Goosebump Moments: The Power of Solo and Ensemble in Choral Works

Whether you’ve sung in the chorus or stepped forward as a soloist, certain moments in choral music stay with us—a luminous cadence, a sudden hush, a solo line that seems to rise from the ensemble and momentarily suspend time.

This week, we’re inviting you to reflect on those goosebump moments within choral works. Maybe it’s the Agnus Dei from Bach’s B Minor Mass, the soprano line in Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, or a quiet entry in Pärt’s Berliner Messe. Whether you were singing solo or blending into the ensemble, these moments often reveal the emotional and social depth of the music itself.

As explored in The Social Psychology of Music (North & Hargreaves, 2008), shared music-making—especially in choral contexts—can heighten emotional impact and foster connection. Even when singing alone, a soloist within a choral work is never truly alone.

🎶 What’s a moment in a choral piece that always gives you goosebumps?
💬 Were you singing solo—or with others? How did that shape your experience?

📹 Bonus points for posting a video of your performance (past or present)!

Let’s celebrate those unforgettable moments that remind us why we sing.

31 replies

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    • Lisa_Barra
    • 2 wk ago
    • Reported - view

    I'm going to be late to the party for this one too. Such a wonderful question, and I enjoyed revisiting some of these pieces! I have to agree with  that I think I have these moments more when listening to music, but I have definitely been known to try and sing through my tears (thank God for larger choirs). Here are some of the latter:

     

    Faure's Requiem, especially Libera Me/Dies Irae and In Paradisum. The first time we did this was in 2012, combined Padre Serra and St. Charles Borromeo, and incorporated it into the All Soul's Day Mass. There's a story behind this for me, but I'll wait till I meet some of you in person.

     

    Rutter's Requiem (all of it)

     

    Eric Whitaker's Lux Aurumque 

     

    Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna (Especially "O Nata Lux", but also the contrast from the luminous quality of "O Nata Lux", to the exhuberant, jubilant "Veni Sancte Spiritus" - Come Holy Spirit.

    I fell in love with Lauridsen's work when I heard the Los Angeles Master Chorale perform O Magnum Mysterium. That was a bit out of reach for our choir, but I would love to be able to sing in a performance of that some day. 

     

    Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine (Psalm 84)

    Chorus Caritas (a schola from Padre Serra's Adult Choir) sang this with the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra Virtuosi. Unfortunately the sound isn't that great but here is a link. It starts at around 1:11:10.  and   and I are in the middle of the group. We also sang this with the full choir at a Mass of Remembrance...yeah, in that context I got really choked up.

    https://www.youtube.com/live/VqB9mqG2tg4?si=vI_ehbbIDtMDrpDj

     

    A couple of "goosebump pieces" that the schola is revisiting for a concert in September are:

    Ola Gjeilo's Northern Lights

    Kim Andre Arnesen's Even When He Is Silent

     

    Philip Stopford's Do Not Be Afraid is a simple choral piece that we frequently do at Mass, and yet, I have so many associations to it that it can easily trigger my "leaky eyes syndrome" ;-) Most recently, during the fires as we sang: 

    "When you walk through the waters, I’ll be with you;

    You will never sink beneath the waves.
    When the fire is burning all around you,
    You will never be consumed by the flames".

    The musical line for "When the fire is burning all around you" soars with danger, and then "You will never be consumed by the flames: comes down to a place of comfort and safety.

     

    While revisiting some of the above music, I stumbled on the choral music of Elaine Hagenberg and would love to sing some of her works (such as all of the movements of the Illuminare.). They just transport me to a different dimension. Music is my "go to" prayer form, and I've started to use some of her works as a form of Musica Divina (like Lectio Divina but with music instead of words). Another case of getting goosebumps from the music, but also from using it as a way to connect with God.

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 13 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Wow! So many powerful moments here. It really is an embarrassment of riches. That story of the Stopford is so powerful. They say 'where words fail, music speaks,' but sometimes the combo of the two really can transport and move you (especially when the music meets the moment). 

      I love that video, by the way! Those kids sure can play and you all sound lovely. What a beautiful experience. Amazing that Padre Serra has this archive on YouTube! 

    • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
    • Heidi_Vass
    • 13 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Since we heard from  and  , now I'm super curious to hear what  would say 😄.. we might need a Padre Serra tie breaker here! 

    • Alto - and loving it.
    • laurie
    • 12 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hello  ! 

    I know I’m really late to the party but I absolutely love this topic! I found myself both laughing and getting goosebumps just reading the posts and thinking of the music already mentioned.

     

    Having the privilege of singing such moving pieces with our large choir and our small Schola continues to be one of the greatest joys in my life. Even as a child, I would often tear up listening to pop radio, Broadway cast albums, or sacred music. It didn’t matter what the song was about — it was the tone, the violins, those piano chords. And any piece where the organist “pulls out all the stops” and creates that rich, full sound? Instant goosebumps, every time!

     

    The fact that we get to spend 3.5 days next week coming together from all over to share this experience feels like a dream come true. And getting to do it with two dear friends is just the icing on the cake!   

     

    See you all next Thursday!

    Laurie 

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 12 days ago
      • Reported - view

       SOO excited to have the opportunity to work with you all and I too am loving reading all these thoughtful and profound responses to this question. The power of music is truly visceral and it's amazing how just thinking about a piece can transport you to that emotional state. Looking forward to sharing more amazing moments! 

    • Professor Emeritus Nursing
    • emdnurse
    • 8 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Question: Is there internet access in Idyllwild? This is probably a silly question, but if t there is, I'd like to bring my laptop.

      • Coffee-drinking soprano, trainer of voices and tonebase voice content lead
      • Heidi_Vass
      • 7 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Yep! 

Content aside

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