Libera

The distinctive sound of Libera has travelled the world in the last several years. The group's albums have topped both mainstream and classical charts in many countries, including the USA and the UK, where the recording spent several weeks in the top three alongside Bocelli and Pavarotti. The talented singers of Libera come from a variety of different schools and backgrounds and join together at a church in South London, where they rehearse and perform for many hours each week. The youngest is seven. The oldest members are fourteen, but many remain to sing with the lower voices of the group. Alongside their unique Libera music, the boy singers enjoy a wide repertoire from classical and cathedral pieces to works for pop and media productions. In recent years they have sung on films like 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Hannibal' and with singers like Bjork, Elton John & Pavarotti. On TV and Radio they have appeared with Dame Edna, Cliff Richard and Russell Watson, and even recorded music for a forthcoming Playstation game.

In concept, Libera is both ancient and modern. Although the vocal sounds have their roots in cathedral and monastic music, Libera is a completely original project, which explores new ways of integrating the ancient resonances with a mainstream sound. There have been attempts to 'rock-up' plainsong in the past, and many which use treble voices as a sample, but rarely in mainstream repertoire have the voices been truly integrated into a music of their own. Amongst the particular characteristics of Libera are the innovative textures, and the expressive range of the vocals. Chillingly intimate and meditative soloists contrast with vibrant ecstatic harmonies, sometimes at the very limit of the vocal ranges. We hope these are truly sounds to lift the soul! The music is inspired by the particular sounds of the boy singers, with their unique characteristics. We try to retain the individual charms that our talented soloists bring to the music, and not to iron out their personal nuances, whilst at the same time, encouraging the blend and team work that any vocal group needs. Many of the songs are arranged or composed for particular singers. Libera came about as a style, which seemed to flow naturally from the voices. It was getting enthusiastic reactions at concerts, even amongst bigger choral works, so it gave us the confidence that there might be a wider audience for Libera. Sadly, choirs do not easily cross musical barriers. I just hoped we could create a music that would creep up on listeners, and they would appreciate it without prejudice.

Discography

Angel Voices

Far Away Sanctus Ave Maria Going Home Be Still My Soul Salva Me I Vow To Thee My Country Voca Me Always With You We Are The Lost I Am The Day Recordare Abide With Me Silent Night Going Home

The beautiful full-color liner notes of "Angel Voices" fold out to show us a panoramic portrait of white-clad boy singers, ages 7 to 14, members of renowned 23-voice, South London-based boy's choir, Libera. Libera's repertoire is wide, from classical and cathedral pieces to works for pop and media productions. The backlit photo makes the boys appear to be angels, and that impression is not at all diminished by the sweetly soaring music. "Far Away," "Sanctus" (based on Pachelbel's "Canon"), "Ave Maria," the touching "Going Home" (based on Dvorak's "From the New World"), the lovely hymn "Be Still My Soul," the stunning "Salva Me," "I Vow to Thee, My Country," "Voca Me," the poignant, "Always with You," "We Are the Lost," the marvelous "I Am the Day" and "Recordare" are favorites, but all 15 light-to-heavily-accompanied tunes are very fine. Pure soprano leads and harmonies, a touching, well-chosen song selection - "Voices" is a choral treat that lifts us up from the earthbound mundane to the bright, clear, rarified air of angels.

Listen to Abide With Me in Real Audio

Visions

Locus Iste Always With You Ave Maria Libera Sempiterna Prayer Recordare Wings Of A Dove Something Sings New Day We Are The Lost Sing Forever Abide With Me

The twenty-four boys aged seven to sixteen who make up the vocal band Libera, and who meet several hours each week at a church in South London to rehearse and perform, have been described as "normal" and "ordinary". However, as their new EMI CD amply demonstrates, the music the produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. Of the twelve tracks on Visions, Libera’s second album for EMI Classics, a few will sound familiar, including Locus Iste, which is based on the well-known Pachelbel Canon, the hymn Abide with me, and Ave Maria. The remaining tracks are entirely original, with titles like New Day, Sing for ever and Something sings. The singers of Libera attend local primary schools and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band. While the unique sound of Libera may be impossible to pigeonhole, its universal appeal has endeared the group to fans all over the world, particularly in the US, the UK, Korea and Japan, where their previous CDs have topped the mainstream and classical charts.

Listen to New Day in Real Audio

Free

I am the day Stay with me Voca me A song of enchantment Ave verum Do not stand at my gate When a knight A new heaven I vow to thee my country Lament Twilight Be still my soul Adoramus

Libera's chart-topping album "Free" has an alluring atmosphere of its own, with Libera sublimely blending traditional hymns, plainsong and modern compositions that instill an incredible tranquility and freedom that awakens the soul. Soaring high notes, entrancing voices, blissful harmonies, ethereal sounds and striking chords are the essence of Libera Robert Prizeman composed the songs unearthing and developing the natural vocal characteristics of each of the boys, both as part of the ensemble and as soloists. Along with its predecessors, ÔFreeÕ has a global appeal that transcends all others.

7333 CD $15.98

Libera

Salva Me Sanctus Agnus Dei Libera Mysterium Jubilate Beata lux Dies Irae Te Lucis Sancta Angelis Lux Aeterna

This recording, combines sacred texts, familiar tunes and a choir and fuses it with new age and techno styles. The Sanctus is arranged from Pachelbel's Canon and Te Lucis uses the Canon by Tallis. The texts were adapted from the Latin Mass, Requiem, Stabat Mater, Compline and the Psalms. The pure and perfectly blended sound of Libera adds depth to this music. Composer Robert Prizeman, who is also Libera's director, has created a whirlpool of sound, which attempts to create a freedom of the mind.

7281 CD $15.98

Luminosa

Vespera Lacrmosa Sacris Solemnis Attendite Gaudete Silencium Semele Luminosa Stabat Veni Sancte Sanctus II

A beautiful swan extends its wing against a pastel blue background on the cover of "Luminosa," and it sets the mood for the first cut, "Vespera," which begins with a Gregorian-type chant, picks up soaring synthesizer and sweet soprano harmonies, and returns to one of the loveliest solos we've heard. This is sacred choral music crossing over into New Age, the Leslie Garrett Show is big in England, and so is Libera who has had several highly successful songs in the British charts. There is a picture of the group in the center of the liner notes, 13 young boys, probably 6 to 8 years old, dressed casually, hanging out with each other. There are 12 songs here, occaisionally accompanied, but the focus is on the amazing, perfect voices of the boys. On "Ave Maria" (based on Ave Maria by Caccini), "Lacrymosa" (based on Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens), "Sacris Solemnis" (based on Symphony No. 7: Allegretto by Beethoven) and "Semele" (from Semele by Handel), we hear these classical pieces in a new light. The title tune, based on "Clair de Lune" by Debussy, is a haunting, dreamy masterpiece, "Stabat" beautifully continues the mood, as does "Veni Sancte" and the final cut, "Sanctus II," based on Pachelbel's "Canon." Highly recommended and simply lovely throughout.

6834 CD $15.98

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