Name that choral piece!

January 16, 2006 12:19 PM

I am looking for the name/composer of a frequently-heard piece of classical female choral music.

Since I have no technical musical knowledge, here is a description:

No instruments, AFAIK.
Very ethereal, kind of Cocteau Twins-y.
Name may have something to do with Muses.
Last heard in a PBS promo "Be More Passionate" with tacky drum sample overlaid.

posted by everichon to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Would it be possible for you to hum it and record that?
posted by Firas at 12:54 PM on January 16, 2006

Best answer: Dome Epais Le Jasmin (Flower Duet)? Listen to samples at Amazon.com -- often remixed into electronic, dance cuts --

Joan Sutherland -- sample #6

Luminaire -- samples #1 -4.

Other samples at iTunes.
posted by ericb at 12:54 PM on January 16, 2006

If that's it -- 'Dôme épais le jasmin' is from the opera 'Lakmé' by Léo Delibes (1883). The song gained popularity when British Airways selected it for their commercials. It has been used in the soundtracks of many films.
posted by ericb at 1:02 PM on January 16, 2006

Response by poster: Dome Epais it is-- thanks!
posted by everichon at 2:10 PM on January 16, 2006

AskMe continues to blow me away. From that description, I figured NO ONE would be able to get it right.
posted by frogan at 2:15 PM on January 16, 2006

I'm so glad that you asked this, everichon. I've been wondering the same thing myself for YEARS. A friend put the song on a mix tape for me a long time ago, and I'd always thought it was beautiful, but the version he put on my mix was especially exquisite. Now I'll know what to ask him for.

Thanks, AskMe!
posted by MsVader at 11:03 AM on January 17, 2006