Cannabis culture and music are nearly inseparable. Weed makes music better and music makes chilling out that much more enjoyable. Despite this pairing, people do not always think of classical choir music when getting ready to get stoned. Here are three choral pieces to change your mind.
3. The Ground by Ola Gjeilo
This piece has become a modern classic, performed around the world by professional and amateur choirs alike. The piece starts off with entrancing piano chords, supported by a choir humming underneath it.
When the choir starts singing in full four-part harmony, we are led into a jubilant and joyous harmonizing of “Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua,” which translates to, “Heaven and earth are full of your glory.” This piece of music can take anyone out of this world but the uplifting effects are made that much more potent with the use of weed.
2. Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd
The Renaissance composer William Byrd is often thought to be the most important British composer of the Renaissance and possibly all time. He reinvented the use of multiple instruments—composed for kings, princes, and popes—and left a legacy that left all composers after him affected.
Ave Verum Corpus was originally composed for use within the church, but the beauty of this piece transcends the religious purpose for which it was created.
It makes use of a Renaissance technique called an “ostinato,” wherein a particular melody is repeated and passed around from part to part. Finding and following this ostinato is entertaining at any point, but especially with the zoned-out, unpredictable focus that marijuana can provide.
1. Misere Mei, Deus by Gregorio Allegri
This piece was incredibly important for the history of choir music. It was originally composed for use in the Church once a year, and at no other time or place. It was composed in the mid 17th century, but not performed outside of the yearly church services that it was designed for. This practice was kept up for over a hundred years until a certain young man heard it in the late 1700s.
A young Mozart heard this piece, immediately memorized it, and then transcribed it – something that was very illegal under church law at the time. Instead of being imprisoned or fined as he should have been under Church law, the young Mozart was given an audience with the pope – a meeting that skyrocketed his already promising music career.
This piece is sung completely acapella (without instrumental accompaniment) and ranges from four-part to 12-part harmony. It goes from traditional chanting to soaring solos that go higher and can sound clearer than most people can imagine. This whole piece is a testament to human abilities, and there are few things more fun to do when high than marvel at the abilities of humanity’s elite athletes, writers, and musicians.
Conclusion
If you like these songs, I have good news for you – most universities and colleges with music programs have a choir that regularly performs these and other pieces, with free or very inexpensive admission. With the legalization of marijuana, end-of-semester concerts are an awesome activity to get out of the house and support local musicians while getting faded.