January 1st, 2022 -July 4th, 2021



Last Updated/Revised on September 18th, 2021 Please note: this section was damaged by imported text and may have some inconsistencies. It ends on July 4th. 

For Part 14A (July 5th - Present, 2021please go to: https://histtimeline14alibera.blogspot.com


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

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 (January 1st, 2018 – Present, please go to: 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 - Present, 2021: https://histtimeline14alibera.blogspot.com



TABLE OF CONTENTS

• (December 6th SJSS Viking video)

• (Libera Footnote: A Family Affair)

• (Various Videos from SJSS Concert)

• 2001 Christian Science Monitor Review Revisited

• Mystery Instagram Photo

• 2017 US Tour Video from Libera of the US

• St. Philip's Video of Taizé Singing

• New CD IF Announced


########################### 

This is the 14th year of the Libera Historical Timeline, which is now read in over 90 countries.   

(Top dozen last year): 

United Kingdom

United States

Hungary

Germany

Singapore

Slovakia

South Africa

Ukraine

Netherlands

South Korea


For all those who would like to know more about the individual boys of Libera, I continue to recommend the wonderful Libera Passion site, stewarded by Patrick Fandelok and Quentin (aka The Furby). This site (in French, but fairly easy for non-Francophones to decipher) maintains an up-to-date photo, media, tour, and concert record of:

• "Membres Réguliers" (Current Members) — Boys who have participated in the most recent concert or tour.
• "Miniboys" — This is Libera lingo for young singers in training. Names are not paired with faces unless the boys have been positively identified by photo.
• "Absents du Dernier Concert" — Singers who have performed regularly with the group, but were absent from the previous concert or tour.
• "Anciens Membres" — Former Libera singers, going back to the 1980s, wnen the group appeared as the St. Philip's Boys' Choir, and then,  post-1987, as "Angel Voices."
• "Staff" — Staff members (often Libera alumni) and their roles with the group.
• "Liens" — Family groupings of brothers or cousins who have been members of Libera.
 
You can click on each boy's photo to see additional photos and statistics (if available) on that singer. The site also hosts an active fan forum (in French) with reviews, photos, and discussions.

Go to: http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1110-apercu-des-membres-actuels-maj-decembre-2016#24512

The Libera Passion Site also provides a wonderful set of databases. This is primarily the ongoing work of "The Furby," long-time co-host of the site, and has been a marvelous boon to Libera fans.

 

(Discography of St. Philip's Boys' Choir and Angel Voices releases/1987-1999): http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1272-la-discographie-st-philip-s-boy-choir-angel-voices#26744

(Discography of official Libera releases/1999-present): http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1273-la-discographie-libera#26746 

(Discography of alternative releases for St. Philip's/Angel Voices/Libera/1988-present): http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1279-les-editions-alternatives#26837 

 (Alphabetical listing of all songs sung by St. Philip’s/Angel Voices/Libera, with links to videos for each): http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1280-les-morceaux-interpretes-par-le-st-philip-s-boy-choir-angel-voices-libera#26871

 (Listing by year and description of all Libera Tours and Concerts) http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1329-les-concerts-et-sorties-prestations-live-de-libera-2000-present

(Mapping of all concert locations) http://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1367-la-cartographie-des-concerts#27778  

*******************************************

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Yet another fine source of Libera information is the Libera Dreams Discussion Forum http://www.forum.libera-dreams.com/



Another evolving resource, instituted in 2019 by a fan who goes by "Dinedorelle," is the Libera Members Timeline, in the form of a spreadsheet which traces the careers of over 200 boys (including early singers and miniboys who never toured or recorded with the group). 

The site includes the ages of the boys when they joined Libera (if known), their present ages (the earliest identified singer, Andrew Hopkins, apparently turned 50 in 2019), photos, and a separate staff spreadsheet. 

  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11EdLQZt0PnKXeTjfApiOY-ES4MgXFN6pdsAjDQcPEnE/edit?usp=sharing (Libera Members Timeline; note, this complex site may occasionally go offline while it incorporates new material.)




PART 14


On January 3rd, The December 6th St. John's Smith Square Concert was made available as a limited release on Youtube by Viking Cruise Lines, a frequent Libera tour sponsor. It included an introduction by Daniel White, Victor Wiggin, and Freddie Mushrafi (shown above).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8hN9UHWkDU&feature=youtu.be (December 6th, 2020 St. John's Smith Square Concert/102:48)


On January 6th, Steve Walker pointed out an article from the Baltimore (Maryland, USA) Sun that detailed how Libera had helped local families to celebrate the lives of local COVID victims.


The tribute, which lasted about an hour, included musical performances by singers and musicians appearing in person and via video link. Iain Forrest, a New York City-based cellist and singer/songwriter, and the Libera Boys Choir of London, England, performed via video.
Libera appears on this video from about 6:35 to 19:32, with an introduction by Daniel White, and older audio and video renditions of "The Prayer" and "Angel." https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=3633609590023317&ref=watch_permalink
On January 10th, Libera released "Noël Nouvelet," another video from the St. John's Smith Square December 6th concert. https://youtu.be/MJU61fkNVV4

On January 14th, Patrick tweeted some new Libera profiles:

Clockwise from upper L: Hal Avery, Cameron Birmingham, Daniel Catalogna, Frederick Day

Libera Passion
@LiberaPassion
[update] #Libera #members New profiles! Hal Avery
Right pointing backhand index
libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1404-actuel-h Cameron Birmingham
Right pointing backhand index
libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1407-actuel-c Daniel Catalogna
Right pointing backhand index
libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1411-actuel-d Frederick Day
Right pointing backhand index
libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1409-actuel-f
Ludwik Kowalczyk: https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1405-actuel-ludwik-kowalczyk



Morgan Wiltshire: https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1410-actuel-morgan-wiltshire


And Lewis Quinn: https://libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1408-actuel-lewis-quinn
udwik
  k

 On January 23rd, Libera released the concert video of "Walking in the Air," with Luca Brugnoli soloing.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz6-rLBCqc


On February 7th,  'Sing Lullaby (The Infant King)' from the December 6th, 2020 St. John's Smith Square concert, with a  solo performance by Dominik Clarke, was officially released  on YouTube. 
Dominik Clarke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfTqfcjdtoY(Sing Lullaby [The Infant King]/solo by Dominik Clarke/St. John's Smith Square/ December 6th, 2020/4:44)
In mid-February, the discovery of two videos by tech-artist/Libera fan Sebastien. The first contains stunning three-dimensional portraits of 2020 members (at this point only slightly out of date), accompanied by their full names, a boon for those trying to become familiar with the current singers (no new miniboys). 


A second video turns many of these portraits into cartoon figures:

Calam Tamana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0NQtnLIvhs&fbclid=IwAR1whXGLCBb8Lzjhhm_1Edv45z1xp_dax3hdIL8vfnOPkaVKtX3WnMO3iEQ 

On February 19th, Libera released a video of "The Angel Gabriel" from the 12/06/2020 concert, with Victor Wiggin as soloist.

Victor Wiggin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZup-E-owYg&feature=emb_logo (The Angel Gabriel/solo by Victor Wiggin/12-6-2020/3:21)


On March 15th, a tweet from Patrick Fandelok with the latest Libera Passion members' info:


New #members database addition: about 80 entries to include every former boy that had no profile yet - and update existing ones along the way.
Grinning face
 libera-passion.exprimetoi.net/t1110-les-memb
(Screenshot: go to site to click on each category)

Going back through the 'Leiden era' & earlier was great fun. See below for a detailed listing and links.

Bravo, Patrick!


On March 20th, Libera posted the St. John's Smith Square concert video of "Total Praise." https://youtu.be/7bab_yvcTx8 (Total Praise/solo by Daniel White/St. John's Smith Square 2020/2:27) 


In mid-March, this informal video appeared, in which we got to hear the individual voices of Ben Bywater, Mathias Montoro, Alex Gula*, Tadgh Fitzgerald, Oliver Mycka, Nathaniel Bates-Fisher*, and Rocco Tesei. The lower voices* are seldom heard individually elsewhere.


Sound-check chuckles with Calam Tamana, Rocco Tesei, Lawrence Davey and Victor Wiggin,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZq11oNfo9s (Libera Sound Check/Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, MO/2019/1:00)

On Sunday, April 4th, Libera posted a brief video of the boys offering Easter greetings:

This is a screenshot; the actual video was at this point available only on Twitter. It featured some of the boys wishing a "Happy Easter to all of our friends." For Easter photos of some of the individual boys, go to  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNQIdmDsxEj/?target_user_id=3288165957&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest_email&click_source=media&__bp=1

On April 15th, fan Steve Walker re-visited a pair of interviews with brilliant Angel Voices soloist Oliver Putland (images below from Libera Members Database). Throwback Thursday

Oliver Putland, one of the most prolific soloists during the St. Philips Boys Choir days, talks as an adult about his days in the group. This conversation with Oliver was originally published on the Mini-Angels blog (https://bit.ly/3a5Kduw)

In early May, This 2019 look at life on tour surfaced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kFrRw3tSPg (Boys on bus singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”/2019/:30 












There's lots of things going on that video. Leo Barron for example seemed 
not in the mood for singing, Tadgh Fitzgerald was slapping the heads of Ben
 Bywater, Neo Parson and Victor Wigginwith his flip flop, Dominick Clarke 
and Joe Cranitch looked like they're having a duet, Lawrence Taylor was
 definitely enjoying the moment same goes with Cassius Collard, Nathaniel 
Bates-Fisher and of course the rest of the boys. Eimear McGeown, Josh 
Madine, [Nathaniel Brawn] and the rest of the crew at the back were just
 chilling it. These short videos from Libera of the US capture a very special 
moment with the group.—Patrick?

On May 9th, in the absence of current news, Patrick Fandelok rediscovered
 a fascinating article from 2001: Not exactly an interview, but this article
from 2001 still has some interest and some answers from Robert Prizeman and
Steven Geraghty.
















Steven Geraghty is front and center in the above photo, Liam O' Kane at
 right.
https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1228/p18s1-almp.html

These Choirboys Sing in Sync, Not 'N Sync
Libera is Classical Music's Answer to Kid Pop Groups.

December 28, 2001
By Benjamin Ivry Special to The Christian Science Monitor 











Liam O' Kane




Excerpts from another written interview, with Liam O'Kane, in 2012. 
https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2012/ju ... okane-4657


Also on May 9th, a post from Patrick on the Libera dreams Forum: Today Sunday 5/9 
 an intriguing photo, with 17 boys in white dresses.
The caption simply says "Work with a view!"


The photo touched off much speculation, especially 
concerning a possible video shoot, as well as attempts to identify the 17 boys from an enlarged and numbered photo.


Patrick's Guesses:
01 Frederick Day (?)
02 : Hal Avery
03 : Morgan Wiltshire
04 : Nathan Slater
05 : Calam Tamara
06 : Dominik Clarke (?)
07 : Daniel Catalogna (?)
08 : Ludwik Kowalczyk (?)
09 : Lewis Quinn (?)
10 : Daniel White (?)
11 : Jack Spicha
12 : Laurence Davey (?)
13 : Nathaniel Bates-Fisher
14 : Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz (?)
15 : Koji Shinokubo
16 : Luca Brugnoli (?)
17 : Cameron Birmingham

padmachou's Guesses:
01 : Frederick Day
02 : Hal Avery
03 : Morgan Wiltshire
04 : Nathan Slater
05 : Calam Tamara
06 : Dominik Clarke
07 : Daniel Catalogna or Ludwik Kowalczyk ?
08 : Freddie Mushrafi
09 : Lewis Quinn
10 : Daniel White 
11 : Jack Spicha
12 : Laurence Davey
13 : Mathias Montoro ?
14 : Luke Batteson-Dalpiaz
15 : Koji Shinokubo
16 : Luca Brugnoli
17 : Cameron Birmingham

On May 16th, Libera of the US posted a 57-minute YouTube video of 
the group's 2017 US tour. It included live performances, interviews with the boys, and
 a great deal of sightseeing and romping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3uWD9i7zAI&t=16s (Libera 2017 US Tour/57:00)


Merlin Brouwer solos in "From a Distance" in Garden Grove, California.


The boys play a table game. Identifiable from L: Camden Stewart, 
Emanuele Borelli, Alessandro Mackinnon-Botti, and Merlin Brouwer. Gabriel 
Collins takes a shot, and Gregor Lumsden is behind him.
The following songs were featured (thanks to Glenn Jalmas):

02:04 - Agnus Dei (qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis) [Rehearsal]
02:19 - Orinoco Flow [Rehearsal]
02:29 - I'm Dreaming Of Home [Rehearsal]
02:42 - Sacris Solemnis [Rehearsal]
06:03 - ?
06:15 - Agnus Dei (qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis) [Rehersal]
13:38 - Smile [Rehearsal]
15.42 - From A Distance [Concert in Garden Grove, California], Solo by Merlin
16:43 - How Great Thou Art [Concert in Garden Grove, California], Solo by Alex G
24:38 - Smile [Concert in Houston, Texas], Solo by Gabriel, Flute solo by Rocco
33:31 - San Damiano [Rehearsal]
36:35 - San Damiano [Concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma]
43:50 - ?
49:26 - Wayfaring Stranger [Concert in Saint Louis, Missouri]

Patrick
@fan_de_LoK

Everyone goes now back to the Plastic Head site. The track list of the new CD If is now onlineGrinning face plastichead.com/item.aspx?catn

15 songs, with five brand-new ones.

TRACK LIST

1. Once an Angel
2. Let Me Make Songs 
3. If 
4. Cum Dederit
 
11. Sacris Solemnis 
12. Deep Peace - Gaelic Blessing 
13. Nunc Dimittis  
14. Home
15. Lux AEterna

Colour : None
Product type : Compact Disc
Item no. : IHCD90


On July 8th. fans Surpinto (in blue) and bachmahlerfan contributed an analysis of the
 possible song
 contents of the new CD. Interpolations from others are in pink.

Surpinto: Let's go track by track and see/discuss what we think we know. 
Only
big surprise is the title track is that the third song. While it's certainly not 
unheard of 
to do that in an album arrangement, I was surprised by it all the same. So come speculate
with me! 
 

bachmahlerfan: Well, I have a few things to say about this album. Some
 of the tracks were obviously expected for any of us who follow Libera
year-round. There could be a couple of surprises. Overall, this album will 
certainly feature a wide range of musical genres/styles.


LIBERA'S ROBES THROUGH THE YEARS


Part One of this Timeline gives an overview of all the on- and offstage

 getups that St. Philip's Choir/Angel Voices/Libera have worn through the

 years.

For Part One (introduction to Libera and to the Timeline, 

extensive overview & 1981-2007), please go to: 

http://liberatimeline.blogspot.com/ 

This Libera Dreams post from "alcealcesobservator" goes into even

 greater detail.


Just for fun, I decided to overview the changes in Libera's robes. 

First Album, 1987: Robes are ankle length, and flared from the hip with
 obvious ruching on all side seams. Neckline is gathered, reminiscent of a 
surplice, and there is a substantial cowl hood. 

Image
Sleeve ruching is especially evident in this still from "Light the Candles". Image

Alan Tischmarch program, 1990: Picture is blurry, but robes are no longer 
ruched. Cowl hoods are still used. 
Image
The change is obvious on the 1993 CD cover:
Image

Visible here on Liam O'Kane in 1997 is the deeply overlapping cowl hood, 
and what appears to be three box pleats on each shoulder.The robes had drop
 shoulders, as apparent by the horizontal sleeve seem visible in the lower right 
corner of the picture.

Image

Here's a trial run of a two-piece getup--according to Libera Historian Amie
 Hill, this picture was "probably taken around 1999". The ensemble appears
 to be an oversized surplice over the 1990's pleat-front robe.

Image

This picture from the early 2000's shows shows the robes with side slits.
Image

In the 2001 video of Lachrymosa, the robes seem unchanged, but are belted.











Vespera, 2001:The neckline pleats are clearly knife pleats. Note how "crisp" 
and heavy the hood material is

. Image

By 2005, the robe-buying committee had settled on a simpler design, and had 
done away with pleats and side slits. Image

There was still some variation in the robes, though subtle-- Here, in 2009, the
 boys are wearing robes with hoods that open at the throat...

Image
while here, also in 2009, the boys are wearing cowl hoods.Image
Notice how in 2012, Isaac London's hood begins at his throat, while hood of
the boy behind him (Dylan Duffy) has a much deeper overlap, crossing over to the left:
Image

In 2013, Libera switched their robes again. In the 2013 Taiwan tour, robe hoods began 
at the throat...

and by the Philippines tour later that year they were all wearing cowl hoods, which now
seem to be a permanent fixture.

(End of "Robes" discussion)

On May 27th, a post by theriverflowson on the Libera Dreams Forum focused on a 5/24 announcement of a rule change for the gathering of choices. From the BBC:

[On May 24th] the government updated their guidelines, without warning, to say that amateur choirs in England could only gather in groups of six people indoors and 30 outdoors.

The decision was as unexpected as it was unwelcome. Choirs had been working under the assumption that restrictions on rehearsals would be relaxed on 17 May, at the same time as shops, bars and hairdressers opened up.

Instead, the guidelines were actually more draconian than the ones in place last September and October - when infection rates were higher, and no-one had been vaccinated.


BBC: Amateur choirs 'devastated' at Covid rule change in England


The Guardian: Distraught choirs forced back to Zoom after late Covid rule change in England

In social networks this topic is discussed under the hashtag #SingingMatters and there evenis a Petition on the UK Parliament website  that could need some more signers.—alcealcesobservator
On May 29th, former Libera soloist (2011-2013) Michael Ustynovich-Repa (wisely shortening his name to "Michael Usty") posted an impressive YouTube recording of hiswork as a composer. 



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U5BGDDGZ9U

  (Michael Ustynovich-Repa composition: Fall of Acheli II/2021/1:27) 
MICHAEL USTY - FALL OF ACHELII (BOOK SOUNDTRACK)
125 views
•May 29, 2021
780 subscribers
I have started to write a fantasy fiction novel, inspired by the likes of Game of Thrones. I got bored and decided to write a hypothetical soundtrack to my own book. Very much Ramin Djawadi / Game of Thrones inspired.

A recent post from surpinto on the Libera Dreams Forum:

Libera has announced a concert on 5th December 2021 at St John’s Smith Square in London. Let's hope this happens for them!
Many of our supporters will know that we are scheduled to tour in Japan in the Autumn. Unfortunately, due to the current uncertain international travel situation, the difficult decision has been made to cancel the tour. We hope things return to normal soon so that we can be back in Japan in 2022.

Anyone who has already purchased concert tickets should visit https://libera-records.com to find out how to claim a refund.

In other news we are planning a concert in St John’s Smith Square in London, on 5th December 2021. We will publish more details in due course.
In May, Libera re-tweeted a momentous announcement:


On June 21st, fan Dmitry Fomin posted a hidden treasure from the past: the St Philip's Boys' Choir joining the Ss. Peter and Paul Clifton Cathedral Taizé Group & Choir, Bristol in a TV program "Titchmarsh On Song" (1992). Part "Ampleforth College". # 1. Song “Christus Resurrexit”. # 2. Song “Surrexit Dominus Vere”

It's explained in this lovely video that the small village of Taizé, in France, has become a center of pilgrimage, and has developed its own adaptable form of call-and-response chant, suitable for both unaccompanied singing and musical accompaniment. From Wikipedia: 
The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian monastic fraternity in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of more than one hundred brothers, from Catholic and Protestant traditions, who originate from about thirty countries across the world. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, a Reformed Protestant. Guidelines for the community’s life are contained in The Rule of Taizé written by Brother Roger and first published in French in 1954.[1]

Taizé has become one of the world's most important sites of Christian 

pilgrimage, with a focus on youth. Over 100,000 young people from 

around the world make pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, 

Bible study, sharing, and communal work. Through the community's

 ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the spirit of kindness, 

simplicity and reconciliation. The community's church, the Church of Reconciliation, 

was inaugurated on 6 August 1962. It was designed by a Taizé member 

and architect, Brother Denis. Young Germans from Action Reconciliation 

Service for Peace, created for reconciliation after World War II, assumed 

the work of building it. Owing to the founder's commitment, since its 

inception the community has evolved into an important site for Catholic–

Lutheran ecumenism. A Catholic, Brother Alois, succeeded as prior after

 his predecessor's death in 2005.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fS5Uw9Vl2A Ss. Peter and Paul Clifton Cathedral Taizé Group & Choir & St. Philip’s Boys’ Choir/ Taizé Chants/Christus Resurrexit' & 'Surrexit Dominus Vere'/David Ogden, Director/6:17)



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 siteplastichead 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. I can't help but notice that the item 
ID number is wrong. IHCD90 is the item number for the Apart But Together EP 
which Libera released after their June 2020 virtual concert; so the correct number
 should be IHCD91 or higher.
On July 7th, another tweet from Patrick:

 



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































ne is "Cum Dederit". It reminds of course the one performed by Gerard 
Lesne. 
Can't wait to hear it ! 
































































































































































































Part 14 now ends here; For Part 14a (July 5th - Present, 2021: https://histtimeline14alibera.blogspot.com




(The above line refuses to be removed—probably the source of the trouble in the first place. Please ignore it.















Once an Angel: Another collaboration with Takatsugu Muramatsu along the same linesas the similarly named"Angel", or perhaps it could be the Neil Young song?  Once an Angel: I agree with others that the Neil Young song by that name would be the most unlikely Libera cover ever attempted. Having read the lyrics, I don't think any of the choristers have had the life experience to sing about such things. Well, I suppose Robert Prizeman could do the solo part! Anyways, I'm inclined to think that it will be an original composition.I know Sam Coates has surprised us in the past,but this would be really weird.
(Note by TullyBascombe): Neil Young's "Once An Angel" is a country love song. I cannot remotely conceive of Libera singing it. I mean, what next? Jimmy Buffet? Willie Nelson? Johnny Cash?
Let me make songs: We know this one from the December 2020 St John’s Smith Square concert which was streamed due to Covid. A cool song!
Let me Make Songs: This one is no surprise. I'm just curious to hear what differences there are from the concert. I'm hoping this is not the only original composition on the album.
If: A very tender song we also heard sung for the first time at St John’s Smith Square in December by Daniel White. I look forward to this one as it was a fave from that concert for me.
If: I know I'm going to enjoy this one. I enjoyed the concert version, but I think I will likeDaniel's solo on the album more. When I see Libera get lumped into the Classical Crossover or New Age category, I get aannoyed because tracks like this show that they don't fit neatly into one category.

Cum Dederit

The Vivaldi piece perhaps?"




 once you're in the "Store", type "libera" in the search box. In the results, the top row will show In the third week in July, excerpts from If were made available online at:

https://music.apple.com/hk/album/if/1577393910?l=en (Site for 

listening to excerpts from If). Fan padmachou shared views on some of the 

tracks:

Fan padmachou offered commentary on the tracks via the Libera Dreams

Forum:

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 Ed Day 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
Libera - Once an angel
Choose your preferred music service
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, many now singing as full choir members.




On August 6th, two tweets from Libera:





























On August 11th, "Once an Angel" became available 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 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

Home
YOUTUBE.COM
Home



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.







A day or two later, a link appeared with Isaac singing "The Tender Trap" 
with his school's swing band: https://fb.watch/7Sc72iyU8N/

(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:

(The donation button can be found at

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


End of Part 14 for Now

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