Known for its exceedingly high vocal standard, the choir has worked with musicians including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Caldara, Antonio Salieri, Heinrich Isaac, Paul Hofhaimer, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Johann Joseph Fux, Christoph Willibald Gluck, and Anton Bruckner.
The choir is the modern-day descendant of the boys' choirs of the Viennese Court, dating back to the late Middle Ages. The choir was, for practical purposes, established by a letter written by Maximilian I on 7 July 1498. In the letter the Emperor instructed court officials to employ a singing master, two basses and six boys. A Slovene, Jurij Slatkonja, became the director of the ensemble.
The role of the choir (numbering between fourteen and twenty) was to provide musical accompaniment to the church mass. The boys received a solid musical education, which in most cases had a significant impact on the rest of their lives, as many went on to become professional musicians. Composers Jacobus Gallus, Franz Schubert, and conductors Hans Richter, Felix Mottl and Clemens Krauss were members of the choir.[1]
In 1920 the Hofkapelle (court musicians) was disbanded. However, the rector at the time, Josef Schnitt, sought a continuation of the tradition. In 1924 the "Vienna Boys' Choir" was officially founded and has extended into being a professional music group. Since 1948 the Palais Augarten has served as their rehearsal venue and boarding school which goes from kindergarten level up to middle school level.
The choir is a private, not-for-profit organization. There are approximately 100 choristers between the ages of ten and fourteen. The boys are divided into four touring choirs, which perform about 300 concerts each year in front of almost 500,000 people. Each group tours for about nine to eleven weeks.
Dr. Eugen Jesser became the choir's president in 2001 and its director in 2003. Gerald Wirth became the choir's artistic director in 2001.
Fantasy
Vienna Boys Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the world can't erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship fantasii
All your dreams will come true, right away
And we will live together, until the twelfth of never
Our voices will ring forever, as one
Bringing life to our kingdom of doing
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship fantasii
All your dreams will come true, miles away
Our voices will ring together until the twelfth of never,
We all, will live forever, as one
Come see victory, in the land called fantasy
Loving life, a new decree,
Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
Our minds will explore together, old worlds, we conquer, forever
We then, will expand love together, as one
Come to see, victory in a land called fantasy,
Loving life, for you and me, to behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find, other kind, that has been in search for you,
Many lives has brought you to
Recognize it's your life, now in review
And as you stay for the play, fantasy, has in store for you,
A glowing light will see you through
It's your day, shining day, all your dreams come true
As you glide, in your stride with the wind, as you fly away
Give a smile, from your lips, and say
I am free, yes I'm free, now I'm on my way
The Vienna Boys Choir's song "Fantasy" tells of a world where every man has a place in his heart, where his fantasies and dreams can come true. It speaks of a ship called fantasii, where all of our dreams can be realized, and where we will live together until the twelfth of never, with our voices ringing in harmony forever as one. The song continues by suggesting that every thought is a dream, and that by taking a ride on our ship fantasii, our dreams will truly come true, bringing life to a kingdom of doing. The lyrics also suggest that victory can be found in the land called fantasy, and that by bringing our minds to everlasting liberty, we can explore old worlds and expand love together forever.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was written by Maurice White, Verdine White, and Eddie Del Barrio of the popular band Earth, Wind & Fire. The song was released in 1980 on their album "Faces". Another interesting fact about the Vienna Boys Choir's recording of the song is that it was arranged by their conductor, Gerald Wirth. The song features a soaring arrangement that showcases the choir's remarkable harmonic abilities, with the piece building to a rousing climax that is both inspiring and uplifting.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it has been covered by numerous artists around the world, including the American singer and pianist Billy Joel, who performed a version of the song at a tribute concert for Maurice White in 2018. The song has also been featured in numerous movies and television shows, including the 2002 film "Narc" and the 1983 television adaptation of the comic book hero "Superman".
Overall, the lyrics of the Vienna Boys Choir's rendition of "Fantasy" are a testament to the power of imagination and the importance of holding onto our dreams and fantasies. The song encourages us to explore the possibilities of our imaginations and to never give up on the things that we most desire.
Chords:
Unfortunately, we do not have the chords to the Vienna Boys Choir's rendition of "Fantasy".
Line by Line Meaning
Every man has a place, in his heart there's a space, And the world can't erase his fantasies
Every person has a unique place in their heart where their deepest desires reside. No matter what may happen in the world around us, our fantasies remain unerasable.
Take a ride in the sky, on our ship fantasii, All your dreams will come true, right away
Join us on our imaginary voyage to the heavens, where all of your wildest dreams can be instantly realized.
And we will live together, until the twelfth of never, Our voices will ring forever, as one
Our unity and harmony will endure indefinitely, never fading away even after countless years have passed.
Every thought is a dream, rushing by in a stream, Bringing life to our kingdom of doing
Our every thought and dream is like a flowing river, giving life and vitality to the world of our own creation.
Our voices will ring together until the twelfth of never, We all, will live forever, as one
We will continue to harmonize and sing in unison until the end of time, our collective spirit and essence living on together in perfect harmony.
Come see victory, in the land called fantasy, Loving life, a new decree, Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
Experience the triumphs of life in our magical realm of fantasy, where newfound love and freedom await you.
Our minds will explore together, old worlds, we conquer, forever, We then, will expand love together, as one
As our minds entwine and explore ancient worlds together, we shall forever conquer, expanding love and mutual understanding as a collective entity.
Come to see, victory in a land called fantasy, Loving life, for you and me, to behold, to your soul is ecstasy
Witness the triumphs of life in our fantastical realm, where the feeling of being truly alive is shared between us all and fills your soul with boundless joy.
You will find, other kind, that has been in search for you, Many lives has brought you to Recognize it's your life, now in review
You will finally discover those of a similar kind to yourself, who have long searched for your presence. The experiences and paths you have taken in life have culminated in this moment of self-realization.
And as you stay for the play, fantasy, has in store for you, A glowing light will see you through
As you stay to witness and partake in the wondrous fantasy we have created, a radiant light will guide and enlighten you every step of the way.
It's your day, shining day, all your dreams come true, As you glide, in your stride with the wind, as you fly away, Give a smile, from your lips, and say, I am free, yes I'm free, now I'm on my way
Today is the day where all of your dreams come vividly to life. As you glide effortlessly through the wind, relish in the sensation of pure freedom and joy. Smile and revel in your newfound liberation as you soar away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eddie Del Barrio, Maurice White, Verdine White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind