Friday, September 17, 2021

July 5th, 2021-Present



Last Updated/Revised on December 30th, 2021.

Welcome to all new readers.

If you are unfamiliar with Libera, you may wish to go to Part One (link below) of this Timeline for an overview and history of the group, including the story of its beginnings.

Please note: new material is added at the end of each post, rather than at the beginning, 

Once again I state that I'm a writer, not a techie, so please forgive the occasional odd configuration, type change, or spacing from imported material. I welcome corrections, suggestions and comments at: aahill@sonic.net

Information on all Libera databases can be found in the introduction to Part 14.

For Part One (introduction to Libera and to the Timeline, extensive overview & 1981-2007), please go to: http://liberatimeline.blogspot.com/ 

For The Tables of Contents for all Parts & Appendix A 

(There is also a Table of Contents at the beginning of each part.) 

https://liberatimelinetocappenda.blogspot.com/ 

For Part Two (2008-2009) http://liberatimeline2.blogspot.com/ 

For Part Three (2010) http://liberatimeline3.blogspot.com/ 

 For Part Four (2011)http://liberatimeline4.blogspot.com/ 

For Part Five (2012)http://liberatimeline5.blogspot.com/ 

For Part Six (January-May 2013):http://libera-timeline-6.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 6A (May-December 2013)http://libera-historicaltimeline6a.blogspot.com/ 

 For Part Seven (January-July 2014)http://libera-historicaltimelinepart7.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 7A (August-November 2014)http://libera-historical-timelinepart7a.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 7B (December 2014)http://libera-historical-timeline-part7b.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 8 (January-March 2015)https://lib-erahistorical-timeline-part-eight.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 8A (January-March, 2015)http://liberahistorical-timeline-part-8-a.blogspot.com/  

For Part 8B (August-December,2015)http://liberahistoricaltimelinepart8b.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 9 (January-July, 2016)http://liberahistoricaltimeline-part-9.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 9A (July through December, 2015)http://lib-erahistorical-timelinepart9a.blogspot.com/ 

 For Part 10 (January 1st, 2017 August 11th, 2017) https://li-berahistoricalt-imelinepart1a.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 10A  (August 12th to December 31st, 2017) https://lib-era-historic-altimelinepart10a.blogspot.com/ 

 For Part 11 (January1st-October 20th,18 : https://lib-er-ahistorical-timelinepart11.blogspot.com/ 

For Part11A ( October 21st to December 31st, 2018)  https://li-berahistoricaltime-line11a.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 12 (January 1st to August 17th, 2019) https://liberahistoricaltimelinepart12.blogspot.com/ 

For Part 12A (August 18th to December 31st, 2019) https://lib-era-historicaltimelinepart12a.blogspot.com/

For Part 13 (January 1st to December 31st, 2020) https://liberatimelinepart13.blogspot.com/

For Part 14 (January 1st – July 5th, 2021: https://liberahisttimelinepart14.blogspot.com/2021

For Part 14a (July 5th - December 31st, 2021: https://histtimeline14alibera.blogspot.com

For Part 15 (January 1st - Present, 2022: https://15libhisttimeline.blogspot.com 


PART 14A


TABLE OF CONTENTS

• New CD IF Announced

• IF Sampler on iTunes

• Release of Video The Introduction to IF

• New Song Releases and Videos Related to IF

• Robert Prizeman is Gone

• Tributes to Robert Prizeman

• IF Released for Streaming on Spotify

• Recap of Songs on IF formerly recorded/videoed by Libera

• Concert at St John's Smith Square on December 5th

• Concert Reviews

• Introduction to New Members and Miniboys

• Concert Available Online





(Recap of last entry in Part 14:)

On July 4th, Patrick Fandelok posted on the Libera Dreams Forum:
"While doing some updates on Libera's albums list on discogs, I went to the site plastichead to check info about the vinyl version of 'Hope'. Imagine my surprise, I fall on the cover of a Libera album that I never saw."





--> https://www.plastichead.com/item.aspx?catno=IHCD90 <--
The new album is named If, and will be released on October 15th

Fan Surpinto contributed an observation on the cover art: "This follows the trajectory of their major, non-Christmas album covers in which they are journeying first across a sea, then mountains and valleys, and finally are arriving at the entrance to something....something we do not know!"
Image

Other than the title song no tracks are yet known. However, one vendor 
has already released it for pre-order.
Album Song List:

Fan padmachou commented on the songs included on If:

I feel like it is bound to be one of the most powerful albums Libera ever made. It has strong "Luminosa" energy in my opinion. I am just a bit unsure how well all the pieces fit together. I am super happy to hear the new songs from last December (Let Me make songs and Sing for our World) recorded... but how does it fit with Cum Dederit, Lux Aeterna, Vespera... ? these sound very mystic. But I like all. 

I liked Once an Angel as soon as I heard the piano intro. For this one I agree that the soloist is probably Victor Wiggin  but I can't be 100% affirmative... I like the song already. 

If's soloist is Daniel,White[ no surprise. His solo is steadier on the record, smoother. Well done!

I feel proud I got it right for Cum Dederit, I told you the Vivaldi's piece with voices replacing instruments would be great.  Might be Dominik Carke doing the solo... I am not sure, but it would make sense, I would be surprised if it is not, but I like surprises !

I really like the record for Sing for our World, it sounds very clear, even better than on stage; you can hear all the parts. It is going to be amazing !

Again I am no good to guess the soloists but I agree that the picture with Luca Brugnoli and the other boys around might have been taken when they recorded Nearer my God to Thee, it is likelythat Luca is singing the main part and it is a small group of soloists. It just makes sense. 

I got a tear in my eye because of Vespera. It sounds so pure and we have been waiting for this new record for a long time... No idea about the soloist, I am not convinced it is necessarily Luca... maybe young Daniel Castalogna ? But YES PLEASE give me the song. 

O Lord Support Us sounds to me like the song you need to listen again and again and it will grow on you. And it will be a comforting one in the end. 

I like this Sacris Solemnis ! I wonder if the soloist might be Freddie Mushrafi or Laurence Taylor ? I hope the instrumentation will be as powerful as the "digital" one, with the crescendo. Also we will get to hear lower voices I suppose, but they do not appear from the beginning. Can't wait !

On Deep Peace I feel like it is Dominik Clarke as suggested.

I suspect Nunc Dimittis is sang by TWO soloists  The Angel Voices' version wasn't, am I right ? I agree one of them sounds like Tadhg Fitzgerald ? If they recorded back when Tadhg's voice had not broken, the other voice could be Oliver Watts-Rodriguez... (then again someone might answer "there is only one voice, you are so bad at this game Padmachou, get over it")

Lux Aeterna sounds so good. I hope to hear this one as an intro to the concerts or to the second part. It would be mysterious and impressive ! I agree it sounds like Oliver Watt-Rodriguez.
That all being said, I am surprised we mostly suspect "old" known soloists. We might be surprised, right ? I hope to be. A little. —padmachou



On July 29th, fan luxaeterna posted a delightful YouTube "find:"
 
You probably didn't know, but in 2015 [Libera Soloist] Ed Day (2005-2009) was featured in a Mentos TV advert created for the Italian TV. It became viral and everyone wanted to know who the stupid boy was. I was probably one of the few people in my country toknow it.  He was very different from the shy Libera soloist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-CD0YbpV8Y&t=20s

 (Ed Day in a Mentos TV ad/2014/:60) 




Ed Day as a tiny shy choirboy in 2005.
Also on July 29th, a tweet from Libera:



On July 30th, another tweet from Libera:
BREAKING NEWS! Our BRAND NEW Libera album titled ‘IF’ will be released in 
OCTOBER! More information soon. In the meantime, pre-order the first of 5 digital 
‘singles’, the wistful and dreamy "Once an Angel," available from the 6th August


Victor Wiggin solos on "Once an Angel"

In their programme to the 2020 concert at St. John's Smith Square, you find a hint to the video filming as of October 2020, together with the photo you posted and also one with the full word - well, not much needed to complete it - "if".—filiarheni
.
SJSS 2020 If.JPG
SJSS 2020 If.JPG (50.91 KiB) Viewed 37 times

Further excerpts from the songs on IF can be found at 
https://libera.org.uk/music/if/

On August 1st, a post from Libera Facebook Group Admin Steve Walker:

Support the Libera Boys Choir









Here is a list of several ways you can support the boys. If you find a mistake

or know another great way to support Libera, please comment and I will 

add it to the list.


Donate to Libera
https://libera.org.uk/about/financial_support/

Donate to Libera of the US
https://uslibera.org/donate/

Use Amazon Smile (Select Libera of the US as your charity)
https://smile.amazon.com/

Buy stuff from the Libera Shop
https://libera.org.uk/shop/us/

Listen to Libera on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/235C4ktJ2aGIyqaBlXyg7e

Listen to Libera on Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/libera/27287368

Listen to Libera on Pandora
https://pandora.com/artist/libera/ARKqfxhbXdXz2wc

Listen to Libera on YouTube Music
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCqAzabOGUz62jsiqH5oP05A

Watch Libera Videos on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/officiallibera

Sign the Official Libera Guestbook
https://libera.org.uk/guestbook/

Join the from LIBERA, from LONDON fan club
(not for the faint of heart unless you know Japanese)
https://liberafc.jp


On August 2nd, a tweet from Jimmy Riddle:


https://www.bournemouthoratory.org.uk/live-feed/




I tried to see if I could spot some of the boys but so difficult.
Daniel White, Thomas Mushrafi, Cameron Birmingham and Koji Shinokubo are 

the four I’m confident I saw. Also maybe Thomas Sandoval-Herrera

Definitely looks like a lot of smaller members now.—dani


A few weeks ago, the Libera Passion site was updated with IDs of most of

the recent miniboys, several by this time singing as full choir members.



On August 11th, "Once an Angel" became available as an audio selection on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwB28_sW7DI&t=25s 

(Once an Angel/solo by Victor Wiggin/2021/4:18)

On August 19th, fan Steve Walker re-discovered this 2006 article.

You can get a PDF by visiting this link and clicking on Pages 6 & 7:
You can get a PDF by visiting this link and clicking on Pages 6 & 7:

http://archive.southwark.anglican.org/thebridge/0605/


On August 20th:



Also on August 20th, a 19-second greeting to Libera fans in Japan by (from left) 

Daniel White, Nathan Slater, and Dominik Clarke:



 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acJfoPdW4Fk&t=19s (19

-second message for fans in Japan/2021/ with Daniel White, Dominik Clarke and Nathan Slater)


...and for those who hadn't yet found the photo gallery from the 12/6/2020 
St John's Smith Square concert, some examples from the collection 
of 37 images:

https://libera.org.uk/gallery/st-johns-smith-square-2020/







On or about August 26th, "Sing for the World" became available as an
audio on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar3qo15ulGk (Sing For

the World/· Elwin Hendrijanto/2021/4:52)


On September 3rd, "Home" became available as an audio on YouTube (click on 

arrow), and a Japanese video ad appeared for the Japanese edition of 

the CD:


Dmitry Fomin
Link from Libera Official: https://youtu.be/BVoURWlSO7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7h2uToFvA8&t=15s 

(Japanese YouTube ad for IF/1:17)



The differences of the Japanese version vs the Western (by Patrick Fandelok) : 

- New colourful cover
- tracks in different order 
- a bonus audio track 'Headlight/Taillight', which is the vocalise known to have been used in 

the TV drama 'Shitamachi Rocket'.
- A DVD having the music video of 'If', 'For the Future', interview and & off-video of arrival 

date and time

In addition, a lottery will allow to win a 'Libera if box". Content of the box is unknown yet
Usually, in order to enter such Japanese lottery, you will have to purchase a CD, cut a stamp

 from the corner of 'Obi' (a small paper jacket that comes with the CD), then paste it on a postcard that will be to send to Libera Records.


In addition, the Japanese CD + DVD will also be available for the Japanese fan club 

members, with a 2022 calendar as benefit.
No details yet, but if it matches the 2019 and 2020 calendars, it will likely be a desktop sized 

calendar, meaning 18 * 14 cm (7 * 5.5 in)

There will be benefits as well if you buy your CD from various shops.
- Tower Records : a 'if' ballpoint pen
- HMV : a 'if' diary
- Yamano : a 'if' clearfile
- Rakuten : a B3 poster calendar (B3 = 35.3 x 50 cm or 13.9 x 19.7 in)
- Tsutaya : a 'if' sticker sheet size A4 (A4 = 21 * 29.7 cm or 8.2 * 11.7 in)
- Amazon Japan : a 'big jacket' (no details yet. Likely a CD jacket I guess)
- other various shops (list to come later) : a 'if' diary 
Such benefits are in limited number or time. They are on a first ask first served basis.
If you want something, be sure to read the FAQ of the seller site because at times 

benefits are not available for online purchase, or not available to be sent by mail abroad 

Japan.


Japan Fan Club membership card














Japan edition cover modification



September 2nd: A message of support from Freddie Mushrafi, Koji Shonokubo, 
Tadgh Fitzgerald, Nathan Slater and Dominik Clarke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMF2B_nuKM&t=38s 

(Message of support from Libera for the Japan Children’s

 Hospice Project, plus “for the Future”/9-21/4:58)


On September 4th, a series of photos from the filming of the music video 

IF became available online, along with a YouTube video preview and an introduction to the album as a whole:
















https://libera.org.uk/gallery/filming-if/



 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7lr7WvWm8 

(YouTube preview for IF/:38)


In order, the boys pictured are: Freddie Mushrafi. Pietro Vergoni, Koji Shinokubo, 
Jack Spicha, Ethan Barron, Joseph Cranitch, Lutwik Kowalczyk, Nathaniel Bates-
Fisher, Nathan Slater, Luca Brugnoli, John Gardener, Cameron Birmingham, Oliver
Watts-Rodriguez, Thomas Mushrafi, Lewis Quinn, Laurence Davey, Tadgh Fitzgerald,
Samuel Whaley (?), Ben Bywater, Daniel Wjite, Laurence Taylor, Morgan Wiltshire,
Calam Tamana, Dominik Clarke, Hal Avery. Conducting is Steven Geraghty.






















https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brbq_UMqI8k 

(Introduction to IF CD/2021/6:38)


In early September, two alumni photos appeared on the Libera Dreams Forum. Former soloists

Alessandro Mackinnon-Botti (2012-2017) and Isaac London (2011-2017 were shown taking part in a school musical, possibly Godspell.



Alessandro




A day or two later, a link appeared with Isaac singing "The Tender Trap" 
with his school's swing band:
 

(Libera alumnus Isaac London sings “The Tender Trap” in 2021)


If Video









































































On September 10th, the video for the title song of the new CD appeared onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7lr7WvWm8&t=

14s (If/solo by Daniel White/9-2021/4:25)


The song was written by Michael Nyman to texts by Roger Pulvers for inclusion

in the Japanese animated-feature film The Diary of Anne Frank (1995), directed by Seiya 

Araki. It tells the story of how, during World War II, a teenage Jewish girl named Anne

Frank and her family were forced into hiding in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands.













On September 13th, this sad and shocking announcement from Libera:

(The donation button can be found at

https://libera.org.uk/news/robert-prize ... mment-6489. ) 


On September 17th, a YouTube tribute appeared on Sunday Night, with the boys performing "Sing" in the recording studio." 



https://www.youtube.com/embed/kBuEGxt2-HA?start=1448 (Sing/Robert Prizeman Tribute/Sunday Night with Pam Rhodes/24:10-50:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm0aOPfd7Co (Nusantara/Sing for Our World/studio video/ songonly/4:42)


This and other tributes can be found at https://forum.libera-dreams.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=57786#p57786


Soloist Luca Brugnoli

By Justin Chen

For those unfamiliar with Libera Assistant Musical Directors Steven Geraghty and Sam Coates, an excerpt from Part One of this Timeline:

The curly-haired child standing next to Steven Geraghty in the 1997 "Salva Me" video (and behind him in the poster below) is his best friend Sam Coates, who, like Steven, is still very much associated with Libera. Sam's voice changed early, but he seguéd neatly into a role as the group's electronics wizard and sound engineer, while Steven continued as accompanist and staff member. 

In 2014, the duo received second billing on concert programs (following Robert Prizeman) as assistant musical directors. In 2015, Sam Coates was credited with three arrangements performed on the Libera in America CD/DVD, and by 2021 had emerged as one of Libera's principal arrangers.

Libera longevity: Steven Geraghty and Sam Coates (top and on poster below) as little Angel Voices in 1997





 Steven and Sam as Libera singers in 2002

Working in the studio with soloist Josh Madine in 2009 

Both have been on the Libera staff since retiring from onstage performance with the group. In 2021, with Robert Prizeman sidelined by illness, the two cooperated on presenting concerts, producing a CD, and filming videos. 

Steven Geraghty in 2021

Sam Coates in 2021






On September 20th, the Libera Passion site posted a new profile of Libera stalwart Tiarnán Branson, who participated in the group from 2007-2014, and sang on seven albums and all three of the PBS concert DVDs, in 2007, 2013, and 2015.



https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1485-ancien-tiarnan-branson?utm_campaign=popular&utm_medium=topic&utm_source=newsletter 


On September 20th, this obituary appeared in the Telegraph in England:


On September 23rd, a touching tribute from Angel Voices soloist Liam O' Kane (1993-2002):



On September 25th, another heartfelt tribute from Libera soloist Ben Philipp:


Noted on September 27th by Patrick Fandelok on the Libera Dreams Forum: [Libera soloist] Luca [Brugnoli] is setting up a Youtube channel.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCXxCLssP3kXagT5rlUddX-g

So far the channel offered a 45-second intro video, which ended with the message " My recordings are coming soon".
Also on or about September 27th, a fan, mercurial909, re-discovered a lovely 2012 video tribute to Robert Prizeman, and fan Steve Walker shared a written tribute that includes former Libera singers:
t

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSICSdcUK70&t=9s (2012 Tribute to Robert Prizeman/4:11)

http://stephenwalker.net/rest-in-peace-robert-prizeman/
On September 29th, fan Chang Chewei posted an image of the back of a recently received copy of the IF CD.

On October 1st, Libera made Beethoven's "Sacris Solemnis" available for streaming; https://libera.org.uk/news/sacris-solemnis-streaming-today/
Also on October 1st, images from the IF booklet surfaced, revealing the composers, arrangers and soloists for each song.



The main surprises: Freddie Mushrafi's solo on "Sacris Solemnis;" "Small Daniel" Catalogna as high soloist on "Vespera;" and the welcome inclusion of older members/alumni Mathias Montoro, Neo Parson, Oliver Watt-Rodriguez, Victor Wiggin, and Tadgh Fitzgerald as soloists or small-group singers.

IF cover notes.

On October 5th, Libera posted a trailer for the (official) online premiere of "Sing for Our World," slated for October 9th.

On October 8th, a wonderfully written article/obituary about Robert Prizeman appeared on the Church Times website, and is included here in full, as it presents an affectionate and detailed picture of Prizeman's life and work.

Obituary: Robert Prizeman

 

08 OCTOBER 2021

 ERA

Simon Niemiński writes:


ROBERT PRIZEMAN, organist of St Philip’s, Norbury, in south London, founder and director of the boys’ choir Libera, and musical adviser for BBC’s Songs of Praise, has died, aged 69.


The circumstances of Robert’s beginnings as a choral director belied Libera’s eventual global success; for the St Philip’s choir centenary celebration, he wrote about joining as a boy and his first encounter with the head chorister: “As I opened the vestry door, he charged out with a mop on his head. Discipline was not a strong feature of the choir in the 60s and early 70s.”

 

Robert was later appointed organist, aged 18: “Turning up in school uniform didn’t do a lot for the discipline. Indeed, at the first practice I had problems getting most of the boys to stop swinging on the church gates and come into the vestry.” Robert’s ever youthful approach, though, was undoubtedly the key to the frequent reinvention of his church choir and the growth of its audience.



Music beyond the church repertoire was introduced, with early concerts (or “Choirsturbances”) and the irreverent but factually based “Choirboys — The Full Story”, telling the tale of “Roger” or “Tyrone”, the press-ganged chorister, and including Mr Mudd of Lincoln Cathedral swigging from a bottle of Gordon’s gin, which “brought the house — and our reputation — down on many occasions”.

 

In the early 1980s, there had been increased publicity for the choir of St Philip’s, owing to several finalists and one winner of the Choirboy of the Year competition. The path to Libera began in 1984, with the St Philip’s choir’s involvement in Sal Solo’s song “San Damiano”, written for the BBC’s Rock Gospel Show. The song became a top-20 chart hit, and thus the choir was propelled into Top of the Pops and beyond.


Alex Gula and Robert Prizeman in a quiet moment.
 

During the 1990s, appearances with celebrities followed (the likes of Elton John, Pavarotti, and Dame Edna), and the extra-ecclesial side of the choir became Angel Voices, now with its own album releases. In 1999, the choir became Libera, with the release of an eponymous single.

 

Libera’s sound world is Robert’s unique creation, evolving from his own work as a soundtrack composer and from different church traditions, for example, plainchant and the soaring treble lines of cathedral music, to which are added New Age and contemporary pop textures and harmonies. 


 

His uncanny ability to appeal to a wide audience led Libera to a busy schedule of domestic and international concert touring, which could see them performing in Upper Norwood, south London, one month and Osaka the next.


Despite the international celebrity, boys from Libera continue to sing at St Philip’s, Norbury. The discipline issues of the ’70s developed into a remarkable pyramid structure of musical education, much of it carried out by senior choristers, under Robert’s leadership. 

 

He had been greatly involved with the work of the RSCM, and was awarded an ARSCM in 2010.

In addition to his choral work, Robert was a broadcaster, presenting the BBC Radio 3 young people’s magazine programme Fanfare and the radio documentary Herbert Howells: Echoes of a lifetime for Howells’s 90th birthday in 1982. 

 

He was a longstanding adviser for BBC’s Songs of Praise, composing the current theme music in 1986, a piece that, in its original organ-solo version, remains a popular repertoire item for organists.

 

Perhaps his legacy as an extraordinary but self-effacing choral director with the church at heart might well be summed up by his song “Sing for Ever”, which became the first Children in Need telethon anthem in 1988. Last year, as the pandemic abruptly halted choral activities, it was adopted by the Cathedral Choirs’ Emergency Fund for its video performance involving choristers UK-wide.

 

In an email to me, Robert wrote: “Funny about "Sing for Ever." I would have thought it rather downmarket for the cathedral choirs, but I suppose it fitted the function lyrically. Honoured to have it used after so many years.”

Libera’s latest album, If, Robert’s last, will be released on 15 October. Its final track, fittingly, is Lux æterna.



 Robert Prizeman was born on 28 February 1952 and died on 8 September 2021. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=bgqHHeyEGTU&ab_channel=CathedralMusicTrust&fbclid=IwAR2GaWjsYR36WRN_QoBnEzw_rj01ewkedo6Xqs4bZ9spwiRncd8XIwunq8U(Sing For Ever/Cathedral Choirs Emergency Fund video/2021/4:57)

For the loveliest Libera version of this song, featuring the matchless Ben Crawley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-mrYd1VKwc (Sing Forever/solo by Ben Crawley/c. 2001/3:13)



On October 7th, Libera soloist Luca Brugnoli kicked off his YouTube channel with a remarkable change of pace for an 11-year old boy singer. He commented: 


"Here's my cover of Rise Up by Andra Day.  This piece means a lot to my family and friends post-pandemic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have recording it." LB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiUpjGiseMI (Rise Up (Andra Day) cover /Luca Brugnoli/2021/4:04)


Subsequently, Luca released a video if Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_qMIwrQ3U8 (Pie Jesu/solo by Luca Brugnoli/2021/2:29)

On October 9th, the official version of "Nusantara/Sing for Our World," in HD with subtitles, was released by Libera. https://www.facebook.com/amie.hill2/posts/10226147625458537?notif_id=1633802874483396&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif (Official release of Nusantara/Sing for Our World with subtitles/4:53)

On October 11th, Libera posted dates for three upcoming concerts:

London Concert

We have announced  two concerts at St John’s Smith Square in London, on 5th December at 5pm and 8pm.  Tickets will be available from the booking office on Friday 15th October at 2pm UK time.


On October 13th, this notice: "Join the boys of Libera for an inspirational selection of music including Christmas carols and tracks from the latest album “IF” performed with orchestra and recorded for streaming."  

On October 15th, the new IF CD became available for streaming on Spotify.



On October 16th, Libera released the gently atmospheric video of "Once an Angel," a song both mysterious and poignant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_vzJ3MAzJ8 (Once an Angel/solo by Victor Wiggin/2021/4:19)


(Top) Victor Wiggin. (Bottom) Tadgh Fitzgerald, Oliver Watt-Rodriguez, Ben Bywater.

Libera Footnote: (10/18/21)

For newer fans not familiar with the seven previously performed/recorded songs on IF, here, from the incomparable Libera Passion database, is a roundup of their Libera history.

https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1280-les-morceaux-interpretes-par-le-st-philip-s-boy-choir-angel-voices-libera (Songs sung by the St Philip's Choir, Angel Voices, and Libera)

1. Deep Peace

Albums on which it has appeared :

Vidéos :

Sammy Moriarty, soloist James Threadgill, and Josh Madine in the 2010 "Deep Peace Video.

 2. Ave Maria

Vidéos :

Tom Delgado-Little (Center) sings "Ave Maria" on the Libera in America concert DVD.

 Albums : If, 2021


3. Home

  Albums:

 (The only video of this song with solo by Luca Brugnoli as of 10/21was a brief segment in the "Introduction to IF" video that came out in early October.)

4. Nearer, My God to Thee 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56doiLyCQhY&t=1s (performed in 2019 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, LA/Merlin Brouwer, Ben Bywater, Alex Gula, Alex Montoro, Leo Barron, Rocco Tesei/3:25)

 5. Sacris Solemnis

A performance of "Sacris Solemnis" in St. John's Church, Upper Norwood, UK, 2005.

Recorded on Luminosa, 2001

Vidéos :

 6. Total Praise 

Vidéos :

World Youth Day, Krakow, Poland, 2016, before a live audience of 1.5 million.

7. Vespera 

Performed on the 2011 Summer US tour

 Vidéos :

  • 2000 – Te Lucis [Music video] (Aled Jones, avec Steven Geraghty)
  • 2001 – Te Lucis [Music video] (Steven Geraghty, Ben Crawley (Descant)

  • Matthew Winter?, Sam Coates, and Anthony Chadney back up Steven Geraghty in the 2001 version of "Vespera," then known a "Te Lucis" from its opening words.
     

    Steven Geraghty solos in the 2001 video of "Vespera."

    End of Libera Footnote
    Classic FM
    @ClassicFM
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    @XanderArmstrong
    showcases
    @officiallibera
    's new album 'If' this week, which includes five brand-new compositions from the London vocal group. Alexander Armstrong | Weekdays 9am–12pm, Saturdays 1pm–4pm Right pointing backhand index clssicfm.co/AA


    From Jimmy Riddle: Also being featured on Mark Forrest's program https://planetradio.co.uk/scala-radio/player/182090577/ for Scala Radio. 
    Today was 'Sacris solemnis' Starts at 1:52:20  He mentioned Robert's passing and that he will be interviewing Sam Coates on Friday's show.
    On October 22nd, that interview: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... K06uoiaM7V
    On October 27th, a post on Libera Dreams: "A recent response from Libera regarding the upcoming concert states that it will filmed and will be available for streaming."
    https://libera.org.uk/news/london-concert/

    Robert Prizeman's notes on the recording of IF, from the Japanese edition.

    In late October, this wonderfully detailed review of IF by fan eagorbea appeared on the Libera Dreams Forum.
    Libera – IF

    Steven Geraghty and Sam Coates did an exceptional job directing and producing this album. I am sure Mr. Robert Prizeman is watching them proudly from heaven with a smile on his face. Daniel White says at the end of the introduction video: “You are getting an eclectic mix of songs but you can always expect the top notch Libera quality”. Of course, Daniel is right. 

    Once an Angel
    Solo: Victor Wiggin

    Victor Wiggin is sublime in this song. His voice has matured and deepened while still able to hit the alto notes. The raspy voice of his earlier years has been replaced by a smooth and polished tone. This is a gentle, melodious, sweet song, kind of like a prayer. Victor starts alone for the whole first verse his dreamy voice filling your soul. He is joined by a handful of singers for the refrain. For the second verse Victor Wiggin is joined by a singer doing high harmonies. It could be Luca Brugnoli or Dominik Clarke who can both do 1st treble voice. I loved this song since I first heard it.

    Victor Wiggin

    Let Me Make Songs

    This is a stunning choral song. There is no soloist. It is quite different from the usually religious themed songs Libera sings. The harmonies are fantastic. Towards the end of the song the tenor voices become more prominent and add a richness to the sound. It ends with a great Libera finale.

    If
    Solo: Daniel White
    Daniel White

    Another remarkable performance by Daniel White. He does the whole song by himself except for the oohs harmonies. It seems like Luca Brugnoli, Laurence Taylor, and Victor Wiggin are the only ones doing the beautiful harmonies in the video. Daniel’s voice has been gorgeous ever since I first heard him sing the Prayer in concert (his 1st tour), seems like a lifetime away. In IF his voice is just perfect. The song is not going to be a repeat player for me. I will probably skip it if Daniel has other songs in this album. If he does not, I will play it just to hear Daniel sing. Daniel White is quite the entertainer too. He seems to be the chosen spokesman for Libera since he does most of the speaking in concerts and videos. He is so confident, fun, and enthusiastic. He is just awesome!

    Cum Dederit
    Solo: Dominik Clarke
    Dominik Clarke

    WOW! Dominik Clarke is majestic! This is a classical song which sounds extremely difficult to sing. Even the musical instruments have a complicated arrangement. I suspect Dominik had some classical training before joining Libera. He has incredible breath control and holds those incredibly complex notes with ease. I don’t think it will be on the concert list. I am very glad Dominik got to record it before his imminent voice change (he is 14 years old). He just gets better with every song!

    Total Praise
    Solos: Daniel White, Victor Wiggin, Matthias Montoro

    Daniel White starts the song alone. Victor Wiggin and Matthias Montoro join Daniel with their harmonies. This first part is a Capella. The choir and the instruments follow. Libera has done this song many times and it is still great.

    Ave Maria (Schubert)
    Solo: Tadhg Fitzgerald

    I am so glad they were able to record Tadhg before his voice change. You can hear his new voice in the introduction video. He will probably sing baritone from now on. Tadhg Fitzgerald has an airy, tender, graceful, voice in this song. He is so talented, I wonder why he never had a solo before. This recording is so much better than the mini concert. This is a well-deserved recording of his amazing voice. 

    Tadgh Fitzgerald

    Sing for our world

    This is probably my favorite song on this album and there are so many great ones. It is bouncy, happy, eclectic, ethnic, energetic, and quite a complicated musical arrangement. In the words of Dominik Clarke, it is dynamic and fun to perform. It is amazing how the boys sing with a sharp, crisp pronunciation, while keeping their own singing parts in the scintillating harmonies, while at the same time keeping the extremely fast rhythm of the song. It is quite breathtaking to me. Towards the end, they have a very smooth key change, you almost miss it. It is that perfect. The harmonies are glorious. The song is about a world where there is peace, unity, and hope for a better future. The Libera singers are sensational in this song. And what an ending! I still don’t know how they do it (especially when they did it live). They all stop at the same time and say Sing! It is quite an unusual song choice for Libera. It is not solemn or religious but it sure is a great addition to their repertoire. Bravo Libera!

    Nearer My God to Thee
    Singers: Luca Brugnoli, Victor Wiggin, Matthias Montoro, Dominik Clarke, Benedict Bywater

    I loved this song since they performed it live in 2018. Of the original singers, only Benedict Bywater is in this recording and in Libera. But we have a spectacular group of singers that make the song even more glorious than before. I am not sure, but it sounds like Dominik Clark at the beginning and Luca Brugnoli next. My guess is Matthias Montoro is the tenor voice. 



    Vespera
    Solo: Luca Brugnoli 
    Descant: Daniel Catalogna

    The song starts with the first verse in Latin. It is a spellbinding combination of trebles and tenors in gorgeous harmonies. The tenor section sounds very powerful. I love it! It is a wonderful solemn song. I have always liked it. Luca Brugnoli was AWESOME! I think this is best performance yet. It is a long solo. Luca has a clear, shining voice. I even like it better than the Steven Geraghty version below, and that is saying something. Daniel Catalogna has a brilliant album debut with his beautiful descant. 

    O Lord support us
    Solo: Dominik Clarke

    I am assuming Dominik Clarke is the one doing the brilliant descant since he is listed as the soloist. It sounds like a plaintive prayer to me. The harmonies are glorious and quite stirring. The music accompaniment is light so it sounds almost like a chant. St John Henry Newman is listed as the author of the lyrics. I found in the internet that he also had a hymn called Lead Kindly Light (another Libera song). 

    Sacris Solemnis
    Solo: Frederick Mushrafi

    Freddie Mushrafi

    It is always a nice surprise to hear a new soloist. He did a short duet with Oliver Watt-Rodriguez in the Christmas concert, but this is his first recorded solo. Frederick Mushrafi has a nice, steady, clear, beautiful voice. From the introduction video, it appears Luca Brugnoli is the descant singer and he is very good in this song. The song starts with Frederick doing his solo without the choir. Then the choir joins him with subtle harmonies. The last verse the choir sings the complex, stunning harmonies we are used to hearing from Libera. Luca Brugnoli does his descant solo before Freddie sings the last Gaudia as a solo. I like Frederick’s voice better than the one in Luminosa which has Ben Crawley as soloist (even though he is not credited in the album cover, I recognize the slight vibrato in his voice).  

    Deep Peace (Gaelic blessing)
    Solo: Luca Brugnoli, Neo Parson

    Neo Parson

    Another excellent performance by Luca Brugnoli. Luca does the first half of the song very controlled and beautiful. This song suits him. Neo Parson does the second half of the song. Neo’s voice is more like an alto. It is gentle yet powerful. Luca and Neo’s voices blend in wonderful harmonies. 

    Nunc Dimittis
    Solos: Tadhg Fitzgerald, Dominik Clarke

    Incredible duet by two extraordinary Libera singers. 

    Luca Brugnoli

    Home
    Solo: Luca Brugnoli

    Since this song was in the album Hope (so recently) with Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey as soloist I have to mention him too. I think Luca had big shoes to fill and, even though he has impressive singing talent and an amazing, sweet voice, he still sounded like the little boy he is. Sadly, the lockdowns have prevented Luca from having more experience in concerts and regular choir practices. Ciaran had a lot more maturity and experience when he recorded this song. There are other songs where Luca Brugnoli’s voice is perfect and breathtaking like Walking in the Air. Lucky for us, Luca is still young and can learn to master his powerful, brilliant voice.

    Lux Aeterna
    Solo: Oliver Watt-Rodriguez
    Oliver Watt-Rodriguez

    I like the new part where the low voices sing and the trebles respond. Oliver Watt-Rodriguez’s solo is amazing. His voice is steady, smooth, and perfect. Like Daniel White, he seems to have matured in his singing. I have always liked his voice. Who sings the harmony with Oliver? The tenors adds such a beautiful depth to it. The last verse is new. Sadly for us, Oliver seems to belong to the lower voices now. It is possible they recorded this song last year. I hope he stays with Libera a little longer.

    This is the Luca Brugnoli and Dominik Clarke Libera album just like Beyond was Leo Barron’s album. But we also have what could be the last solo performances for Oliver Watt-Rodriguez, Neo Parson, Tadhg Fitzgerald, and maybe Victor Wiggin because of their coming voice changes. Lucky for us fans, Daniel White and Dominik Clarke are still holding on to their treble voices. And we have many extremely talented younger boys that are ready to take all the solos like: Luca Brugnoli, Frederick Mushrafi, and maybe even little Daniel Catalogna. Who knows what surprises Libera has for us in 2022! 

    Thank you Libera boys for another spectacular album! —eagorbea

    On October 30th, the video of "Let Me Make Songs For the People" from last December's St. John's Smith Square concert was released on YouTube.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rVRHUMZiW0  (Let Me Make Songs For the People/ Live in concert at St. John’s Smith Square/12-5-20/3:43)


    On October 31st, beloved Libera singer Josh Madine posted a tribute to Robert Prizeman, accompanied by a piece of music written for his equally beloved mentor.



    "Last month I heard the awful news that my dear friend, mentor and colleague, Robert Prizeman, had passed away. I’m still coming to terms with this immense loss which is why it’s taken to so long to put these words together. "When I first started writing music, I naively tried to compose a piece for full orchestra without really knowing what I was doing. I sent it to Rob and by the next rehearsal he had printed it out in A3 and marked it up as if it were a serious piece of work requiring proper appraisal. He gently suggested that I might set my sights a little lower for the next piece without making me feel at all embarrassed. From then on, he was the greatest source of encouragement and gladly offered feedback on everything else I wrote. Often, he would send me home with orchestral scores and recordings that he thought I should know and took many of us to concerts to hear his lasting favourites: Holst, Vaughan Williams, Elgar and Britten. He even bought me a student version of Logic to encourage me to start producing. "All of this was far beyond the remit of any normal choirmaster but I’m no special case; Rob cared deeply about every boy who had the privilege of singing under him and went to great lengths to create opportunities to help all of us nurture our talents, whether musical or otherwise. Witnessing his formidable skill at the keyboard inspired me to take up the piano and my output now is quite clearly and proudly steeped in his musical sensibilities. Rob was the most talented and hardest working musician I have ever met, and the global reach of Libera – his life’s work since taking over age 18 – is a testament to that, but he would always instantly deflect any praise or attention, preferring to let anyone else take the limelight. I’ll forever miss his humble brilliance, his wicked sense of humour and the endless kindness he showed me. "It was an honour to have known you, Rob. Thank you for sharing with me your love of music. I have no idea what I’d be doing otherwise. Let’s hope the heavenly choir is up to scratch – if not, I’m sure you’ll set them right. I wrote this for you." —Josh Madine


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HgpNKwTDrQ&t=14s (To the Dreamless Bed/Josh Madine/Almanac/5:17)



    On November 8th, Crossover media posted the following news:

    IF has charted on Billboard Japan at No2 Traditional Classical Albums. Look at some very nice photos of the display in Tower Records - Tokyo (below). After week 1 of the physical release, "If" has charted on Billboard US at No2 Traditional Classical Albums. On week 1 on the UK Official Charts 'If' charted No 4 - Classical Artist Albums.

    On November 11th, a film called Home Sweet Home Alone was released, featuring Libera's "Carol of the Bells" briefly on its sound track as described by fan padmachou on the Libera Dreams Forum:

     I watched the movie (honestly don't bother unless you have plenty of time to watch Christmas movies and you have self control and won't smash the screen for every character is stupidly annoying... or annoyingly stupid ?). Some things are interesting because they really tried new things in regard to Home Alone and the second movie. But I did not really like it. 

    What you can hear from "Carol of the Bells" is a very brief extract, re-arranged, since you get to hear the end until "ding dong ding dong" and for some reason they cut it before "that is the song". Cassius O'C. would be mad  (he said in a interview once that people usually start clapping before the end of the song and he would not get the opportunity to sing the end properly). But it is not exactly the end of the song, they cut the "ahaaaaah" part, so there is only one solo, the last one. It's somehow the middle of the song and the end of the song, but some parts are missing  Hard to explain.—padmachou



    http://www.crossovermedia.net/blog/entry/64C34722-0EF4-41AB-9B42A588E6D231F4/

    On November 12th, a YouTube Video appeared, featuring Libera soloist Daniel White, as a member of Schola Cantorum, singing "Peace on Earth," by Errolyn Warren. 


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOChh4kvX7A (Daniel White singing "Peace on Earth," by Errolyn Warren with Schola Cantorum/11-21/3:27)

    On November 13, a rare video look at a Libera rehearsal. The boys have said in interviews that they practice moving around the stage blindfolded, so that they can easily change their singing formations when the tase goes dark between songs. In this brief segment, Robert Prizeman can be heard saying: Slowly...gently...No, don't fight with anyone...."(Thanks to Steve Walker)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxaiDJ0PbHM 

    (Libera practicing stage movements blindfolded/c. 2018/:57)


    On November 26th, information for booking seats for the Libera concert at St. John's Smith Square at: https://www.sjss.org.uk/events/libera-3


    On November 28th, Libera released a new video, with Dominik Clarke soloing on Vivaldi's "Cum Diderit," and the video technique lovely and mesmerizing.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHBTIlEOj10 (Cum Dederit by Antonio Vivaldi/solo by Dominik Clarke/2021/4:26)

    On November 30th, a post on the Libera Dreams Forum by mercurial909:

    Just a little update on what a few of our relatively recent Libera alumni are up to now (as of late 2021) because I know that as fans we all wonder what becomes of the lads when they move on from Libera.

    Cassius O’Connell-White is a student at the University of the Arts London where he studies architecture. He has a keen interest and involvement in Artistic Design. There’s a video on YouTube of him talking about it.

    F4DC90A0-017D-48D8-92A3-A5EB0BB3FE5D.jpeg

    Ciaran Bradbury-Hickey is a student at Birmingham University studying Maths and Music. He’s a member of the Music Society there where he is listed as Saxophone Manager!

    CA64EBAE-5952-4A0B-8EF1-23FA2FAD0082.jpeg

    Sam Wiggin is a student at Manchester University and has also done quite a bit of work experience in the media industry. 

    86D433D8-F0AF-4325-942B-9BB63CD53B90.jpeg
    Sam Wiggin

    Alessandro Mackinnon-Botti is a student at the prestigious Oxford University’s Oriel College where he is an Organ Scholar. 

    40801599-055D-431F-B880-9824F94F4CE2.jpeg

    So proud of these young men.💖


    Disclaimer: All of this information is freely available online and I’ve been very careful not to put anything personal here.    —mercurial909

    On December 2nd, a tweet from St. John's Smith Square:

    The wonderful young singers of @officiallibera will be performing a Christmas concert at St John's, including carols and tracks from the latest album “IF”👼

    🎫 5pm: sjss.org.uk/events/libera-2 🎫 8pm: sjss.org.uk/events/libera-3
    Image

    On December 5th, two tweeted rehearsal photos, showed current personnel



    THE CONCERT


    Song List:


    Vespera
    Once an Angel
    Gaudete
    Ding Dong Merrily on High
    Cum Dederit
    If
    Sing Lullabye
    Ave Maria
    Carol of the Bells
    Wexford Carol
    Poor Little Jesus
    Sacris Solemnis
    Nearer My God, to Thee
    Sing for Our World

    Encore: I Saw Three Ships

    SINGERS (* indicates newest; ** = on program but not present)

    1. Cory Agyei* 
    2. Hal Avery
    3. Ethan Barron
    4. Nathaniel Bates-Fisher
    5. Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz
    6. Orlando Benedict*
    7. Cameron Birmingham
    8. Luca Brugnoli
    9. Benedict Bywater**
    10. Daniel Castalogna
    11. Dominik Clarke
    12. Leon Clarke*
    13. Joseph Cranitch
    14. Laurence Davey
    15. Frederick Day
    16. Tadgh Fitzgerald
    17. John Gardener
    18. Oskar Handsveit*
    19. Julian Heitmann*
    20. Joseph Hill
    21. Oscar James
    22. Ludwig Kowalczyk
    23. Alexandre Menuet
    24. Alessandro Minarik*
    25. Mathias Montoro**
    26. Frederick Mushrafi
    27. Thomas Mushrafi
    28. Neo Parson
    29. Lewis Quill
    30. Thomas Sandoval-Herrera
    31. Koji Shinokubo
    32.Nathan Slater**
    33. Jack Spicha
    34. Laurence Taylor
    35. Pietro Vergani
    36. Oliver Watt-Rodriguez
    37. Samuel Whaley
    38. Daniel White
    39. Victor Wiggin
    40. Morgan Wiltshire



    On December 6th, a note from various fans on the Libera Dreams Forum:

    [The second concert] was excellent. Not as well attended but the audience was appreciative! It didn’t look half empty.

    Koji Shinokubo

    Poor Koji [Shinokubo] fainted whilst kneeling during a song (my memory is awful, was it during "Sing Lullaby"?) to audible gasps from the audience. Ever the professionals, the choir carried on as Koji was helped off stage by the chaperones. The choir had had a very long day, and a couple of the chaps were stifling yawns in the second concert. Daniel White did a great job of being both Daniel and Koji, during the next speech between songs. 

     The hero of the hour: Daniel White (C) with Victor Wiggin and Neo Parson.

    During the speeches, they mentioned Robert Prizeman, of course, and also used a couple of new ”jokes”; I thought the speeches were well executed and sounded a bit less scripted than they had at times in the past. The lads giving them gave a good account of themselves.

    Cheeky and enthusiastic bunch of new mini-boys. 
    The future is bright.

    Good news- the programme mentions that the concert will be streamed “within a few days.”—Mr. W

    And by luckdragon:

    It appears, from a Twitter photo of the second concert, that Steven and Sam have carried on with their former concert roles with Steven directing and Sam doing the sound. They're excellent at what they do and it says a lot about Sam that he recognizes it and appears just as happy to stay out of the spotlight as Robert was.
    It was like an extra Christmas present to hear that Dominik Clarke has a little brother who's just starting with Libera! Just when we thought we were nearing the end, we find out that we're going to be treated to several more years of Clarke excellence.—luckdragon

    FF3pxVxXsAYgAVo.jpg
    Steven Geraghty conducting at left as Luca Brugnoli solos.

    From Patrick Fandelok:

    Daniel sure amazed everyone by assuming alone both parts of the speech. Not only the public but also Steven and the other boys.
    Koji and Daniel

    When Daniel walked front stage in the semi-dark and crouched to pick up Moose and an IF cd to show to the public, Steven quickly offered him his scores book were the text was written. But Daniel discretly schook his head in the meaning of 'I don't need it'. Steeven was surprized and offered him the book a second time, but Daviel refused it again and with a smile he walked back to his speech position which he did flowlessly.

    After the speech, in the semi-dark when Daniel went back to his position in the large arc, he was cheered by his neighbours Frederic Day and Daniel Catalogna that were like admiring him. A trully inspirational leader for the younger ones.—Patrick

    On December 7th, a [here gently abridged] review from padmachou appeared on the Libera Dreams Forum. Thanks to Furby of Libera Passion for photos of Libera members: 

    There were two concerts on Sunday at Saint John Smith Square and both have been filmed and recorded. ey should be edited in one video that will soon be available on streaming, so you can buy it and watch it several time just like past year.These concerts were very moving for various reasons, one being that due to the pandemic Libera has not been able to perform for a year, and actually they have performed very little for two years. Also last year they could not even move on stage, and they had very little time to rehearse… The second reason this was a special concert is that it was the first one since Robert Prizeman’s death. Sam Coates is now the director but actually he was handling the sound like he used to before, and Steven Geraghty conducted the concert. It is good to know that it is former Libera boys directing the choir, because we can trust them to care about it and they surely know how unique it is. 
    Sam Coates


    Program note by Sam Coates

    Steven Geraghty

    Ben Bywater, Mathias Montoro and Nathan Slater were on the program but not onstage, for some reason. Ethan Barron only made the second concert, probably he could not do the first one.

    About mini-boys, well, some of the fans have difficulties keeping up, and that is understandable because this is the third batch in a row that we don’t get to know really well. All the boys from the first batch are now on stage and some of them already soloists, which should help you to get familiar with their faces and names !  There were seven boys that were mini-boys during this concert, leaving the stage for some songs, one of them being Samuel Whaley who already was a mini-boy previously. One of the new mini-boys is Leon Clarke, Dominik’s brother. 

    Current miniboys, some as yet unidentified by name.

    The two concerts had 15 songs, 14 listed on the program and one encore. The streaming video should be a mix of both. Some of us underlined that the first concert was all in all more dynamic, for the boys got tired for the second concert (that is very natural for kids). I personally liked  "If" better the second time, but that might have been due to me seating on the other side and the sound probably is different from one spot to an other. I am very curious to hear the sound in the streaming. This year the boys could move on stage and so you will get to see that on the video, I won’t be describing the staging.
    The concert started with Vespera, a very impressive beginning. It’s good to hear the lower voices. Luca Brugnoli sang the solo and Daniel Catalogna did the descant. It was very moving; the return of this song has been long expected and indeed it was spectacular and perfect.  Luca and Daniel were both great. During all the concert I felt like they could have pushed Daniel’s microphone a bit, to let him shine, but what I heard from the front row might not be what other people heard. 
    Luca Brugnoli

    Daniel Catalogna

    I believe that right after that Daniel White and an other boy (maybe Koji Shinokubo) did a speech. They said that last year they were on stage but they could not move, and now they are more appropriate to their name “Libera,” for they could once again move freely. Then they talked about Robert Prizeman’s legacy and introduced the song  "Once an Angel", which seems to be the last one Robert composed, last April. They expressed that losing Robert was sad but that he would forever be with Libera through the music he composed, and so he would be here for the concert as well. This was a subtle yet powerful tribute.
    Tribute page to Robert Prizeman in concert program.

    In Once an Angel, Victor Wiggin did the solo, with Daniel White behind him for support and second voice. It was perfect— these two boys have a lot of stage experience and you can tell, they are like the leaders for the trebles. 
    Victor Wiggin

    Then there was Gaudete, with Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz doing the introduction. It was his first solo speech ever; well done, Luke ! The staging was very dynamic. 
    Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz

    I think there was a speech after that, possibly by two boys, one being Frederick Day.? It was about the mini-boys, who started in September and were doing their fist concerts, "some of them" being just seven years old. Then the older boys were introduced as "the bigs". 
    Frederick Day

    It was underlined that some of them were still trebles and soloists just last year (Neo Parson, Laurence Taylor, Tadhg Fitzgerald, and Oliver Watt-Rodriguez were all soloists and now are back row with Nathaniel Bates Fisher, Joe Cranitch, Alexandre Menuet and Johnny Gardner). The speech ended on a joke, saying "Now we are going to say goodbyes because we do not need them for the next song”. I saw some of  the "bigs" pretending that they were sad to be sent backstage. 
    Alexandre Menuet

    Joe Cranitch

    John Gardner


    Laurence Taylor

    Nathaniel Bates Fisher

    Neo Parson

    Oliver Watt-Rodriguez

    Tadgh Fitzgerald

    The introduction to Cum Dederit is quite challenging and I was puzzled, because when the music and descants started, Dominik Clarke, the soloist, was not at the center. The boys moved as they sang, which must be difficult. We were all surprised to see this song on the set-list, since it is a challenging one. Well, Dominik does not look like it is difficult. He sure is very focused, but his voice was perfectly mastered, twice. He is an extraordinary soloist.  

    Dominik Clarke

    Next song was If, with Daniel White. Very well mastered, this is a difficult one too, the breathing is hard though it might not look like it is difficult. Daniel did it even better than last year. 
    Then there was Sing Lullaby, with solo by Dominik Clarke, with half a circle kneeling around him. I would like to underline that there was half a circle in several songs, and that we have seen new boys in these circles, like Alessandro Minarik and Ludwik Kowalczyck. (I'm not sure about Cameron Birmingham, Lewis Quinn and Joseph Hill.) 
    Alessandro Minarik

    Next song was Robert Prizeman’s arrangement of the Caccini/Vaviliov Ave Maria, which I like to see as a tribute to RP. Lewis Quinn was the soloist, center stage, though you could hear Luca Brugnoli and Daniel White supporting him. Lewis might not have felt like doing it on his own, but I am sure he could have, his voice sounds good and not shaky at all, I am eager to hear him again. Kudos to Lewis, he went fast from newbie to soloist due to the pandemic but also… thanks to his hard work. This is impressive that he has the potential to do that. 
    All the boys performed this concert like there never was a pandemic preventing them from rehearsing and performing on stage, very professionally. And it is good to see new boys stepping in and also, it is good to know that the older ones are backing them up and leading them, so thank you Daniel and Luca for leading the new boys until they will be leaders themselves. 
    Lewis Quinn

    There was another speech, saying that "Carol of the Bells" was part of the new Home Sweet Home Alone movie. I believe Joseph Hill was one of the 2 boys for this one? 

    For Carol of the Bells, the two Daniels did the vocalize, Daniel Catalogna first and Daniel White for the second one. The last solo part was by Joseph Hill, who has a very young voice but seems quite confident. I could hear Joseph really well during the first concert, I like his voice, and he is very expressive on stage. Also he is a very very good speaker, a natural one. He is very young (he was the youngest at last year's concert) This boy is a great chorister, and I hope we hear more from him soon. 
    Joseph Hill

    Then came The Wexford Carol, with another surprise, Morgan Wiltshire being the soloist, another one that rose fast from newbie to soloist. He has a young voice too, and while I had been saying that he made me think of young Steven Geraghty, I now think     he sounds like the young Liam O’Kane . Morgan was joined by two other boys (one of them, I believe, was Daniel Catalogna)?  I really liked Morgan’s voice; I hope he gets more confident and gets many more solos ! Well done !
    Morgan Wiltshire

    Another speech from Koji Shinokubo and Daniel White was next, introducing Moose, and saying that Moose has been busy and now a bunch of new mooses are waiting to find their families. Daniel suggested that their new album would be a great Christmas gift too. This was a fun way to promote the goodies. There were signed albums for sale; I think this was the first time I'd seen that. 
    Koji Shinokubo

    Poor Little Jesus was perfect, with Luca Brugnoli doing the solo, as     I believe he has for three years now.   

    Sacris Solemnis to me sounded different from the album. It’s one of my favourite songs. Luca Brugnoli and Daniel Catalogna did the descants in the middle part, just the two of them and I think it was not powerful enough compared to the album.  It still was a powerful song, and Freddie Mushrafi's solo was amazing, honestly. It gave the boy the opportunity to shine, and he does shine really. I say he has the potential of a leader, he is also expressive on stage and very good at harmonizing. Luca  did the vocalize before Freddie’s conclusion, just like on the album. 
    Freddie Mushrafi

    There was a last speech, by Freddie Mushrafi and Joseph Hill, both great speakers. They were introducing the last two songs, and wishing everyone, though a bit early, a merry Christmas. 

    Nearer My God to Thee was super good. Luca Brugnoli started, then joined by Freddie Mushrafi (awesome duet), then by Victor Wiggin (his voice shines on lower notes now, I really like it, very warm), and then when Luca is doing the high part Daniel White took over the lead and Ludwik Kowalczyk joined with Freddie on the middle part. It was the best I heard so far I think. Congratulations to Ludwik on his first "solo." Being part of a quintet sure is not an easy one ! 
    Ludwik Kowalczyk

    Just like Joseph, Morgan and Lewis, Ludwik is now a very central chorister. I do not know why exactly but Jack Spicha and Cameron Birmingham also wear microphones, which surely means they are taking charge of important leads too. The future of Libera is bright. 
    Cameron Birmingham


    Jack Spicha

    The last song was Sing for the World, very dynamic, witha lot of smiles from the boys. 

    The encore was I Saw Three Ships, very festive. 
    All in all, you could tell thatthe boys were very very very very very very happy to sing a concert, and they had a lot of fun. Lot of smiles among them, towards other boys on stage, towards Steven Geraghty as conductor, towards their families, towards the audience, and a lot of smiles to themselves because their were just happy. 

    Also they were communicating a lot on stage, especially Daniel White who has been acting as a “big brother,” checking on the boys' movements, the speeches, the newbies… He did not even look tired during the second concert, and took over another boy’s speech at the last minute. Steven Geraghty tried to hand him the script, but he would not take it, and indeed he did not need it.  He sure has an outstanding memory and feels at ease on stage. 

    Daniel White

    This concert might have been the last as trebles for Victor Wiggin, Daniel White, and Dominik Clarke, as the three of them getting older and taller. Daniel and Dominik’s voices show no sign of any change so far when they sing, but it has to be expected and it should not be long now. It was an honour to see and hear them, and also the other boys. It looked like they were all feeling relief at getting to perform at last. —padmachou

    A standing ovation


    On December 6th, a YouTube video appeared featuring former Libera soloist Camden Stewart, who joined the group in 2012, and left in 2018 (but joined in the 2019 summer Zoom concert and the 2019 and 2020 holiday concerts). In a spontaneous Christmas carol session with pianist Brendan Kavanaugh at the St. Pancras Eurostar boarding area, Camden displayed a remarkable tenor voice and an impressive ability to glide seamlessly into falsetto and back. Although he was a bit shaky on the lyrics, this was a casual performance that indicated that he'd have no trouble getting into the music school of his choice. As of December 9th, the video had garnered 110,114 hits.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qewmjGlnpw&t=28s (17-year-old Camden Stewart singing Christmas carols at an airport/December 2021/8:00)Top
    Camden with Libera

    On December 9th, a Throwback Thursday from Steve Walker:
    Today's Throwback Thursday is actually a throw forward because it's a link to the new 2022 Libera calendar. You should consider getting one of these soon if you want one because they probably won't be available for long.
    [EDIT] it appears that they are already out of stock on this item. I'm leaving the post up because I think everyone who would like a calendar and didn't get one should send them a message through their website so they will know there is enough interest for a reorder. You can send a message through this link:
    Libera 2022 Calendar
    LIBERA.ORG.UK
    Libera 2022 Calendar
    Souvenir Libera Calendar for 2022 - 1 Page per month.


    Libera Passion
    @LiberaPassion
    On December 11th, a tweet from the Libera Passion database site
    [#Libera #members update] Now introducing : Bust in silhouetteThomas Mushrafi libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1500-actuel-t Bust in silhouetteSamuel Whaley libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1501-actuel-s Bust in silhouetteJoseph Hill libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1502-actuel-j Bust in silhouetteJoseph Mycroft libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1503-actuel-j

    (Clockwise fromTop L) Thomas Mushrafi, Samuel Whaley, Joseph Mycroft, and Joseph Hill.



    3:13 AM · Dec 11, 2021Twitter Web App

    Bust in silhouetteThomas Sandoval-Herrera libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1504-actuel-t Bust in silhouetteAlessandro Minarik libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1505-actuel-a Bust in silhouettePietro Vergani libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1506-actuel-p




    (L) Alessandro Minarek; (Top R) Thomas Sandoval-Herrera; (Bottom R) Pietro Vergani

    https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1560-actuel-john-spratt?utm_campaign=popular&utm_medium=topic&utm_source=newsletter
    John Spratt

    On December 16th, The edited video of the Libera concert at St. John's Smith Square became available for streaming or purchase.

    https://libera.org.uk/news/st-johns-smith-square-concert-stream-2/(Libera concert St. John's Smith Square/ 12-5-21/digital program available for purchase) 

    https://www.sjss.org.uk/libera-0 (Libera concert St. John;s Smith Square/ 12-5-21/ program available for streaming) 

    The concert featured an impressive number of new soloists: Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz, Morgan Wiltshire, Lewis Quinn, Cameron Birmingham, Lutwig Kowalczyk, and Joseph Hill, and several other newer members who have moved up to supporting parts.

    In Mid-December, a video demonstrating that numerous Libera boys do double-duty this time of year.

    Victor Wiggin sings in Schola Cantorum carol service.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KNnO36cV8E&t=20s (School Carol Service  by members of the Cardinal Vaughn Schola Cantorum, including Libera members Laurence Taylor, Freddie Mushrafi, Victor Wiggin, Ben Bywater, Oliver Watt-Rodriguez, Ethan Barron, and Daniel White, and alumni Alessandro Mackinnon-Botti and Isaac London/39:44)

    On December 21st, a charming interview with Daniel White and bright new face Joseph Hill, revealing, among other facts, that the boys are divided into four teams, named after composers (Attwood, Tallis, Purcell, Britten) for football and other games, and that Joseph comes from a very musical family.

    Joseph Hill

    Daniel White

    https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZGnYaXZQyQtdJCyVuLHDk0YXnCVX4hMRFIX (Scala interview with Daniel White and Joseph Hill/13:57)

    On December 23rd, Libera posted photos from the SJSS December 5th Concert (some examples below).

    https://libera.org.uk/gallery/sass-2021/ (t. John’s Smith Square Concert Photo Gallery/12-05-21)

    Miniboys


    Koji Shinokubo and Moose

    Conductor Steven Geraghty at right.

    Joseph Hill gets wired for his solo by former soloist Isaac London.

    Labels by David Negrette

    On December 24th, a Christmas greeting from Libera:

    From left: Morgan Wiltshire, Joseph Hill, Dominik Clarke, miniboy, Freddie Mushrafi.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5MY72HBKI(Libera Christmas Greeting 2021/:16)

    Shortly before Christmas, Luca Brugnoli posted a video greeting (with outtakes(

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6KEhhgCpH8&t=4s (Luca Brugnoli/Silent Night/12-21/1:13)

    Luca Brugnoli and friend

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5L7GmE5CJg&t=6s (Luca Brugnoli/Silent Night/12-21/Out-take/:43)

    End of Part 14A; For Part 15 (January 1st - Present, 2022: https://15libhisttimeline.blogspot.com 



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July 5th, 2021-Present

Last Updated/Revised on December 30th, 2021. Welcome to all new readers. If you are unfamiliar with Libera, you may wish to go to Part One (...

  • July 5th, 2021-Present
    Last Updated/Revised on December 30th, 2021. Welcome to all new readers. If you are unfamiliar with Libera, you may wish to go to Part One (...