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| This photo was taken by Nevine Zaki, in Cairo, Egypt. |
Collaborations can be used to address problems, and bring change. Collaborations can also be used to make stunning creative projects, uniting people from around the world, and inspiring many others.
Eric Whitacre is a composer, singer, and writer. He was inspired by the potential for the Internet to bring people together. In 2009 he began a project called the Virtual Choir to connect singers from all over the world. He released his music, and a video of him conducting the music. He asked singers to submit a YouTube video singing a part of the song. Every YouTube submission is collected and assembled to make the virtual choir performance of the song. For the performance of Sleep, 2052 videos were assembled.
Sleep features a poem by Charles Antony Silvestri. You can see the words in the video bellow. The text of the poem is beneath the video.
The Video: Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 2.0, Sleep
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 2.0, 'Sleep' from Eric Whitacre on Vimeo.
The Lyrics
SLEEP
©2001 by Charles Anthony Silvestri
The evening hangs beneath the moon,
A silver thread on darkened dune.
With closing eyes and resting head
I know that sleep is coming soon.
Upon my pillow, safe in bed,
A thousand pictures fill my head,
I cannot sleep, my mind’s a-flight;
And yet my limbs seem made of lead.
A thousand pictures fill my head,
I cannot sleep, my mind’s a-flight;
And yet my limbs seem made of lead.
If there are noises in the night,
A frightening shadow, flickering light;
Then I surrender unto sleep,
Where clouds of dream give second sight.
A frightening shadow, flickering light;
Then I surrender unto sleep,
Where clouds of dream give second sight.
What dreams may come, both dark and deep,
Of flying wings and soaring leap
As I surrender unto sleep,
As I surrender unto sleep.
Just Released: 30 singers from around the world sing together live using Skype
All TED videos are Creative Commons licensed.
Final Thought
We are uniting many students between Africa and North America. Let's do something great! Do you have any ideas for a collaborative project? Please share.
-Eric, NYC
Of flying wings and soaring leap
As I surrender unto sleep,
As I surrender unto sleep.
Do you want to know more about this performance?
In March of 2011, Eric Whitacre gave a presentation about his projects at a TED conference. TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) brings the best thinkers and speakers from around the world to give inspiring presentations. At TED.com, you can find presentations on just about any topic (education, creativity, economics, art, politics, science, technology, and more). Every video has subtiles offered in English and many other languages.
Video- Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong
Just Released: 30 singers from around the world sing together live using Skype
Final Thought
We are uniting many students between Africa and North America. Let's do something great! Do you have any ideas for a collaborative project? Please share.
-Eric, NYC
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-Eric, NYC