VIRTUAL VOX 1
If Ye Love Me (Thomas Tallis, c. 1505-1585)
On Freedom Day (27 April 2020), the 26th anniversary of freedom and democracy in South Africa, we released our very first Virtual VOX project.
The music was written by Thomas Tallis who lived through a period of great upheaval in England about 500 years ago. The words remain apt during this time of national lockdown in South Africa and around the world.
We hope that this serene motet brings you comfort and hope.
Each of our singers recorded their own parts at home using a cell phone or computer microphone. The individual parts were then woven together to form the rich choral tapestry, and the meditative particle video was designed by Liam Pitcher.
If ye love me,
keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may ‘bide with you forever,
e’en the spirit of truth.
John 14:15–17
“If Ye Love Me” by Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585, England)
VOX Cape Town
Video: Liam Pitcher
27 April 2020
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceCSXmMb-so
Feedback from our first Virtual VOX project…
“Thank you. A great initiative and one of my favourite choral pieces. Please let us have more.”
“Thank you, thank you for a few minutes of absolutely sublime sound. What a wonderful, generous thing to do.”
“Your first Virtual VOX project is quite beautiful – so good for our souls in this time of lockdown. Please do share more with us. We love all of the music you present – a mix of classical and contemporary composers.”
“Thank you for the beautiful, beautiful recording you made for Freedom Day. Absolutely glorious sound of beautiful voices.”
“Absolutely beautiful – and brings peace to our hearts. Please continue with virtual music. We need it more than ever.”
Virtual VOX | Rejoice! A Compendium of Carols, The Seal Lullaby (Whitacre), Stars (Ešenvalds), Gebed (Huyssen), If Ye Love Me (Tallis)