Libera (music)

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Libera "Angel Voices" album cover (2006)
Libera "Angel Voices" album cover (2006)

Libera is an all-boy vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman. Its name is the Latin word for "free". Most of the boys in Libera come from the parish choir of St. Philips, Norbury, in South London. The albums, tours and TV appearances the boys do as Libera are in addition to their regular singing as part of the full choir of men and boys at parish choral services. While the exact number changes from year to year, Libera has around thirty boys between the ages of seven and sixteen. This includes new boys not yet ready to fully participate in albums or tours. Nineteen boys participated in their 2008 US tour. Twenty four boys sung for their latest album, New Dawn. The boys come from a variety of schools and backgrounds in the London area[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The Anglican parish of St Philip's, Norbury has a long choral tradition. Their first non-traditional commercial work was in 1984, when the boys of the St. Philips Choir backed Sal Solo on his song "San Damiano". In 1987, the boys of St Philips Choir released the single "Sing Forever", and another single, "Adoramus", in 1988. In 1988, the choir released their first full commercial album, Sing For Ever, under the name St. Philips Choir. The title track for this album was chosen by the BBC as the first Children in Need telethon anthem.

The second album, New Day, released in 1990, was the first album to use the name Angel Voices. During the 1990s, the names "St. Philips Boy's Choir" and "Angel Voices" were both used to refer to the choir. Major roles in the 1992 TV program Titchmarsh on Song, presented by Alan Titchmarsh, and the 1993 TV program Thora on the Straight and Narrow, introduced Angel Voices to a wider public.[2] The third album, Angel Voices, was released in 1992. It was rereleased in 1993, with the choir referred to as the St Philips Boy's Choir. Angel Voices 2 was released in 1996 and Angel Voices 3 was released in 1997. Both were released under the name of St. Philips Boy's Choir, by the record label MCI.[3][4]

In 1995, Robert Prizeman released a single and a CD entitled "Libera". The CD contained seven remixes of his original song, "Libera". In the same year, the choir, calling itself Libera, performed the song on the TV program "Sunday Live". In 1999, the choir released another album entitled Libera, published by Warner Classics. From that point on, the choir has been consitently referred to as "Libera" when acting in its commercial capacity. The next Libera album, Luminosa, was released by Warner Classics in 2001. In 2003, Warner Classics rereleased Libera and Luminosa as a two CD set entitled Complete Libera. Ever since 2004, Libera has been under contract with EMI. Their first EMI album was Free. Visions came out in 2005. Libera's 2006 album, Angel Voices, was nominated as Album of the Year by the Classical Brit Awards. Their latest album, New Dawn, was released in March of 2008.[5]

In addition to their own albums, Libera had also supported outside projects, including film soundtracks for Romeo & Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Shadowlands and Hannibal. Libera has performed with notable artists such as Aled Jones, Bjork, Luciano Pavarotti, Hayley Westenra, Peter Skellern, José Carreras, Neil Diamond, Cliff Richard, and Michael Crawford.[6][7] Some of its boys have performed solo work outside of Libera while still members of the choir. For example, Tom Cully sung for Silence, Night and Dreams by Zbigniew Preisner, and can be heard singing in an episode of Foyle's War. In 2002, Libera member Steven Geraghty was a featured soloist for the soundtrack of the PlayStation 2 game ICO. Libera soloist Ben Crawley did solo work for Paul Joyce's production of The Snow Queen in 2004.

Libera has made several highly successful tours in Japan and Korea. In their own country of the United Kingdom, they have performed at the Grassington Festival, Arundel Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey, Chichester Cathedral, St John's Church, St Wilfred Church, Croydon Fairfield Halls, Royal Albert Hall, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The choir also makes regular appearances on television. Libera has made numerous appearances on Songs of Praise, GMTV and Classic FM TV. In 2003, they were the last act to perform on the UK version of the famous TV series This is your Life. They performed for guest Aled Jones. In February of 2007, Libera appeared on the television show When Will I Be Famous presented by Graham Norton on BBC 1. They won the show and were invited back the following week. On Christmas of 2007, they appeared on Christmas Cooks, hosted by Antony Warrall-Thompson on ITV-1.[8]

On May 30th and May 31st, 2007, Libera recorded free concert performances at the Pieterkerk in Leiden, Holland, with the cooperation of the American Public Broadcasting Service. Footage from the two performances was combined to create the program Angel Voices: Libera in Concert. The program was featured on Public Brodcasting Service channels in the United States and released by EMI on DVD and CD. The DVD includes a bonus feature entititled "Libera in Their Own Words", which features interviews of some of the boys.

In December, 2007, nine boys from Libera sung at the Kennedy Center Honors Awards, attended by President of the United States George W. Bush and a host of celebrities. As part of the tribute to Brian Wilson, they performed his song "Love and Mercy". For this performance, the boys from Libera were backed by a chorus of boys from St. Albans School, which is affiliated with the Washington National Cathedral. In April of 2008, Libera made its first concert tour in the United States, performing in Buffalo, Hartford, Albany, Pittsburgh andRiverside Church in New York City, New York. On April 20th, they performed for the "Concert of Hope" prior to the Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium. [9] [10]

[edit] Style

[edit] Music

Libera has a distinctive sound. All of its singers are boys, most with unchanged boy soprano voices, also known as treble voices. Boys in their early teens sing the lowest parts. Almost all their songs are either new compositions by Robert Prizeman or unique new arrangements of classical and contemporary tunes. Prizeman often composes and arranges pieces with individual soloists in mind, to emphasize the variety of characteristics and qualities in the boys' voices. His compositions blend innovative textures, meditative soloists and vibrant ecstatic chorus harmonies that stretch across the full range of the boy's voices. Libera's music frequently combines elements from Gregorian chant, classical composers such as Debussy, Beethoven and Pachelbel, and contemporary pop and new age music. Some of their songs, such as "Sanctus", have appeared in different versions on several of their albums.

Most of Libera's lyrics come from traditional hymns, the Latin Rite liturgy, and contemporary songs by artists ranging from Brian Wilson to Enya. However, lyrics from various poems and original lyrics are also used. For example, "We are the Lost" uses the poems "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae and "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon. While most of the Libera's original lyrics are written by Robert Prizeman, other individuals, including former Libera soloist Steven Geraghty, have also contributed new lyrics to recent albums.

Libera uses a variety of instrumentation. Robert Prizeman, Ian Tilley and Steven Geraghty play electronic keyboards, piano and organ. Steven Geraghty also played clarinet for Free, Visions and Angel Voices, and percussion for Visions and Angel Voices. All of their EMI albums feature Fiona Pears on the violin. Angel Voices: Libera in Concert has additional backing by Il Novecento Orchestra. The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra provides backing to their latest album, New Dawn.

[edit] Clothing

For most of their performances, Libera wears distinctive white hooded robes based on monastic habits. The choir's use of white robes goes back at least to 1987. The boys can be seen wearing the robes on the cover of their first single, Sing Forever. Other Libera uniforms include white or black hoodies and dark blue slacks with light blue shirts. Some of their videos have featured boys wearing regular, casual clothing.

[edit] Cover Art

Common motifs in the cover art of the choir's albums include birds, clouds, light and pictures of the choristers. The 1993 release of Angel Voices, Angel Voices 2, Angel Voices 3, Libera, Luminosa and Welcome to Libera's World all feature white birds on their covers. Sing Forever, the 1992 release of Angel Voices, Angel Voices: Libera in Concert and New Dawn show several of the boys dressed in white robes. Free and Visions both show a single, ghostly figure in white robes, against a cloudy background. New Day and the 2006 Angel Voices album show several boys wearing what appears to be white hoodies.

[edit] Soloists

Soloists by released albums:

  • Jaymi Bandtock (1987, 1988, 1990)
  • Sam Harper (1988)
  • Jonathan Arthey (1988)
  • Ian Grimley (1988)
  • Gareth Lowman (1988, 1990)
  • Matthew Arthey (1988)
  • Robert Chee-A-Tow (1990)
  • Oliver Putland (1992)
  • Daren Geraghty (1992, 1995 - 1997)
  • Chris Baron (1996, 1997)
  • Liam O'Kane (1996, 1997, 1999)
  • Steven Geraghty (1997, 1999, 2001)
  • Adam Harris (1997, 1999)
  • Alex Baron (1997, 1999)
  • Ben Crawley (2001, 2004, 2006)
  • Sam Coates (2001)
  • Simon Beston (2001)
  • Joseph Platt (2004, 2006)
  • Christopher Robson (2004, 2006)
  • Anthony Chadney (2004, 2006)
  • Raoul Neumann (2004)
  • Michael Horncastle (2005, 2006)
  • Tom Cully (2005 - 2008)
  • Conor O'Donnell (2005, 2006)
  • Joseph Sanders-Wilde (2005, 2006)
  • Callum Payne (2005)
  • James Vereycken (2005, 2006)
  • Edward Day (2006 - 2008)
  • Joshua Madine (2006 - 2008)
  • Benedict Philipp (2007, 2008)
  • Liam Connery (2007, 2008)
  • Sam Leggett (2007)
  • Joe Snelling (2007, 2008)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • 1987: Sing Forever
  • 1988: Adoramus
  • 1995: Libera

[edit] Albums

  • 1988: Sing Forever
  • 1990: New Day
  • 1992, 1993: Angel Voices
  • 1996: Angel Voices 2
  • 1997: Angel Voices 3
  • 1999: Libera
  • 2001: Luminosa
  • 2003: Complete Libera, a 2 CD set with Libera and Luminosa
  • 2004: Free
  • 2005: Visions
  • 2006: Welcome to Libera's World, released only in Japan. Most of the tracks are rereleased from the earlier albums. It includes only one new track, "Far Away."
  • 2006: Angel Voices
  • 2007: Angel Voices-Libera in Concert, released as a DVD and a CD.
  • 2008: New Dawn

[edit] Movie Soundtracks

  • 1995: Twelve Monkeys
  • 1997: Romeo and Juliet
  • 1998: Cousin Bette
  • 2001: Hannibal
  • 2005: The Merchant of Venice

[edit] Supporting roles on albums and singles

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.southwark.anglican.org/bridge/0605/0605p06_07.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.lacrymosa.org/AngelVoices/avpr.htm
  3. ^ http://www.lacrymosa.org/AngelVoices/avcds.htm
  4. ^ http://www.iantilley.com/discs.htm
  5. ^ http://www.libera.org.uk/music.htm
  6. ^ http://www.libera.org.uk/about.htm
  7. ^ http://www.lacrymosa.org/AngelVoices/avpr.htm
  8. ^ http://www.libera.org.uk/news.htm
  9. ^ http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1943854.mostviewed.croydon_schoolboys_sing_out_for_bush_de_niro_and_diaz.php
  10. ^ http://www.libera.org.uk/news.htm

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Modern musical projects based on Gregorian chant and other chants
Aereda • Cantara • Delerium  • Divine Works • Elbosco • Enigma • E Nomine • Era • E.S. Posthumus • Gala • Gregorian • Industrial Monk • Lesiëm • Libera • Magna Canta • Mysteria • Nostradamus • Richard Souther (Vision and Illumination) • Solyma