Last month, we had the pleasure of seeing Eric Whitacre premiere the 2.0 version of his astounding virtual choir at TED 2011. The mesmerizing film is composed of 2,052 performances of “Sleep” from 1,752 singers in 58 countries, individually recorded and uploaded to YouTube between September 2010 and January 2011, and is now available for the world to gasp at. Caution: Hold jaw securely in place before watching.

The project is part YouTube Symphony Orchestra, part The Johnny Cash Project, part something entirely groundbreaking. Whitacre’s TED talk pulls the curtain on the making of the magic and is easily the most goosebump-inducing thing you’ll see all week:

“Sleep” is available on Whitacre’s spellbinding new album, Light & Gold.