Belle Voci - ‘Lay a Garland’ YouTube Performance

The imposed restrictions of self isolation could have been ‘game over’ for renowned Fraser Valley singing ensemble Belle Voci, however, with a bit of innovation, ingenuity and using the latest in digital technology, the choir group have produced a remarkable video collaboration project that is bringing in appreciation and accolades from around the world.

"...especially in times of adversity, it is important to keep making beautiful music . We show our humanity by staying connected” , said the choir's Music Director Paula DeWit who was driven to find a way to overcome any obstacles and continue her lifelong passion for making music of the highest quality.

The ‘A cappella’ ensemble’s gorgeous performance of 'Lay a Garland' (by Robert Lucas de Pearsall) is almost absolute perfection and remarkably was recorded by the individual members using their phones at home. Using the latest technology, the audio soundtracks were extracted from the film content , worked on in a professional recording production studio, digitally mastered and then re-inserted into the finished video collage with all the singers performing ‘virtually’.

“Lay a Garland’ is a sublime madrigal, filled with passionate, anguished harmonies , a real visceral source of comfort during this dark time, “ says DeWit. “During our confinement, as we ‘stay at home’, our eyes don’t offer escape nearly as well as our ears. It is music that saves us and music that consoles us. . It is powerful to immerse yourself in the effortless beauty of this performance and through our headphones, our mind wanders to happier places where we find peace, strength and comfort.”

With listeners in Holland, France , the USA and UK within the first few hours of the video being released, the world wide relevance of this beautiful performance is there for all to experience .

Listen to the video here:

No matter how unpredictable the future feels, Belle Voci remain committed to delivering high quality music for all to enjoy and are already starting their next project!

ABOUT BELLE VOCI

Belle Voci is led by Music Director Paula DeWit and performs throughout the Fraser Valley. Its members hail from, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Celebrated a capella singers, Belle Voci, offer exciting selections of diverse Sacred Music, including renaissance polyphony, Greek Orthodox chant, traditional and jazzy interpretations of favourite pieces, and modern versions of melodies that have lasted throughout the ages.

The group was formed in 2009 and specialises in ‘A Cappella’ music which is a centuries old art form using nothing but the purity and beauty of the natural voice.

ABOUT LAY A GARLAND

'Lay a Garland’ was written by the English composer Robert Lucas de Pearsall in 1840. The text is taken from the Beaumont and Fletcher play The Maids Tragedy, and is spoken by a heartbroken woman who has been parted from her betrothed.