Introduction to the Virtual Choir

Video 1 for the Virtual Choir 2011

Eric Whitacre introduces us to the Virtual Choir, and tells us how it came about and went on to be a YouTube phenomenon.

Eric Whitacre: SLEEP VIRTUAL CHOIR

[Singing voices in background, all through the presentation: choral musical excerpt from "Sleep"]

>> ERIC: It all started with this one young
girl who sent me this video of herself singing

one of my choral pieces, and I was struck
so hard by it - the beauty, the intimicy of it...

(Eric Whitacre. Composer and Conductor)

...the sweetness of it, and I thought it would
be amazing if we could get 100 people

to do this and cut it all together and make
a virtual choir. So I then went into the studio

and I conducted in total silence, and I could
only hear it in my head, and I loaded all of

that up to YouTube, and I sent out a call
to singers across the world and the response

was totally overwhelming. We had 185 singers
from 12 different countries. It was all about

connecting with these people all over the world...
and... these individuals, alone, together.

When we did "Lux", then I think we really started
getting it, so this time we're going to go

back, do "Sleep" for real. Just the way I always
imagined it would be. For me, singing together

and making music together is a fundamental
human experience, and I love the idea that

technology can bring people together from
all over the world and get people to participate

in this... in this transcending experience.

To be a part of the next Virtual Choir, visit: WWW.ERICWHITACRE.COM