Eric Whitacre’s When David Heard is one of the most beautiful pieces of choral music written in our times, or any other.
From ericwhitacre.com:
“The text, one single, devastating sentence, is from the King James Bible; II Samuel, 18:33:
When David heard that Absalom was slain he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, my son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!”
I found it impossible to not connect this sad article from a Pennsylvania news site with this shattering music, and, from now on, vice versa.
(Link no longer available)
