I don’t think that’s what it’s really called, but I just love the music that’s all voices and no instruments and often not even any words. What is this kind of music called and where can I find more?
Examples:
Best example I could find:
Choral music is a pretty big subject.
It is a big subject, but I don’t think it is the sort of choral music that Wiki refers to - even the 20th and 21st century versions. Listening to the links, I’d call it more New Age/Ambient music.
The third link, perhaps. The first two links are very squarely traditional choral music (as traditional as you can call 20th century music, I guess) – the first being Rachmaninoff’s Vespers and the second Eric Whitacre, two seriously heavy hitters in the choral music world.
OP: As I mentioned, the first link is Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, which if you liked that and haven’t heard the rest, I would heartily recommend doing so. Other works written by Eric Whitacre (your second link) is also recommended, but I’m assuming you’ve already checked out more of both these.
Morten Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium
Samuel Barber - Agnus Dei (choral arrangement of Adagio for strings)
Arvo Pärt - Magnificat, Beatitudes (I consider all of Pärt’s work sublime - if you are willing to expand out of your a cappella choir preference, the remainder of his ouevre is well worth a listen)
There are several well-respected recording choirs, as well. Listening to their material will expose you to a wide range of different choral works while always guaranteeing a superb performance. Two examples:
Dale Warland Singers
Robert Shaw… (…chorale, …chamber choir, …festival singers, …etc)
Also look to your local choirs for live performances to expose you to some more stuff. If you think this youtube stuff is good, just try listening to it live in a large reverberating cathedral or concert hall.
You’ve caught me out. I only listened to the third, because the OP said that that was the best example.
I agree with you that there’s likely many New Age/Ambient works the OP would enjoy, though – unfortunately I’m not as familiar with that genre and so cannot recommend anything (it’s also extremely broad).
There are people like Love Spirals Downwards (try Ardor; the second track ‘Sidhe’ is very much in the style of Julianna Barwick, for example) and Jocelyn Pook (try Untold Things), but they generally also use instruments. I like this kind of music, so I’ll try to find more of it.
According to All Music guide
That’s pretty much what kills me with the New Age stuff. I can recommend plenty of ethereal vocal stuff with instruments! Though I did try to sneak in some organ in my previous list of links. Let’s hope he doesn’t notice!
If it’s got that “Celestial Choir” vibe, a few instruments aren’t gonna throw me off.
Another example that’s not quite the same thing: Tomita’s The Unanswered Question from the Kosmos album.
I came in specifically having Barber’s Agnus Dei in mind, and now you’ve exposed me to Arvo Part, of whom I had never even heard. Thank you!
Possibly in exchange, I’ll offer up Frank Martin, a 20th century Swiss composer who wrote an a capella Requiem for double choir. Here is the Sanctus, but it’s all beautiful.
Also, SSgtBaloo, you might want to try Randal Thompson’s Alleluia.
Then there is the older stuff, such as 16th Century William Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus. Much more traditional harmonies, with no dissonance to speak of, but exquisitely beautiful. Byrd’s music is angelic. Then Mozart had a little run with that same title, although admittedly he threw a few instruments in as background.
I don’t have a religious bone in my body, but the best music, to me, is the religious. You’d probably love Gregorian chants, too. And it’s all there, for free, on the internets! Here’s a little summary of the musical trends over the past four-hundred years: Masterpiece.
Here’s a jazzy twist on the basic sound and it’s what I thought of immediately on reading your OP.
Burt Bacharach ~ South American Getaway
I trust you’ll recognize the movie!
Hmm, you might enjoy György Ligeti’s work, popularized in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Lux Aeterna, Atmospheres
For various values of “Celestial Choir Vibe,” a young boy’s choir may or may not fit. If it does, Libera might be worth a listen (some of their stuff gets a bit too poppy for me, though). Also, The Luminous World Orchestra (composer Steven Chesne).
Adiemus - Elegia, Amate Adea, Adiemus
Bill Douglas - Heaven in a Wild Flower, Deep Peace
Aeoliah - Inner Mounting Flame
You might have to be careful with new agey stuff – just enjoy the compositions and avoid text, context, comments, etc, lest you overdose on the Woo. Also keep in mind choral works are usually a small fraction of an artist’s work; if you decide to buy, preview first! Some of these artists’ other stuff is kinda meh.
As mentioned, the older medieval and renaissance choral works are great, too.
John Taverner - Sanctus, Gloria
20th century descendent (possibly) of Taverner:
John Tavener - Song for Athene, As one who has slept
All good suggestions. Except possibly for Burt Bacharach – I got a severe overdose of his music in the '60s and still haven’t fully recovered. 