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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Sanctissima |
| 2. Time |
| 3. Ave Virgo (based on a theme from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto) |
| 4. Faithful Heart |
| 5. Gaelic Blessing (Deep Peace) |
| 6. Exsulate |
| 7. How shall we sing that majesty |
| 8. Lacrymosa (based on 'Aquarium' from 'Carnival of the Animals') |
| 9. Adoro Te |
| 10. Lead Kindly Light |
| 11. Panis Angelicus |
| 12. Touch the Sky |
| 13. The Fountain (based on Prelude in C Minor) |
Product Description
Review
Libera, the decade-spanning, revolving-door-style boys’ choral ensemble, clearly fulfils several different roles for both listener and artist. It’s a non-profit organisation that fosters the talents of young Londoners from all backgrounds, whisks them around the world on tours and lets them record popular albums – all unquestionably good things for seven-to-10-year-olds to be doing. What, though, can be said of the final and lasting product, ie the albums? Peace is their 17th, and offers nothing in the way of musical innovation, but plenty in the way of fuel for cynics.
Broadly, you might describe Peace as a hybrid of New Age and classical – the instrumentation is sparse and largely electronically manipulated, but takes its source material from a light classical and choral canon. Consequently, we hear recognisable and unchallenging melodies from the Adagio from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (here delivered too fast and robbed of all maturity), an almost-obligatory John Rutter number and several traditional works, mostly arranged by Libera’s mastermind, Robert Prizeman.
As director, Prizeman’s influence looms long over Libera. Because it is an ensemble made up of children, one suspects that any stylistic decisions come from either Prizeman or other, more industrial figures. The boys are decked in now-trademark monastic white robes on the sleeve and, more disturbingly, appear on the back cover wearing identical white hoodies, black trousers and Cons, as if they’re on some kind of choral downtime. This, though invisible to the dedicated audience, is packaging to make a saleable whole. With better direction and handling (doing away with the robes would be the first thing to do), they would stand a chance of making an album of worthwhile artistry – this current model can only continue to tread water.
Of course, the point of Libera isn’t the quality of the albums they release; it’s the fact that they exist at all. Peace is not the vehicle to afford Libera a significant increase in either popularity or authenticity, but it is the one to be strategically released in time for Mother’s Day, bring a smile to said mothers’ faces and provide enough interest and money to last until the next one. They might do better in critical circles to steer away from the cult-ish robes, cringe-worthy photography and banal arrangements of standard repertoire, but it’s clear that if ever there was an ensemble that had no cares for what the critics thought about them, it’s Libera. --Daniel Ross
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CD Description
Familiar to audiences across the world, the boys have a stunningly original sound, which is at once both ancient and modern. Their distinctive flowing white robes symbolise the traditional origins of their style - yet their music reaches across the generations to a new mainstream audience. Libera’s success in album charts around the world bears witness to the extraordinary appeal of this unique ‘boy band’. Enchanting audiences wherever they go, they have attracted an enthusiastic fan base in many countries, particularly the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Korea and the Philippines.
Peace follows the success of Libera’s best-selling albums Angel Voices, Free, Visions and New Dawn. Each CD has been characterised by the ensemble’s distinctive celestial, shimmering sound with mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies. The programme comprises songs drawn from plainsong and traditional hymns, based on themes by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, César Franck and Chopin and by Robert Prizeman and John Rutter. The name Libera comes from the band’s signature song based on the 'Libera Me' portion of the Requiem Mass. The boys who make up Libera are between the ages of seven and fourteen, come from a variety of backgrounds and attend local schools. ‘Normal” boys who still love to play football, skateboard, listen to R’n’B and punk music, through their involvement in Libera they have travelled the world, recorded movie soundtracks and CDs and served as backing singers to Elton John, Björk and Pavarotti. But, as one of the boys said, “The travelling and filming is fun but even if we didn’t go anywhere I’d still want to do it because I just love singing.” That joy of singing comes across clearly in their performances and on their recordings.
Libera’s original sound is both ancient and modern. Their flowing white robes symbolise the traditional origins of their style but their music reaches out across generations to a mainstream audience.
Libera is well known to British audiences through TV appearances and staged concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, the Grassington Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe festival, Abbey Road Studios, Belfast’s St Peter’s Cathedral and Arundel Cathedral and at services in cathedrals and churches across the country. They have appeared as guests on BBC-TV’s ‘Last Choir Standing', on the soundtrack for a Waitrose TV campaign and as the subject of a documentary on ‘Songs of Praise'.
Peace follows the success of Libera’s best-selling albums Angel Voices, Free, Visions and New Dawn. Each CD has been characterised by the ensemble’s distinctive celestial, shimmering sound with mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies. The programme comprises songs drawn from plainsong and traditional hymns, based on themes by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, César Franck and Chopin and by Robert Prizeman and John Rutter. The name Libera comes from the band’s signature song based on the 'Libera Me' portion of the Requiem Mass. The boys who make up Libera are between the ages of seven and fourteen, come from a variety of backgrounds and attend local schools. ‘Normal” boys who still love to play football, skateboard, listen to R’n’B and punk music, through their involvement in Libera they have travelled the world, recorded movie soundtracks and CDs and served as backing singers to Elton John, Björk and Pavarotti. But, as one of the boys said, “The travelling and filming is fun but even if we didn’t go anywhere I’d still want to do it because I just love singing.” That joy of singing comes across clearly in their performances and on their recordings.
Libera’s original sound is both ancient and modern. Their flowing white robes symbolise the traditional origins of their style but their music reaches out across generations to a mainstream audience.
Libera is well known to British audiences through TV appearances and staged concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, the Grassington Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe festival, Abbey Road Studios, Belfast’s St Peter’s Cathedral and Arundel Cathedral and at services in cathedrals and churches across the country. They have appeared as guests on BBC-TV’s ‘Last Choir Standing', on the soundtrack for a Waitrose TV campaign and as the subject of a documentary on ‘Songs of Praise'.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The tracklist is now official and looks like this:
1. Sanctissima
2. Time
3. Ave Virgo (based on a theme from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto)
4. Faithful Heart
5. Gaelic Blessing (Deep Peace)
6. Exsultate
7. How shall we sing that majesty
8. Lacrymosa
9. Adoro Te
10. Lead Kindly Light
11. Panis Angelicus
12. Touch the Sky
13. The Fountain
I've had the pleasure to listen to tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 13 and I'm in tears... It must be the most beutiful music ever created.
O Santissima has been available for some time on Libera's websites as well as the video of the beautiful and dreamy Time.
Ave Virgo (Mozart) is a real classic piece of music that is performed with beautiful solos and choir. The soft instrumental music accompanying the singing is just lovely.
Exsultate is a song in a medieval spirit with an amazing a capella start by Ben Philipp. Very happy and up-spirit song.
Lacrymosa is a well known song by Libera but in a new recording with Ben Philipp as soloist.
The Fountain is a song with beautiful harmonies including some deeper voices that blends perfectly with the treble voices of the younger members. The solo is just out of this world.
This is a CD that will open the eyes and ears for many people that has never heard of Libera before. It is really a must!
1. Sanctissima
2. Time
3. Ave Virgo (based on a theme from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto)
4. Faithful Heart
5. Gaelic Blessing (Deep Peace)
6. Exsultate
7. How shall we sing that majesty
8. Lacrymosa
9. Adoro Te
10. Lead Kindly Light
11. Panis Angelicus
12. Touch the Sky
13. The Fountain
I've had the pleasure to listen to tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 13 and I'm in tears... It must be the most beutiful music ever created.
O Santissima has been available for some time on Libera's websites as well as the video of the beautiful and dreamy Time.
Ave Virgo (Mozart) is a real classic piece of music that is performed with beautiful solos and choir. The soft instrumental music accompanying the singing is just lovely.
Exsultate is a song in a medieval spirit with an amazing a capella start by Ben Philipp. Very happy and up-spirit song.
Lacrymosa is a well known song by Libera but in a new recording with Ben Philipp as soloist.
The Fountain is a song with beautiful harmonies including some deeper voices that blends perfectly with the treble voices of the younger members. The solo is just out of this world.
This is a CD that will open the eyes and ears for many people that has never heard of Libera before. It is really a must!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have just listened to Peace for the third time and there are just not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe how wonderful this album is. All the songs on the album just seem to blend together to give 45 minutes of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.
The solos and harmonies on the whole album are just amazing. Of particular note though are the solos on Time, Ave Virgo, Gaelic Blessing and Panis Angelicus, truly stunning! The recording, mixing and production are first class and give this album a wonderfully peaceful celestial feel. I find it hard to think of another album I own that matches this. My favourite track on the album is, well all of them, that is how good this album is.
I feel that Libera have gone to a new level with Peace, surpassing their previous albums, which, bearing in mind how good they have been, is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations and thank you to all at Libera for producing this masterpiece. This is not just a five star album but a ten star one.
If you have never listened to Libera then I strongly suggest you do for they are with out a doubt this countries top choir/vocal group.
The solos and harmonies on the whole album are just amazing. Of particular note though are the solos on Time, Ave Virgo, Gaelic Blessing and Panis Angelicus, truly stunning! The recording, mixing and production are first class and give this album a wonderfully peaceful celestial feel. I find it hard to think of another album I own that matches this. My favourite track on the album is, well all of them, that is how good this album is.
I feel that Libera have gone to a new level with Peace, surpassing their previous albums, which, bearing in mind how good they have been, is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations and thank you to all at Libera for producing this masterpiece. This is not just a five star album but a ten star one.
If you have never listened to Libera then I strongly suggest you do for they are with out a doubt this countries top choir/vocal group.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Now what can I say about this cd? Firstly i have been a fan of Libera for some time now. I stopped listening to them for about 3 years only because I started university and it was a hectic time for me. One day I was on spotify and accidentally came across thier 'Eternal' cd as i didn't know that they had released 3 more albums since the 2005 release. After listening to this I then decided to keep playing and listened to the PEACE album. As the cd kept playing it got to track 5 and I was instantly grabbed by the song Deep peace. It has been done before in their days when they were known as St. Philips Boys Choir but there is something peaceful about this version.
For me music is about the little things thrown in there that change the whole song. The little notes and harmonies do it for me. As the song played it got to the 2nd verse and this is where the magic began for me. The treble is accompanied by the alto and lower part, but the way they join the treble is catchy. The treble sings the first line with the alto humming. AS the treble sings the 2nd line, the alto starts singing with him. At the same time the lower part starts humming here. the lower part then starts singing on the third line creating heavenly melodies with the treble and alto. What is created is sheer joyness. And the notes sung by the two joining voices are crazy. I'm listening to the song as I write this review. Its good and the harmonies are tight. The song is very dear to me as I long to have that deep peace that only comes from Christ. And when i listen to it i feel so comforted and happy at the same time.
Another song to look out for it 'Touch the sky'. Some crazy notes are inserted near the end which transform the song to a whole new level. Needless to say i have the bought the cd. I wish my friends were into music like this so that i could share it with them but its remains my secret guilty pleasure.I urge you to go and get this cd. As the whole cd is full of inspirational songs, that just take your mind away from the cares of this world. The new soloists as well are really good and taking to their new roles nicely. But the harmonies and arrangements, Lord have mercy, and those treble voices are just out of this world. The 2 songs I mentioned are just my favorites ones. I love the notes in them. I can listen to them the whole day. In fact i just did today (lol). I only wish i could sing like them and cant wait to get to heaven where i can eternally for my Lord.
Good times to listen to the cd are during sunsets or early morn. In the car as well as u driving. It relives the tension.
For me music is about the little things thrown in there that change the whole song. The little notes and harmonies do it for me. As the song played it got to the 2nd verse and this is where the magic began for me. The treble is accompanied by the alto and lower part, but the way they join the treble is catchy. The treble sings the first line with the alto humming. AS the treble sings the 2nd line, the alto starts singing with him. At the same time the lower part starts humming here. the lower part then starts singing on the third line creating heavenly melodies with the treble and alto. What is created is sheer joyness. And the notes sung by the two joining voices are crazy. I'm listening to the song as I write this review. Its good and the harmonies are tight. The song is very dear to me as I long to have that deep peace that only comes from Christ. And when i listen to it i feel so comforted and happy at the same time.
Another song to look out for it 'Touch the sky'. Some crazy notes are inserted near the end which transform the song to a whole new level. Needless to say i have the bought the cd. I wish my friends were into music like this so that i could share it with them but its remains my secret guilty pleasure.I urge you to go and get this cd. As the whole cd is full of inspirational songs, that just take your mind away from the cares of this world. The new soloists as well are really good and taking to their new roles nicely. But the harmonies and arrangements, Lord have mercy, and those treble voices are just out of this world. The 2 songs I mentioned are just my favorites ones. I love the notes in them. I can listen to them the whole day. In fact i just did today (lol). I only wish i could sing like them and cant wait to get to heaven where i can eternally for my Lord.
Good times to listen to the cd are during sunsets or early morn. In the car as well as u driving. It relives the tension.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
If you like your choirs extra sugary
Prizeman has the tonal language of Karl (Adiemus) Jenkins, but eschews the percussive/ethnic language in favour of a sound halfway between Faure and the sugary simplicity of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. I. M. Davis
Simply beautiful
I have alot of Libera cds and find them lovely but sameish. Peace is slightly different, it has a more modern approach and is simply beautiful. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. L. M. Dicken
lalala - no diction
this item was returned since its singing quality was unacceptable. There was no diction at all. Pleasant noise, but choir masters should know better than produce a lalala disk.
Published 16 months ago
True Peace - Inner Calm
As always - a wonderful album by Libera!
I have been a fan of Libera for about five years now and they never fail to please. Read more
I have been a fan of Libera for about five years now and they never fail to please. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Grace Poole
Libera: Peace
Another dose of beautiful music and wonderful voices. I found that it took several listenings of this CD to really appreciate the beauty of it, but once that is achieved most of... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Marky
Rien de nouveau...
rien de nouveau ni de très surprenant, qualité des voix et travail de studio restent très efficaces;
bonne nouvelle: les effets sur-ajoutés... Read more
bonne nouvelle: les effets sur-ajoutés... Read more
Published 19 months ago by B. Yves
Wonderful voices
I think this is the best boys choir of all time. Such wonderful voices like Joshua Madine, Tom Cully and Ben. Thanks for the music. Sublime!
Published 22 months ago by Helcio H. Moraes
Phenomenal!
Without doubt, this is one of the most calming, beautiful and uplifting choral ensembles ever!
Published on 13 May 2010 by Mrs. A. V. Baxter
Libera At Its Best
I was excited to receive Libera's latest album, Peace. I live in America, Arizona specifically and since Peace will not be available in the U.S. until mid. Read more
Published on 27 April 2010 by J.M.
Just buy it!
This is another extraordinarily fine album from Libera. Robert Prizeman's inventiveness in using fragments from familiar hymns, adapting well-known classical pieces for voice, and... Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Dr. G. Adamson
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