Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, violinist, and singer Caroline Shaw's 2019 oratorio "The Listeners," scored for contralto, baritone, chorus, turntable, and a Baroque orchestra. As the composer said herself, this is a piece about the wonderment of the human condition and actually looking inward at ourselves as people and thinking about whether we are truly kind to each other. It has excerpts from poets Walt Whitman, Alfred Tennyson, and William Drummond, with also added actual taped recordings of famous astronomer Carl Sagan discussing Earth. Shaw said, “He talks about Earth as this ‘pale blue dot,’ and he implores us to be kinder to each other,” as well as including the message that he delivered the Golden Record, which in the most general terms inspired the piece; the cosmic travel theme being the launching point for us to explore humanity within ourselves. Not to mention, an entire section of a panoply of greetings across multiple world languages (my personal favorite bit just from a beautiful meaning and symbolism at play here.) Shaw also stated, “You look back at Earth, look at our borders, and who we are. It’s about trying to exist and then recognizing ways in which we can help others to exist.”
She is definitely one of the most fascinating composers to listen to for me. The amount of creative direction and writing choices she puts into her music is really impressive, and I hope she keeps at the outstanding work she's put out so far in her career.
COMPOSER: Caroline Shaw
CONDUCTOR: Nicholas McGegan
ORCHESTRA: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
CHOIR: Philharmonia Chorale
VOCAL SOLOISTS:
Avery Amereau, contralto
Dashon Burton, baritone
0:00 - No. 1: Prologue
3:27 - No. 2: Let Your Soul Stand Cool
6:59 - No. 3: Greeting
11:32 - No. 4: In World's Vast Frame
16:45 - No. 5: Of a Million Million
18:35 - No. 6: That's Us
20:19 - No. 7: Maps
26:00 - No. 8: Sail Through This to That
28:35 - No. 9: Pulsar
30:40 - No. 10: Epilogue
NOTE: This is a live recording!
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
This is Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, violinist, and singer Caroline Shaw's 2019 oratorio "The Listeners," scored for contralto, baritone, chorus, turntable, and a Baroque orchestra. As the composer said herself, this is a piece about the wonderment of the human condition and actually looking inward at ourselves as people and thinking about whether we are truly kind to each other. It has excerpts from poets Walt Whitman, Alfred Tennyson, and William Drummond, with also added actual taped recordings of famous astronomer Carl Sagan discussing Earth. Shaw said, “He talks about Earth as this ‘pale blue dot,’ and he implores us to be kinder to each other,” as well as including the message that he delivered the Golden Record, which in the most general terms inspired the piece; the cosmic travel theme being the launching point for us to explore humanity within ourselves. Not to mention, an entire section of a panoply of greetings across multiple world languages (my personal favorite bit just from a beautiful meaning and symbolism at play here.) Shaw also stated, “You look back at Earth, look at our borders, and who we are. It’s about trying to exist and then recognizing ways in which we can help others to exist.”
She is definitely one of the most fascinating composers to listen to for me. The amount of creative direction and writing choices she puts into her music is really impressive, and I hope she keeps at the outstanding work she's put out so far in her career.
COMPOSER: Caroline Shaw
CONDUCTOR: Nicholas McGegan
ORCHESTRA: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
CHOIR: Philharmonia Chorale
VOCAL SOLOISTS:
Avery Amereau, contralto
Dashon Burton, baritone
0:00 - No. 1: Prologue
3:27 - No. 2: Let Your Soul Stand Cool
6:59 - No. 3: Greeting
11:32 - No. 4: In World's Vast Frame
16:45 - No. 5: Of a Million Million
18:35 - No. 6: That's Us
20:19 - No. 7: Maps
26:00 - No. 8: Sail Through This to That
28:35 - No. 9: Pulsar
30:40 - No. 10: Epilogue
NOTE: This is a live recording!
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
