Heaven sounds
August 22, 2012 12:30 PM   Subscribe

Looking for "angelic" music.

Whatever you would consider "angelic". Choral or instrumental, or blues, guitar, this question doesn't restrict itself to a certain genre of music. I'm just looking for whatever music you'd consider "angelic".
posted by Philipschall to Media & Arts (39 answers total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil as performed by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers
posted by jquinby at 12:35 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]


I am not Christian but I am really fond of the music in "Sister Act" and "Sister Act 2: Back in the habit" I have at times watched the youtube videos of these pieces for inspiration or a sense of being uplifted. I really like the cross pollination of traditional religious pieces with more current culture and musical style that these movies did so well. I think it keeps the dignity of the traditional pieces but makes them more relatable.
posted by Michele in California at 12:36 PM on August 22, 2012


One of the classic examples is from Faure's Requiem: In Paradisum
posted by LN at 12:37 PM on August 22, 2012 [6 favorites]


Love Spirals Downwards - Will You Fade
posted by griphus at 12:38 PM on August 22, 2012


Whoops...

Jandek - Nancy Sings
Flying Saucer Attack - She is the Daylight
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
posted by griphus at 12:40 PM on August 22, 2012


Anything by Sigur Rós. "Spem in Alium" by Thomas Tallis -- Janet Cardiff's Forty-Part Motet version which you can hear in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is particularly haunting.
posted by AwkwardPause at 12:42 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]


...another sublime section of Vespers can be heard here, starting at 7:11 (with a different choir).
posted by jquinby at 12:44 PM on August 22, 2012


Sigur Rios- 'Takk' is my highest recommendation.

Spiritualized, especially 'Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space'

(they are both from albums of the same name)

...and I couldn't live with myself if I deprived you of
Starflyer 59- 'The Zenith' (self-titled album aka "Silver"-- breathtaking)
Happy hunting!
posted by herbplarfegan at 12:48 PM on August 22, 2012


I'm not Christian either but I've always been partial to Blue Highway's rendition of Wondrous Love.
posted by XMLicious at 12:56 PM on August 22, 2012


Pretty much anything religious by Josquin de Prez.
posted by bearwife at 12:59 PM on August 22, 2012


John Doan- Visit to Heaven
posted by EKStickland at 1:01 PM on August 22, 2012




Urf, that's Henryk, not Heinrich. Apologies, maestro...
posted by jph at 1:03 PM on August 22, 2012


Julianna Barwick.
It's haunting and lilting and glowing and the sound encompasses you in a nearly overwhelming way.

((on preview: I agree with herbplarfagen completely. Also, herb, SF59? Let's be pals.)
posted by sleeping bear at 1:03 PM on August 22, 2012


Allegri's Miserere. The backstory involving it being thought of as too beautiful and holy to be heard by anyone except the priests and monks of the sistine chapel, but then being heard by Mozart and written down from memory, nearly getting him excommunicated, only adds to the mystique of this beautiful piece. I particularly like this recording by the Tallis Scholars.
posted by iotic at 1:24 PM on August 22, 2012


There Must Be an Angel by Eurythmics.
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:25 PM on August 22, 2012


Anything by the Tallis Scholars.
posted by PussKillian at 1:27 PM on August 22, 2012


An Ending (Ascent) by Brian and Roger Eno and Daniel Lanois
Halcyon and on and on - Orbital
It's a Fine Day - Opus III, sampled in above
posted by iotic at 1:29 PM on August 22, 2012


Lux Aurumque --http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs
posted by mmf at 1:51 PM on August 22, 2012


Enya's Only Time hasn't been mentioned yet?!
posted by lizbunny at 2:32 PM on August 22, 2012


Moby - God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters
posted by lizbunny at 2:38 PM on August 22, 2012


I think Alison Krauss has the voice of an angel; does that count?
posted by pised at 2:43 PM on August 22, 2012


Ane Brun - Undertow
posted by Algebra at 3:03 PM on August 22, 2012


I will second Julianna Barwick. She loops her voice so she sounds like an entire choir of angels, it's gorgeous. Also, the choral arrangement of Barber's Adagio for Strings, Agnus Dei, is painfully beautiful in a heavenly sort of way.
posted by yasaman at 3:25 PM on August 22, 2012


Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem
For Always, Lara Fabian (from the A.I. soundtrack)
The Crucifixus from Bach's Mass in B Minor.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 3:43 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


The Dale Warland Singers.
posted by koucha at 4:28 PM on August 22, 2012


I will second Enya generally. I am especially fond of Orinoco Flow (Sail Away).
posted by Michele in California at 4:33 PM on August 22, 2012


Hildegard Von Bingen
posted by smoke at 5:14 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


Moby, "My Weakness."
Washington Phillips, "I had a real good mother and father," especially the chorus which is just inexplicably floaty and pretty and heartbreaking.
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:24 PM on August 22, 2012


Eric Whitacre absolutely hits that spot for me. A sampler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ty3HVeAkdc
posted by BobsterLobster at 5:31 PM on August 22, 2012


Most definitely the boys choir, Libera. Here is "I am the day".
posted by foxhat10 at 6:21 PM on August 22, 2012


But if you want the kind of thing I listen to, myself, it would be this:
Amhrain Mhuinse
Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
Ambell i Gan
posted by LN at 6:30 PM on August 22, 2012


Suo Gan which you might recognise from Empire of the Sun. It's a Welsh lullaby.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:54 PM on August 22, 2012


Lots of Arvo Part's music is suggested to have an "angelic" feel to it. Tabula Rasa is cited in this article as being played for the dying to ease their passing.

Illumina: Music of Light is a nice and accessible collection of choral lollipops. Available on Spotify.
posted by sagwalla at 2:40 AM on August 23, 2012


Lots of great stuff here, but came in to second Hildegard von Bingen. Beautiful music composed by a fascinating woman (jeez, no FPP?!). Look for recordings made by Anonymous 4.

And anything sung by Montserrat Figueras. I am very fond of her three El Cant de la Sibil-la CDs. Married to master musician Jordi Savall, this couple (again, WTF? No FPP?!) was responsible for recording/resurrecting amazing early European music as well as founding many early music groups and inspiring others to do the same.
posted by likeso at 2:47 AM on August 23, 2012


Prelude to Bach Cello Suite No. 1 as performed on guitar by Li Jie
End Titles, Apollo 13
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:19 AM on August 23, 2012


Here is a choral song turned ambient/ethereal with PaulStretch. This kind of music helps me sleep at night.

I also find Arvo Pärt's music to be quite heavenly. Especially Magnificat, Te Deum, and Sanctus.
posted by erasorhed at 10:27 AM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


Einojuhani Rautavaara's 7th symphony, "Angel of Light." (Here's a link to the first movement.)
Alban Berg's violin concerto, "To the Memory of an Angel". (Once again, the first movement.)
Talk Talk - New Grass.
posted by WalkingAround at 11:39 AM on August 23, 2012


Leonard Cohen - Hallellujah. (Here's Jeff Buckley's cover version.)
posted by WalkingAround at 8:55 PM on August 23, 2012


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