Voces8, the premier performers of sacred music, are back with an absolutely awe-inspiring hymn, released just days ago. The piece is a contemporary hymn from the pen of composer Jake Runestead, with lyrics drawn from early 20th-century English poet Alfred Noyes.
It is likely many listeners will be unfamiliar with the piece, “Let My Love Be Heard” as it is a relatively recent composition, put to paper around the time of the 2015 terrorist attacks on Paris. On his official website, Runestead explained that the song was first performed by the choir of Cal State Long Beach, which had just performed a vigil for Nohemi Gonzalez, a Long Beach student who was killed in the Paris attacks, the night before.
The day after the vigil, the choir was supposed to start preparing festive Christmas music, but conductor Jonathan Talberg did not feel it was appropriate in light of the tragedy. Instead, he passed out a brand new song, “Let My Love Be Heard,” which the choir went over a few times and promptly recorded. This recording was placed on SoundCloud as a memorial to Nohemi. Runestead commented:
“Their musical offering is a powerful outpouring of grief but also a glimmer of light. I am honored that this piece, ‘Let My Love Be Heard,’ has helped to provide hope in the darkness of our world.”
The lyrics were taken exactly as they were written by Alfred Noyes in his poem titled “A Prayer.” While not expressly biblical, the poem is indeed a prayer directed to God, or at least his angels, which makes the song a hymn. The text reads:
Angels, where you soar
Up to God’s own light
Take my own lost bird
On your hearts tonight;
And as grief once more
Mounts to heaven and sings
Let my love be heard
Whispering in your wings
VOCES8 gave a phenomenal performance of this emotional piece. At about halfway through they exhibit exceptional dynamic control, gradually increasing in volume while chanting “Let my love be heard,” until the singers hold a glorious sustained chord at full volume. The subsequent silence after this moment strikes the listener all the harder, for as Mozart said: “Silence is very important. The silence between the notes are as important as the notes themselves.”
Hear more exceptional a capella vocal performances from the true masters of their art, VOCES8, at their official website, YouTube Channel, or just about any streaming service you could possibly use.
And today we celebrate...