musical, even more so than the composer. Concordia is lucky to have such a talent. He should play MORE for people. Like a Bach at Midnight concert again;) Great job Dr. Clausen!

The bass and tenor section were quite lovely!

I absolutely love the Concordia Choir - have seen them in concert on more than one occasion. For the purposes of "Best Lauridsen", I'd also like to suggest the version of this piece by the University of Utah Singers. Also fabulous!

I was expecting the Samuel Barber setting, and this is magnificent! "Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder..."

im going to singing this in my high school choir. i hope we sound this glorious.

This is north country music. Vast, breath of steam, black and white landscape forever and a sky canvas splashed with magnets. Thank you Mr. Lauridsen and the poem by Agee on which all was built.

So incredibly beautiful! I love all of Lauridsen's pieces but this is my very favorite, as are the words of Agee's poem. Thank you! I listen to this over and over again on a regular basis.

I got the privilege of singing this song twice last weekend..with the group i sing with.(115 of us..).i am so Blessed...

This is truly lovely! the blend is exquisite, thanks for posting!

The tempo to me is superb I am also able to hear everything.The sound is crisp and dynamic.

that opening phrase is one of the most difficult ive ever had to sing... they nailed it.

Pure perfection...

Really beautiful. Nice work! Men's voices sounded amazing.

Okay, so this was a GORGEOUS rendition, the choir is incredible, and I love Rene Clausen, but did anyone catch the amazing bit of camera work and choral cooperation that covered up when the girl in the front row got dizzy and sat down, and the girls around her covered for her so there wasn't a hole in the row? (Around 2:30)

Achingly beautiful!

Morten is pure genius....

Absolutely magnificent! Thank you so much!!!

How blessed I am to not be cursed with a trained ear that just seeks perfection so I can just enjoy the pure beauty of this.

This piece is deeply moving and not of this world,.I think it is a small slice of paradise!

Just amazing. Thank you for sharing Maestro.

a tingle performance. shivers.

very perceptive by Robert. I shared this with some friends in my recovery program after telling them James Agee's history and how alcohol probably contributed to is passing. There were no dry eyes. It is a secular piece but it should be canon. In a few short words Agee comments on all of life's journey. Morten Lauridsen is such a genius as to add his voice and only enhance and make more magnificent the mood of the poem. I am in tears reflecting again, this a.m.

Beautifully done! So inspiring.

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.

I am pretty big on Rene Clausen and the stuff Concordia does. The music is just a perfect mix with those 57 words Agee penned. I return to this piece and "Prayer" now that they are on here. Both exquisite as is this performance.

Love this interpretation.

I've never been to this Concordia College but I am a graduate of Concordia University in Chicago where I graduated in church music and organ with a Master's.

Magnificent !!!

Masterful performance!!!

Love expressed through music that brings a tear to my eye is never anything less than perfection. My only criticism is with the corrective commentaries. Live performances set their own tempo, are never without blemish and must be heard to be appreciated. The audience cannot turn up the volume.

Fantastic rendition - inspired me to program this great piece again!

Millikin University Choir does the best rendition of this song, in my opinion. It is perfection!

I love this vibrant performance.

Beautiful......

So beautiful

Incredible!

Beautiful

Love it

Lovely!

im gonna sing this in church ; P

Fantástico, muito bom

Well done!

this is music

sigh❤️

This is such an awesome piece, I am only disappointed to find that was was not written as a Christmas piece, although I know some choirs have used it as such, and I can see why they would want to. It was not even written as a spiritual piece, but rather secular, according to the cover of the sheet music. Nonetheless, it just sounds like something that would be incredibly beautiful in a church setting.

💕

Sure on this shining night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground. The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Wandering far alone Of shadows on the stars.

Did you notice the redhead in front insert herself at 5'? She was there at the beginning, but then at 2:42, you see the front row discreetly shuffle to the right to fill in her spot? Odd...

Tempo was a little too fast most of the time. Rubato was a bit much. Beautiful tone, as usual. Tenors rocked! This is truly one of Morten Lauridsen's best pieces. Lovely!

Long live the tonic pedal point. Who needs sharps and flats?

One of the better recordings of this I've seen/heard! There are, however, 3 things that (in my opinion) would've made this better: 1) The tone quality was superb - from the ladies and basses. The tenors sounded a little bright a few times. 2) This song is supposed to sound somewhat mysterious and awe-inspiring. You can't really make that kind of magic when it's sung mezzo forte most of the time. SHH!!! 3) In addition, you can't make that magic when you speed through it. I almost felt like it was rushed a bit. Take it slower. Let it sink in. Other than these things, this was a great performance :)

Excellent version of this fabulous song........but........ in my humble opinion I think the version by the Nordic choir on You Tube is better. It is lighter in tone and has clearer part singing.

You guys sound great, I would rather it be at a slower tempo for more flow of those notes that have to be held and more flow of each part. This may also help with those with poor breathing. But you guys sound great.

We wish you a merry christmas art as need dewahtere SS

@gr14632 Amen to that. lol

Lighten up choir. This is not a heavy but a rather delicate piece.

GOD DOES EXIST INDEED

I like this performance, but I don't feel any dynamic levels other than forte.

Nicely sung, but it was too aggressively approached in terms of dynamics and tempo. The singers are all fine and capable, but more tenderness and a tempo that is not rushed would have better served the beautiful poetry and Lauridsen's lovely arrangement.