An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los Angeles Times has praised his compositions as "works of unearthly beauty and imagination, (with) electric, chilling harmonies"; while the BBC raves that "what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer belief that passes any pretension. This is music that can actually make you smile.”
Though he had received no formal training before the age of 18, his first experiences singing in college choir changed his life, and he completed his first concert work, Go, Lovely, Rose, at the age of 21. Eric went on to the Juilliard School, earning his Master of Music degree and studying with Pulitzer Prize- and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano.
Many of Whitacre's works have entered the standard choral and symphonic repertories and have become the subject of several recent scholarly works and doctoral dissertations. His works Water Night, Cloudburst, Sleep, Lux Aurumque and A Boy and a Girl are among the most popular choral works of the last decade, and his Ghost Train, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, and October have achieved equal success in the symphonic wind community. To date, Whitacre's published works have received thousands of performances and have sold well over 750,000 copies worldwide. He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.
As a conductor, Whitacre has appeared with hundreds of professional and educational ensembles throughout the world. In the last ten years he has conducted concerts of his choral and symphonic music in Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, South America and much of Europe, as well as dozens of American universities and colleges where he regularly conducts seminars and lectures with young musicians. Over the past few years, these loyal fans and supporters have moved online, spreading Eric’s popularity to an ever-expanding worldwide audience. Upcoming commissions include works for The King’s Singers with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and an oratorio - featuring full orchestra, choir, and soloists – celebrating the opening of the new Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, TX.
His music has been featured on dozens of commercial and independent recordings. His first recording, The Music of Eric Whitacre, was hailed by The American Record Guide as one of the top ten classical albums of 1997. In 2006, a full collection of his a cappella music, Cloudburst and Other Choral Works, was released on the renowned British classical label Hyperion Records. The album quickly became an international best seller, appearing in the top ten of both Billboard’s and iTune’s Top Classical Albums charts. Two years after its debut, the critically acclaimed release continues to be a top-seller. The collection earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance.
Most recently, Whitacre has received acclaim for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, a cutting edge musical combining trance, ambient and techno electronica with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, this musical also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for most promising musical theater composer. Following its sold-out run, the most recent production earned 10 nominations at the 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical.
Mr. Whitacre lives in Los Angeles with his wife, celebrated soprano Hila Plitmann, and their son.
Whitacre: The Seal Lullaby
Eric Whitacre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And black are the waters that sparkled so green
The moon, o'er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!
The Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre is a beautiful and evocative song that captures the essence of a mother's love and protection for her child in the midst of a storm. In the first verse, we see the mother comforting her baby, telling them that it's okay to rest because the night is behind them and the once sparkling green waters are now black. The moon can be seen hovering over the waves, looking down at them. The second verse describes the gentle motion of the sea, as the baby snuggles into their mother for safety. The mother tells her baby that no matter how fierce the storm may be, or how many sharks may lurk beneath the surface, they will be protected and safe in the warm embrace of the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! Hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us
Quiet down, my child, the darkness has passed
And black are the waters that sparkled so green
The once glowing waters are now dark
The moon, o'er the combers, looks downward to find us
The moon casts a gaze upon us from above the waves
At rest in the hollows that rustle between
We lie at peace in the spaces between waves
Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow
In the midst of the waves, let your bed be soft
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease
Weary young creature, relax without worry
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee
You need not fear waking from the storm or being caught by a shark
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!
We rest peacefully in the calm, gentle embrace of the sea
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: RUDYARD KIPLING, ERIC E WHITACRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shematite
I physically cannot listen to this song without crying. Every. Single. Time.
@InavanAswegen
...because it is healing you need..
@seasong707
"The Seal Lullaby" is in complete sincerity one of my favourite musical compositions. The emotional experience of the concept of the lullaby, an assurance by a benevolent caretaker that you will be safe, in body and in soul, that you can trust the world in your most vulnerable state - is something not only children, and not only I, resonate with on the deepest levels of the mind. As Whitacre himself guides us through his profoundly moving melody, I don't even need to listen to the words to hear this idea of loving care, this hopeful spirit made into music, as well as the wonder and awe of the world I so easily lose sight of. And never have I heard a performance bring out Whitacre's beauty so completely, than the one we have the privilege of experiencing here, free of charge. I bow to Christopher Glynn and to VOCES8 - a vocal group bringing together singers with such immense and utter mastery of their craft that I find they consistently, frighteningly, come near the borders of perfection.
@fxrivrgirl
🤍
@sans3go342
Not to be a downer but have you heard Whitacres "When David Heard?" - I was an emotional wreck after hearing that.
@desmondveldhuijsen3770_OHIO
yes!
@theovlach
Well said.
@cht2162
Would love to hear V8 sing this piece a capella.
@ronbarzilai5705
VOCES8 + Eric Whitacre = bliss
@thebarghestiest
I lost my mom just under two years ago and discovering this song has brought me so much comfort. I can hear this in her voice so easily. Beautiful performance.