Libera
(1995-Present, Safe for All Ages)
12/7/18
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If there’s one regret that I have, it’s that I never took up an instrument as a child, as I was too focused on keeping my grades in check. That’s not to say I didn’t get my music fix in my education; I did the next best thing and became a choir singer. Due to the myriad musical tastes of my various teachers, the repertoire of songs I performed became increasingly eclectic over the years, from Billboard hits and Latin hymns to indigenous chants and Christmas jingles, both instrumental and acapella, and even with props once in a while. By the time I became a second alto in high school, I’d gained a special appreciation for group vocalization in music. Choirs truly remind me of the dedication it takes not only to develop one’s singing voice to artistic levels, but to do it as a team, creating richer, more powerful sounds. And few exemplify that dedication—or that power—better than these boys.
Libera was founded by Robert Prizeman, British composer, graduate of the Royal College of Music, and choirmaster since 1970. Its first members came from the Anglican parish of St. Philip’s, Norbury, in South London, releasing their first commercial album under the name St. Philip’s Choir. In 1990, they released their second, this time under the new name Angel Voices. The group would use both names on subsequent albums throughout the 90’s. It was in 1999 that the group took Libera as its official commercial name, when Prizeman released a CD containing remixes of his song, “Libera”, and the group released what would be their self-titled album later that same year. The Latin singular of “liberare” (“to free”), the name comes from the group’s signature song, based on the Libera Me portion of the Requiem Mass:
Libera me domine de morte
Are you the friend I cannot see
Are you the one who cares for me
It’s only you can set me free
Aeterna
Not only have they toured in numerous countries all over North America, Europe, and Asia, but they’ve even had the honor of singing for two popes: Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, and Pope Francis in 2016. They also became a registered charity in 2007, with a U.S. arm set up in 2014. Soundtrack contributions include the films Shadowlands (1993) and Hannibal (2001), among others, and—one of my personal favorites—soloist Steven Geraghty for the Playstation 2 game, ICO (2001).
Consisting of approximately forty members, ranging in age from eight to sixteen from all over London, most possess unchanged boy soprano (treble) voices, with the lower parts being sung by the teens. As their director, Prizeman strives to emphasize the different qualities and ranges of the boys’ voices, both individually as soloists and together as a group. Prizeman structures nearly all of Libera’s songs in one of two ways. Some pieces, like “Time”, are his own original compositions, his gift for poetic lyrics complimenting the exquisitely solemn nature of the music they are paired with:
I rise in the spark of life, the dawn of all time.
I call to the world still yet to be.
The music is everywhere, in life, in the sea and air
to join in the powerful song of all eternity.
Other times he arranges new songs from classical or contemporary pieces. Regarding the former, I’m especially impressed by songs whose source material was originally instrumental, such as “Air”, based on “Air on the G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “Lacrymosa”, based on the “Aquarium” movement of Camille Saint-Saëns's The Carnival of the Animals:
Lacrymosa
Dolorosa
Voca Me
Libera
Salva Me
You are the voice that calls in the silence
You are the light that shines in the dark
You hold me in any sorrow
See me through every shadow
Salve Me
or “The Fountain”, based on “Prelude in C Minor” by Frédéric Chopin:
Dolorosa, flumenosa, desolata, lacrimabila
Libera projects a distinct aura of comfort and tranquility. Their album covers feature numerous symbols of peace, especially white ones: doves, swans, sunlight, clouds, stars, and snow, just to name a few. They will often perform in their signature white cowls (hooded robes), especially when live. I think Libera means to touch listeners, namely ordinary people, who strive and long for a better world and a better future. The booklets of their first two albums, Libera and Luminosa, features inspirational quotes from various authors and philosophers throughout history. When read together, they seem to present the central theme of their respective album, the first representing freedom:
“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.”
- Voltaire
Free me to fly away
Salva me
And the second representing light:
“The light of the sun is but the shadow of love.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Keep me as the apple of thine eye
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
Keep me as the apple of thine eye
Hide me, hide me, hide me
Hide me, hide me, hide me
Starting with their third album, Free, the quotes were replaced with song lyrics; truth be told, as much as I like knowing the lyrics so I can sing along, I really do miss those beautiful quotes. (Sigh)
With such an air of exalted purity, it may be hard to remember that these boys, like those quotes, are human at their core. They consider themselves as “an alternate kind of boy band” rather than a group of “choirboys”; for all their divine harmonies and musical fame, they are all still regular boys, and they are proud of that. In fact, sometimes they trade their robes in for white or black hoodies with slacks, or even entirely casual clothing in the case of their music videos. And as I mentioned, their catalogue isn’t limited only to church hymns or classical pieces. Speaking from personal experience as well as personal opinion, not many songs transition well to the choir style, especially those of fundamentally differing genres like Rock and Pop. But these kids have the practice of song covering down to a fine art—literally. They add a youthful vigor to the already refreshing “Orinoco Flow” by Enya:
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
From Bissau to Palau in the shade of Avalon
From Fiji to Tiree and the isles of Ebony
From Peru to Cebu, feel the power of Babylon
From Bali to Cali, far beneath the Coral Sea
They bring harmonious virtue to a new level in their rendition of “From a Distance”, written by Julie Gold and popularized by Bette Midler:
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope
It's the voice of peace
It's the voice of every man
“Wayfaring Stranger”, a 19th-century American folk song sung by such musicians as Johnny Cash and Neil Young, is made all the more poignant and melancholy for being sung by children:
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
a travelling through this world of woe
But there's no sickness toil or danger
in that bright land to which I go
And in Celine Dion and Andrea Bochelli’s “The Prayer”, the tear-inducing love and spirituality is flawlessly retained:
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Historically, choirs have been associated primarily with the church. And, in many respects, Libera is no exception. However, they achieve something that few other choirs of this kind have. Their rich, clear vocals and fresh musical approach give strength to words and sounds that emanate from the distant past in order to create a message of hope and peace that can resonate with those living in today’s world. Whether through the caress of a single, soft note or two, or the rush of a glorious harmony, even children are more than capable of reaching people’s hearts as well as their ears.
CREDITS:
All images, audio, and links belong to their respective owners; no copyright infringement is intended.
MAIN THEME:
“The Call” - Briand Morrison and Roxann Berglund
Libera was founded by Robert Prizeman, British composer, graduate of the Royal College of Music, and choirmaster since 1970. Its first members came from the Anglican parish of St. Philip’s, Norbury, in South London, releasing their first commercial album under the name St. Philip’s Choir. In 1990, they released their second, this time under the new name Angel Voices. The group would use both names on subsequent albums throughout the 90’s. It was in 1999 that the group took Libera as its official commercial name, when Prizeman released a CD containing remixes of his song, “Libera”, and the group released what would be their self-titled album later that same year. The Latin singular of “liberare” (“to free”), the name comes from the group’s signature song, based on the Libera Me portion of the Requiem Mass:
Libera me domine de morte
Are you the friend I cannot see
Are you the one who cares for me
It’s only you can set me free
Aeterna
Not only have they toured in numerous countries all over North America, Europe, and Asia, but they’ve even had the honor of singing for two popes: Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, and Pope Francis in 2016. They also became a registered charity in 2007, with a U.S. arm set up in 2014. Soundtrack contributions include the films Shadowlands (1993) and Hannibal (2001), among others, and—one of my personal favorites—soloist Steven Geraghty for the Playstation 2 game, ICO (2001).
Consisting of approximately forty members, ranging in age from eight to sixteen from all over London, most possess unchanged boy soprano (treble) voices, with the lower parts being sung by the teens. As their director, Prizeman strives to emphasize the different qualities and ranges of the boys’ voices, both individually as soloists and together as a group. Prizeman structures nearly all of Libera’s songs in one of two ways. Some pieces, like “Time”, are his own original compositions, his gift for poetic lyrics complimenting the exquisitely solemn nature of the music they are paired with:
I rise in the spark of life, the dawn of all time.
I call to the world still yet to be.
The music is everywhere, in life, in the sea and air
to join in the powerful song of all eternity.
Other times he arranges new songs from classical or contemporary pieces. Regarding the former, I’m especially impressed by songs whose source material was originally instrumental, such as “Air”, based on “Air on the G String” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “Lacrymosa”, based on the “Aquarium” movement of Camille Saint-Saëns's The Carnival of the Animals:
Lacrymosa
Dolorosa
Voca Me
Libera
Salva Me
You are the voice that calls in the silence
You are the light that shines in the dark
You hold me in any sorrow
See me through every shadow
Salve Me
or “The Fountain”, based on “Prelude in C Minor” by Frédéric Chopin:
Dolorosa, flumenosa, desolata, lacrimabila
Libera projects a distinct aura of comfort and tranquility. Their album covers feature numerous symbols of peace, especially white ones: doves, swans, sunlight, clouds, stars, and snow, just to name a few. They will often perform in their signature white cowls (hooded robes), especially when live. I think Libera means to touch listeners, namely ordinary people, who strive and long for a better world and a better future. The booklets of their first two albums, Libera and Luminosa, features inspirational quotes from various authors and philosophers throughout history. When read together, they seem to present the central theme of their respective album, the first representing freedom:
“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.”
- Voltaire
Free me to fly away
Salva me
And the second representing light:
“The light of the sun is but the shadow of love.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Keep me as the apple of thine eye
Hide me under the shadow of thy wings
Keep me as the apple of thine eye
Hide me, hide me, hide me
Hide me, hide me, hide me
Starting with their third album, Free, the quotes were replaced with song lyrics; truth be told, as much as I like knowing the lyrics so I can sing along, I really do miss those beautiful quotes. (Sigh)
With such an air of exalted purity, it may be hard to remember that these boys, like those quotes, are human at their core. They consider themselves as “an alternate kind of boy band” rather than a group of “choirboys”; for all their divine harmonies and musical fame, they are all still regular boys, and they are proud of that. In fact, sometimes they trade their robes in for white or black hoodies with slacks, or even entirely casual clothing in the case of their music videos. And as I mentioned, their catalogue isn’t limited only to church hymns or classical pieces. Speaking from personal experience as well as personal opinion, not many songs transition well to the choir style, especially those of fundamentally differing genres like Rock and Pop. But these kids have the practice of song covering down to a fine art—literally. They add a youthful vigor to the already refreshing “Orinoco Flow” by Enya:
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
Sailway, Sailway, Sailway
From Bissau to Palau in the shade of Avalon
From Fiji to Tiree and the isles of Ebony
From Peru to Cebu, feel the power of Babylon
From Bali to Cali, far beneath the Coral Sea
They bring harmonious virtue to a new level in their rendition of “From a Distance”, written by Julie Gold and popularized by Bette Midler:
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope
It's the voice of peace
It's the voice of every man
“Wayfaring Stranger”, a 19th-century American folk song sung by such musicians as Johnny Cash and Neil Young, is made all the more poignant and melancholy for being sung by children:
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
a travelling through this world of woe
But there's no sickness toil or danger
in that bright land to which I go
And in Celine Dion and Andrea Bochelli’s “The Prayer”, the tear-inducing love and spirituality is flawlessly retained:
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Historically, choirs have been associated primarily with the church. And, in many respects, Libera is no exception. However, they achieve something that few other choirs of this kind have. Their rich, clear vocals and fresh musical approach give strength to words and sounds that emanate from the distant past in order to create a message of hope and peace that can resonate with those living in today’s world. Whether through the caress of a single, soft note or two, or the rush of a glorious harmony, even children are more than capable of reaching people’s hearts as well as their ears.
CREDITS:
All images, audio, and links belong to their respective owners; no copyright infringement is intended.
MAIN THEME:
“The Call” - Briand Morrison and Roxann Berglund
All other tracks are by Libera:
“I Am the Day” (from Free [2004])
“Libera” (from Libera [1999])
“Do Not Stand at my Grave” (from Free [2004])
“Te Lucis” (Based on “Canon” by Tallis) (from Libera [1999])
“Time” (from Peace [2010])
“Air” (Air on the G String by Bach) (from New Dawn [2008])
“Lacrymosa” (Based on “Aquarium” from Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens) (from Luminosa [2001])
“The Fountain” (Based On “Prelude in C Minor” by Chopin) (from Peace [2010])
“Salve Me” (from Libera [1999])
“Vespera” (from Luminosa [2001])
“Orinoco Flow” (from New Dawn [2008])
“From a Distance” (from Hope [2017])
“Wayfaring Stranger” (from Hope [2017])
“The Prayer” (from Beyond [2018])
“Never Be Alone” (from New Dawn [2008])
Download the full 15-minute episode here!
Libera on Wikipedia
Robert Prizeman on Wikipedia
Libera's Official Website
Libera's Official Facebook Page
Libera's Official Twitter Page
Libera's Official Youtube Channel
Libera on Discogs
Buy Libera on Apple Music
Buy Libera on Barnes & Noble
Buy Libera on Amazon
Buy Libera on Ebay
^^ Back to Music, Bands, and Other Creations of Sound
“I Am the Day” (from Free [2004])
“Libera” (from Libera [1999])
“Do Not Stand at my Grave” (from Free [2004])
“Te Lucis” (Based on “Canon” by Tallis) (from Libera [1999])
“Time” (from Peace [2010])
“Air” (Air on the G String by Bach) (from New Dawn [2008])
“Lacrymosa” (Based on “Aquarium” from Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens) (from Luminosa [2001])
“The Fountain” (Based On “Prelude in C Minor” by Chopin) (from Peace [2010])
“Salve Me” (from Libera [1999])
“Vespera” (from Luminosa [2001])
“Orinoco Flow” (from New Dawn [2008])
“From a Distance” (from Hope [2017])
“Wayfaring Stranger” (from Hope [2017])
“The Prayer” (from Beyond [2018])
“Never Be Alone” (from New Dawn [2008])
Download the full 15-minute episode here!
Libera on Wikipedia
Robert Prizeman on Wikipedia
Libera's Official Website
Libera's Official Facebook Page
Libera's Official Twitter Page
Libera's Official Youtube Channel
Libera on Discogs
Buy Libera on Apple Music
Buy Libera on Barnes & Noble
Buy Libera on Amazon
Buy Libera on Ebay
^^ Back to Music, Bands, and Other Creations of Sound