My high school choir had the privilege to sing this song. Over 100 of us. Once we had all learned our parts, our choral director had us rehearse this in the auditorium- in the pitch darkness. He turned all the lights off and just let us sing. It was one of the most haunting and beautiful songs I’ve ever gotten to perform and to do it in the darkness with no other distractions, just the music. Beautiful. It still gives me chills to think about over a decade later.

Eric Whitacre is one of the best choral composers of our time. Voces8 is the perfect group to perform his compositions. Absolutely stunning.

@3:23 and beyond. I can only describe this as “painfully beautiful”. I recall my Mom surrendering sleep for the final time in May of 2019 and I was never the same. Thank God for the gift of music because it expresses what mere words cannot elucidate. It goes far beyond that.

When I was in all state choir in high school, I was part of the TTBB all men’s choir. The SATB choir closed the performance after us that night. as we finished our performance and our director for the night was shaking all our hands, I remember thinking “Wow. This was such an amazing experience. And I worked so hard to get here.” You know, the typical things you think of when you achieve a goal you worked so hard on. But I have a distinct memory of walking back out to find my family who were seated in the audience. The SATB began singing THIS song, sleep, as I walked down the long dark hall and back into the auditorium. It was like a slow motion scene in a movie when the music just perfectly fits the moment. It was so…eerie and haunting. I dont remember any songs that were sang by the SSAA choir, or any other songs that night that the SATB choir sang, and I only remember a few of the songs that we sang, but this song, Sleep, has been engrained in my memory ever since. I don’t know if it’s the haunting harmony, the beautiful words, the vivid memory of that long dark hallway with this being sangin the distance, or what. Honestly, I think it’s because this was the song that was being sang when I saw the look of pride on my moms face when she saw me. She passed away in 2012, but i still see the stage lights reflecting off her smiling face when this song plays and I close my eyes. It’s amazing. 17 years has passed since that night. But every once in a while you hear a special song, and no matter how old you get, you still remember where you were, what you were doing, and even what the air smelled like when you heard it. And to me, Sleep is that song. I’ll forever have a special place in my heart for Eric Whitacre for writing this song and burning it into my soul.

I very rarely comment on KZfaq videos but this really touched me. My dad passed away earlier this year and this was one of his favourite Eric whitacre pieces. He loved Voces8, we went to 2 of their concerts together, the second of which was so extra special and we both teared up. Thank you for much for sharing. Beautiful.

I sang this the year it debuted, conducted by Eric Whitacre. The tension between the soprano and the tenor line is what makes this my favorite choral piece I’ve ever performed. I will never forget performing this. It’s absolutely stunning. And Mr. Eric Whitacre is the composer of the era.

Lyrics: The evening hangs beneath the moon, A silver thread on darkened dune. With closing eyes and resting head I know that sleep is coming soon. Upon my pillow, safe in bed, A thousand pictures fill my head. I cannot sleep, my mind's a-flight; And yet my limbs seem made of lead. If there are noises in the night, A frightening shadow, flickering light, Then I surrender unto sleep, Where clouds of dream give second sight, What dreams may come, both dark and deep, Of flying wings and soaring leap As I surrender unto sleep, As I surrender unto sleep.

Practiced this with my high school choir all spring semester this year and ended up not getting to perform it due to covid. It's so wonderful to hear it again, and done so beautifully. Thank you for sharing

The blend! Even at ppp. I can hear all parts. Dissonant chords beautifully done. Keep these videos coming.

The very best small choir I've ever heard. Easily one of the best in the world.

Still one of my favorites. We sang this my senior year of high school. I remember looking into the audience and seeing my dad crying.

The lower voices at the climax are just ABSOLUTELY STELLAR. other arrangements don’t bring that movement out enough and Good heavens you guys did . AMAZING !!

The chords at about 1:50 elicit the feeling of the absolute mystery of our existence

got me cryin on a saturday night. no but honestly I want this played at my funeral

I sang this piece with the Georgia Honors Program, with 28 specially chosen phenomenal singers. And you outdid us with just 8. I’m in awe of you.

Used to be apart of Chicago Children Choir, yearssss agooo.. But I will never forget this song! When we performed I got the chills , the way it echo in the room. Such a beautiful song It's been about 10 years now if not more and I will never forget.

I was taken to outer space at the climax. I felt the spread of the galaxy. Thank you for your great performance.

lyrics: The evening hangs beneath the moon A silver thread on darkened dune With closing eyes and resting head I know that sleep is coming soon If there are noises in the night A frightening shadow Flickering light Then I surrender unto sleep Where clouds of dream give second sight What dreams may come both dark and deep Of flying wings and soaring leap As I surrender unto sleep As I surrender unto sleep As I surrender unto sleep Sleep

I performed this my senior year with my chamber choir I miss it so badly I graduated 2020 and almost two years have flown by I wish I could be with my classmates one more time, the pure joy we had for music was unbelievable. No one has that feeling anymore and it’s miserable

I listened to this on my crappy phone speaker and could still tell that this was the best version of this song I've ever heard. Bravo!

Extremely interesting and impressive to hear this with only 8 voices. I've been listening to the classic BYU recording for years.

I recently played the string orchestral version of it for a chamber concert, and I absolutely loved every moment of it.

You just transported me to a realm of remarkable relaxation with this performance. Such a delicate and powerful performance. Your voices are truly gifts of beauty!! Thank you.

This music resonates on so many levels triggering so many thoughts and emotions that are unique to the listener. I personally was thinking of Ancient Rome for some reason. Very captivating !

Even as a musician, I can hardly comprehend the quality of the writing combined with the magic of the performance.Truly transportive, sublime, elegaic. Thank you. I truly think this is one of the most wonderful things to exist in the world.

The locations they sing in play such a huge part in how their songs sound too, the acoustics are incredible. Makes it sound like more than 8 people, and then they sing with perfection. 🤯

I sang this song in high school, and it is one of those songs that has always resonated deep in my soul. I come back to it maybe a few times a year to be reminded of how beautiful it is, but also to be reminded of how sacred something can feel. This version is so absolutely lovely. Wonderful wonderful.

I havent heard this piece since i was in high school, brought back so many memories. The choir kid in me loves appreciates this so much

Honestly, probably the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard. It still sometimes brings me to tears, even though the first time I heard it was over 2 years ago now I think

Nice ... Real nice ... Ending reminds me of ending Holst's Neptune ... Bravo VOCES8 ...

Absolutely beautiful...Thank you!

Breathtakingly beautiful!

Simply beautiful. ❤

This. This is magic. It’s so beautiful it brings me to another world.

I've had the privilege to be conducted by Eric Whittaker singing sleep and it was the most magical experience. The whole choir just sparkled under his masterful grasp of subtle movements. He signed my manuscript book and I've kept it close to my heart ever since. I also had a fun opportunity to look after Voches8 in a festival I was helping run. Apart from them being an insanely crisp ensemble, they are some of the most delightful people to be around. We had so much fun and I can't wait for the next time we meet.

Such wonderful harmonies, harmonies that shouldn’t work, work with such beauty c

Superb acoustics!!!!

This is beautiful. I just adore this song. Especially your rendition of it. My absolute favourite your group performs

Absolutly great, wonderful voices, applause.

first intro to this music, absolutely total skill turned into passion!

my high school band played this. i can still remember playing it. mostly the end. i was last chair flute n was really the only one able to do the lowest note we had.

Absolutely amazing! So transcendent and stunning, yet sublime. Thank you for perfecting this piece Voces8!

One of the best ( if is not the best ) performances I ever heard... always come back to hear again. Thanks so much for your dedication! 🥲😇

This piece is beautiful and hearing your performance only made me love it more. Absolutely gorgeous!!!

Przedsionek Nieba. Gratuluję. Jesteście wspaniali.

The Dynamic 8! working together to bring the best of the best. Thank you so much.

Gorgeous, thank you.

oh my !! the best interpretation I've heard of this piece yet ! wow, thx, superb

Couldn't agree more - adore his work, and their perfectly blended voices

C’est magnifique! Tellement d’émotions dans votre interprétation! Bravo! Merci.

WOW...just...WOW! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Un coro fantástico. Inspirador.👏👏👏🌹

Amazing you guys are so great I saw you perform in st Michael Minnesota

Amazing piece of music, spine chilling

Magnificent

we sang this last year in my high school choir and sometimes we'd take it into the foyer which has amazing acoustics and echo and it was literally magical

The chord at 3’38” is as good as you are ever going to hear it.

love the ending...wow

this is SO good

Beautiful piece🌹💕

Amazing 🙏🏻have tears... Special thanks to composer.

Sublime 😭

Beautiful.

We sang this in high school and even though we sang it beautifully, I think we were detached from how gorgeous this piece really is. That was truly beautiful.

i sang this last year in my choir as an alto and it was absolutely beautiful

Wonderful!

Thanks for sharing this. Great pleasure to see this artistic dedication to harmony and perfection!

showing this to my music class!

I haven't heard this piece in awhile (a few years at least) Yesterday a close family member died, and yesterday this video appeared on my recomendations.

Captivating ❤

I can never ever get tired of this wondeful song!

Superbe. Quand j'ai un coup de blues, j'écoute ce groupe et notamment ces compositions de E. W.

I’m not crying you are 😢

Minute 3-4 is still the most beautiful writing I’ve ever heard

So well done. Loved the dissonance right around 3:37. Nice and crunchy! You guys are the epitome of what a good madrigal group should sound like. You literally are setting the modern standard for small vocal ensemble work and as someone who is 65 years young and has been singing this style of music since the early 1980's, it's SO refreshing to see it being done properly! Bravo tutti!

Beautifully delivered and musically blended into perfection and deep personal affect

Brilliant

Splendid

Thank-you. THANK-you.

I don't know which is more phenomenal, the opus or the performers! Heavenly! The clashing dissonances, so difficult to perform, executed flawlessly. My my. I've listened to a few of your videos in the past, I can't believe I haven't subscribed before NOW!

A couple kids did this for small group. They performed it today out at small group. It was beautiful

We are singing this for TMEA this year!!

3:36 the perfect balance!

Unbelievable!

At 3:40 wow! Absolutely beautiful!!

Que afinación....., como lo consiguen....., no deja de asombrarme cada obra que muestran. Gracias

Exquisite

Good night ❣️

listened to this just before going to bed tonight . . . perfect 'lullabye' . . . thank you 😊

My phone speakers don’t do this justice at all

Dear Eric , I just loved ❤😁

Thank you.

You are very good and Whitacre is really brilliant! My choir sang "Sleep" during one of our last performances. Write this in the search: you will love it for sure! Corale Novarmonia - Sleep (E. Whitacre)

La canción como tal es hermosa, pero en las voces de ellos es única. :') Es mi versión favorita.

Just perfect! Q - what kind of e-books do you use - I am looking for something bigger than the usual due to old eyes and notes beginning to flutter (as well as the scores)

Literally one of the most beautiful songs to showcase functional dissonance

Well-now That's the best I've heard y'all Do!!! You do great Anyway, but ... THAT was something MUCH closer to Definitive. SUPER nice job. ***

@3:34 I’m undone. Lord have mercy!

❤️

The evening hangs beneath the moon, A silver thread on darkened dune. With closing eyes and resting head I know that sleep is coming soon. Upon my pillow, safe in bed, A thousand pictures fill my head. I cannot sleep, my mind’s a-flight; And yet my limbs seem made of lead. If there are noises in the night, A frightening shadow, flickering light, Then I surrender unto sleep, Where clouds of dream give second sight, What dreams may come, both dark and deep, Of flying wings and soaring leap As I surrender unto sleep, As I surrender unto sleep.