Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Importance of Diction

You might like this as much as I did . . . also posted on ChoralNet:

I found this here.

A choral director used this video to make a point about the importance of diction in singing.




Here are the actual words - but don't look until you've watched it without them at least once and tried to make sense of it!

1. Blessed city, heavenly Salem,
vision dear of peace and love,
who of living stones art builded
in the height of heaven above,
and, with angel hosts encircled,
as a bride dost earthward move;

2. from celestial realms descending,
bridal glory round thee shed,
meet for him whose love espoused thee,
to thy Lord shalt thou be led;
all thy streets and all thy bulwarks
of pure gold are fashioned.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Most amusing! I used to enjoy this program back when I lived with my parents and had cable. BUT, I couldn't help notice that the "actual words" posted aren't correct either. Jeff apparently referred to the American Episcopal hymnal rather than J.M. Neale's translation of the seventh-century Latin hymn:

Blessèd City, heavenly Salem,
Vision dear of peace and love,
Who, of living stones upbuilded,
Art the joy of heaven above,
And, with angel cohorts circled,
As a bride to earth dost move!

From celestial realms descending,
*Bridal glory round her shed,
To his presence, decked with jewels,
By her Lord shall she be led;
All her streets, and all her bulwarks,
Of pure gold are fashionèd.

*Neale's literal translation of this line untouched by the censors: "Ready for the nuptial bed."

Anonymous said...

hilarious!

Anonymous said...

Dude. That is funny. I'm going to watch it again.