Masterclass Monday: David Archuleta’s Inspiring Version Of Silent Night

December 12, 2011 by Masterclass Lady 27 Comments


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This video of David Archuleta performing Silent Night with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra has to be the most compelling, passionate and inspiring performance of this song classic I have ever had the pleasure to see and hear.

Recorded live last Christmas and set to air on PBS on Tuesday, December 13th from 8:00-9:00 P.M., David’s arrangement of this beautiful carol is nothing short of exceptional.

His phrasing, inflection, his lyrical, seamless vocal quality and expressive interpretation, are absolutely sublime. His face is radiant throughout this song and genuinely expresses the meaning of the lyrics in every verse.

Watch how his demeanor changes for each verse. It is very evident in the third verse, where his facial expression and body language mirrors the text so very well. He wears his joy and happiness on his sleeve. It really is remarkable.

David has released a CD and DVD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Glad Christmas Tidings.

It is an absolutely exquisite “watch and listen”, capturing the spirit of Christmas through stellar vocal and instrumental performances.

It is available for hard copy or digital purchase from Amazon.com or via ITunes.

But do yourself a favor right now and listen to the video below. It is an excellent way to begin your week and to be reminded where the meaning of Christmas truly lives and breathes.

Update: You can also order Glad Christmas Tidings DVD from Deseret Book for $18.74, free shipping code, 12DaysFree

Also, I was just informed by one of my readers, Janey, that Silent Night is NOT included on the PBS special. So, if you want to enjoy the entire show, you better order yourself the DVD tout suite!

American Idol, American Idol Season 7, Christmas, David Archuleta, Music, Singing
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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27 Responses to “Masterclass Monday: David Archuleta’s Inspiring Version Of Silent Night”

  1. janey December 12, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Thank you for showcasing this exquisite performance! You can also order Glad Christmas Tidings DVD from Deseret Book for $18.74, free shipping code, 12DAYSFREE: http://deseretbook.com/?s_cid=e12111212a&utm_campaign=12days_10&utm_medium=email&utm_source=12days_10&utm_content=email_a

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  2. Masterclass Lady December 12, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Thank you Janey. I meant to add this link but was distracted here. Will add the update to the blog topic.

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  3. Pamela December 12, 2011 at 11:30 am

    Such a masterpiece rendition! David is a brilliant singer with such passion it can’t be put in words. He would have to sing it! Haha!

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  4. janey December 12, 2011 at 11:47 am

    MCL, Silent Night is a show stopper on his tour as well. I get to hear it live again, in all it’s glory, tomorrow night in my hometown!!! To say I’m excited is the understatement of the year, lol.

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  5. rhed31 December 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Thank you for the review!

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  6. janey December 12, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    Gosh, there’s something about 21,000 people giving David a standing ovation that gets me every time. Check out the orchestra’s appreciation as well 🙂

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  7. Linda Weaver-Pettingell December 12, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    I soooooooo agree with every word you said. I said to a friend the other day that when David sings Silent Night, it’s as if he is actually looking down and is actually singing it to THE Baby in the Manger.

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  8. Heidijoy December 12, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Thanks for the review Rosanne. I was lucky enough to be there and also have the CD/DVD. I’ve practically worn out one DVD. It also makes a wonderful gift !

    Hearing your description makes it all the more beautiful. Thanks for your professional review!!

    Standing O for David and standing O for you too MCL.

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  9. Kirsten December 12, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    MCL – Do you plan to review David’s other GCT performances as well? There is something about The Cat and the Mouse Carol that is so calming. “And the night skies rang and the angels sang, when love came down to the earth.”

    And there is something so magical about Angels From the Realms of Glory. Those Gloria Deos are absolutely heavenly. I also love Gesu Bambino “O come let us adore Him, adore Him Christ the Lord.” The whole concert is just…WOW!

    I agree with everything you wrote about Silent Night; this rendition is truly one of a kind.

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  10. djafan December 12, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I was there! And it was magnificent! Thank you for this great write up!

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  11. Anita December 12, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful review, Rosanne. David’s performance of Silent Night is beyond exquisite. I don’t believe there is anyone in the music business that can sing Christmas songs better than David, or as well as David for that matter. That includes the great Josh Groban and Michael Buble. So that’s saying alot!! You can hear alot of heart and passion in his voice, that many other great singers kind of lack. This is one of the things that sets David apart.

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  12. joelhss December 12, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    I agree Anita. Although, I think Josh Groban has a wonderful talent, and Michael Buble has brought back some of the sound from my youth, to me there is no one like David for delivering a song. He knows instinctively how to build a song, and I do believe that he has a story running in his head when he is singing. He is singing the story, not just the words to the story. He is the only singer that can bring out emotions in me that I didn’t know were there. It goes beyond goosebumps. I just love his phrasing, too.

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  13. Anita December 12, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    joelhss,

    I love how you said David “sings the story”. What an awesome way to describe his singing! David is so very unique. There really is no one like him, and has one of the most unmistakeable voice in music today.

    Like

  14. amy (in VA) December 12, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    I was there and this was a moment I’ll never forget! Brought me to tears (of course) and it was just beyond stunningly perfect! Thanks for the great write up! I’m bummed they are leaving it out of the special, though I knew they were gonna have to cut something.

    Like

  15. RD December 13, 2011 at 2:06 am

    Your review is “spot-on”……Listening to David sings these songs gives me amazing joy and emotion that I don’t feel when other very talented singers do them. He has that third dimention to his singing when songs such purpose, as these do. I find myself tearing up at times, or getting a cold chill, or smiling during and after his performances. For example, no artist has come close to moving me the way David’s rendition of “Silent Night” does with such perfection and emotion. It’s truly inspirational and remarkable.

    I truly hope that David will have the fortune to work with really good people in the industry that will propel him in the direction of his career that is both fulfilling to him (and therefore, to us) as well as being profitable, so that he can continue the upward spiral of his chosen career.

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  16. Masterclass Lady December 13, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    Wow David fans! Just wow! Do you know how wonderful it is to see and hear from the many, many fans that support David and his music?

    It is comforting and reassuring to know that so many people love wonderfully conceived musical performances and recordings

    Quality rules the day when David is involved and many artists could- and should- take a page from his book and walk the walk in their pursuit for excellence.

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  17. janey December 13, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    MCL, would you be interested in an “off-the-cuff” unplanned, impromptu rendition of “The Christmas Song”? Well, of course you would, lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RSl14V7Vj0

    Like

  18. Golferguy December 13, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    My new favorite Christmas song: David singing “Los Pastores a Belen” with the MoTab. It’s a fun sing-a-long in the car. Another fun moment is when you listen to some other renditions on youtube! It highlights the excellence David and the orchestra bring to the song, without losing the fun.

    Like

  19. Masterclass Lady December 13, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Janey – yay and thank you!!!!

    Like

  20. Richard December 14, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    I cant even put into words how I feel about David and his exceptional voice, It just puts me in a place of total peace. I absolutely love to listen to him sing, his voice is such a wonderful vocal instrument. He is simply amazing.

    Like

  21. Louise December 16, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    This is absolutely beautiful–angelic–I’ve been playing it over and over at work.

    Like

  22. pouncer84 December 18, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    MCL, here’s a beauty in “Mary Did You Know”. Its absolutely beyond gorgeous. David sang it at the Anaheim VIP by request.

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  23. Kirsten December 19, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    Thanks for bringing that link over here. His delivery here is beyond belief. Not only does he believe every word he sings, but he helps us to believe too. What a gift. And the crowd was silent once he started singing – awesome.

    Like

  24. Kirsten December 19, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I was referring specifically to the “Mary Did You Know” video in my above comment. Sorry if there was any confusion

    Like

  25. Erin December 20, 2011 at 2:52 am

    MCL, in case you haven’t heard…David made a special announcement in this video! I won’t reveal what it is…you’ll have to watch it yourself. Lets just say I think this will make you show even more love for him.

    Like

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