This is a tremendous performance of the saddest, most beautiful song I’ve ever heard, conducted by the composer, Eric Whitacre, and performed an ensemble assembled for the express purpose of singing his songs. It’s a little over 16 minutes long. Please, sit somewhere quiet and listen to the whole thing. It could not be more worth it.

“When David heard that Absalom was slain, he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, and thus he said: ‘My son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!'”