...along with several other guys. ::)

Posted this earlier in the April 2013 thread, but it got buried/ignored straightaway. Don't like that, so I've removed it from there and started a new thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Evmaw6i1o

For those genuinely interested: we start off with an adaptation of Psalm 23.
At about 4'15" we start singing three pieces from an oratorium ("The Creation") we hope to perform in full next year, to celebrate our 85th anniversary.
Ten minutes and 30 seconds in, you can listen to the famous Anvil Choir from "Il Trovatore" - without the anvil, though.
This is followed (at 13'30") by a tribute to Piet Hein, one of our most famous naval officers and folk heroes. The song, BTW, is an evergreen and is still being taught to school children, I believe.
Finally, starting at about 15'20", we sing a tribute to my home town Den Helder.


I've found the time to translate some of the songs:

From the oratorium “The Creation” – parts 1, 2 and 3

1. In den beginne (In The Beginning)

In the beginning was the Word, His Word that brings life
The Word was with God, and the Word was God, and it brought light in the darkness

In the beginning was the Word, His powerful Word
Out of chaos and emptiness everything that is was brought forth.

2. Begin (Beginning)

The earth, based on her foundations
She shall not waver nor give way
The mountains secured, covered in water
Darkness fills the valleys:
Every thing awaits His arrival
Every thing awaits His Word
And God spoke: Let there be light! And there was light!
And there was light!

3. Licht (Light)

Light, light, light everywhere (x2)
Light, light, light everywhere (Light everywhere, light, light everywhere)
Light, light, light everywhere (Aaaaa-aaah, light everywhere)
Light everywhere!
Light, light, light everywhere (A-a-a-ah, light everywhere)
Light, light, light everywhere!

Light comes to cleave the darkness (Light, light, light everywhere)
To free the earth from darkness’s grip (Light, light, light everywhere)
And to bring chaos to light.

He comes in majesty and splendor, in splendor
He wears the daylight for a cloak, daylight,
And wherever he treads the dark disappears
And on His word darkness flees! (repeat last four lines)

Light everywhere!




Piet Hein (Een triomfantelijk lied van de zilvervloot)
(A Triumphant Song For The Silver Fleet)

Have you ever heard of the silver fleet, the Spanish silver fleet?
It was carrying too much Spanish Dollars and oranges.
Piet Hein! Piet Hein! Piet Hein, his name may be small
But his actions are great, yes his actions are great:
He has won the silver fleet! He has won the silver fleet

Didn’t our boys climb the rigging like cats
And didn’t they fight like lions!
They sure disgraced those Spaniards:
You could hear their cries in Spain!
Piet Hein! Piet Hein! Piet Hein, his name may be small
But his actions are great, yes his actions are great:
He has won the silver fleet! He has won the silver fleet!

What if today there would be such a fleet?
Would you still know how to fight?
Or would you lay low and quiet
And sleep in your hammock?
What devil! Dutch blood still has courage!
We may be small, we may be small,
But we’d still win a silver fleet, we’d still win a silver fleet!


Lied voor Den Helder (Song for Den Helder)

In the harbor of my dreams, where wind and clouds run free
Over dunes and among streams, where you can hear the breakers,
That’s where I stood many a-time in the western winds, that blow from across the sea,
And wherever I may go in this world, I take Den Helder with me (x2)

A coastal town was born right where the land ends,
Where you can hear the ships, and the harbor’s never silent.
Everyone that ever saw those ships go out to sea
Will always keep Den Helder close to their beachcomber’s* heart! (x2)

What binds us is our past, defined by battles and fights.
But today’s decisiveness is being translated into our future.**
Where many a person started a new life far away from here,
There still shines Den Helder in the sun, behind its dyke and dunes! (x2)


* The nickname for people born and bred in Den Helder is “Jutters” (Beachcombers)
** I can’t make heads or tails from this sentence, even in Dutch! Well, apart from maybe the first verse, most of the lyrics are gramatically highly incorrect anyway.

Sounds great. You're the one in the black tux, right?  ;) :D :D :D  Seriously, I really can't pick you out because it is so small and my eyes are not the best.



Cat

Seriously, I really can't pick you out because it is so small and my eyes are not the best.



Last row, next to the last guy on the far left is my guess.

I listened to the whole thing. Very, very nice Henk!  I like the tribute song to your hometown.

Last row, next to the last guy on the far left is my guess.

I listened to the whole thing. Very, very nice Henk!  I like the tribute song to your hometown.



Ok, now I see him. Thanks, Warped.



Cat

Your choral group has a very good sound Henk. I enjoyed the performance.  :)

That was a very nice performance indeed :)

Thanks everyone for the nice comments. :) TBH, I was kinda surprised to find this on YouTube. We (i.e. the choir) didn't put it there, but I don't mind.


Last row, next to the last guy on the far left is my guess.


Well spotted! ;)

Sorry Henk, I missed this when it was first posted. It was very enjoyable, great job!

Sorry Henk, I missed this when it was first posted. It was very enjoyable, great job!


That's quite alright, Kevin. :) Thanks for listening!

Very nice!  :)

Very nice!  :)


Thank you too. :)

I believe we (as a choir) have quite improved over the last couple of years when it comes to pronounciation/diction, but on the other hand the songs we sing have become somewhat easier - in general. (The Anvil Chorus, for one, isn't that easy!)

what a wonderful piece Henk.  :)

Thank you too. :)

I believe we (as a choir) have quite improved over the last couple of years when it comes to pronounciation/diction, but on the other hand the songs we sing have become somewhat easier - in general. (The Anvil Chorus, for one, isn't that easy!)


Do you participate in the choir often? Every week or so? 

what a wonderful piece Henk.  :)


Well, thank you Howard! :)

I finally got a chance to play it. Wonderful!  :)

Do you participate in the choir often? Every week or so?


We practice once a week (Tuesday evenings), and I'm usually there (although lately work seems to be taking over).
We don't do a lot of performances - no more than five or six a year, I'd say. That is to give us ample time to study on new pieces inbetween performances.

I finally got a chance to play it. Wonderful!  :)


Thank you very much! :)

It must be quite challenging for you guys to listen to my choir's performance, and not understand a word that's been sung! I'm not sure if I would have the stamina...

Maybe I should add some translations here and there...

It must be quite challenging for you guys to listen to my choir's performance, and not understand a word that's been sung! I'm not sure if I would have the stamina...

Maybe I should add some translations here and there...


I've added some translations in the first post.

It must be quite challenging for you guys to listen to my choir's performance, and not understand a word that's been sung! I'm not sure if I would have the stamina...

Maybe I should add some translations here and there...


Not really, I listen to Italian Opera, never understand a word, it is the emotion that carries through.

It must be quite challenging for you guys to listen to my choir's performance, and not understand a word that's been sung! I'm not sure if I would have the stamina...

Maybe I should add some translations here and there...



I told you before, music has its own language. It doesn't matter if you understand the lyrics or not. There are many songs sung in English that I can't understand either.  ;)



Cat

This is how I sound like: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1v46RIn8pa8

This is how I sound like: http://vocaroo.com/i/s1v46RIn8pa8


very nice Aja. :)