Weston Noble

Review: Text for college classrooms, private voice studios and those who are currently in the choral classroom. A concise, yet comprehensive study of vocal technique along with an extensive collection of related vocalises. The vocalises are presented in a manner that is "user-friendly," complete with accompaniments and numerous transpositions. This book contains more than 60 different exercises each designed to address specific vocal concepts. Whether you are a student of choral/vocal pedagogy, a beginning director or a veteran of many years in the classroom in need of new and fresh warm-ups to begin your daily rehearsals, this is the text that you have been waiting for. There is an accompanying student book so that every student can see the exercises, making introduction of new material much easier and more efficient.

Songlist: Breathing Technique, Making the First Sounds, Freedom and Relaxation, Tone Quality, Legato, Sostenuto, Dynamics, Consonants, Flexibility, Synthesis, Variation, Aesthetic Qualities, Vocalises

Review: Decorah, Iowa's renowned Luther College music ensembles, the Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, Nordic Choir, Concert Band, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Norsemen and Cantorei present a stellar collection of 15 songs, beginning with rich a cappella renderings of Kurt Bestor's "Prayer of the Children," and Morten Lauridson's lovely "O Magnum Mysterium." Other favorites include Roger Folstrom's "A La Nanita Nana," Eric Whitacre's "Sleep," Frank Ticheli's a cappella "There Will Be Rest," Eleanor Daly's "What Sweeter Music," Pete Seeger's "The Bells of Rhymney" and "The Gartan Mother's Lullaby." A powerful, touching, well-chosen collection from Luther College's, and some of the world's, finest ensembles!

Songlist: Prayer Of The Children, O Magnum Mysterium, All Is Well, The Fairy Garden From Mother Goose, A La Nanita Nana, Rocking Carol, Sleep, Nocurne From A Mid Summer's Nights Dream, There Will Be Rest, Away In A Manger, A Childhood Hymn, What Sweeter Music, Pastorale From Christmas Orotorio, The Bells Of Rhymney, The Garten Mother's Lullaby

Review: One of the most magnificent in the world, the 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's Luther College features the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of talented members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei singing 20 beautiful pieces. From the orchestrally-accompanied "Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me" and Dominik Argento's "Hodie, Christus Natus Est" to the dramatic a cappella "Hodie, Christus Natus Est" and the traditional carols "The First Noel," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing;" to the rarely heard "Little Lamb," "Choral Fanfare for Christmas," "O Nata Lux," "O Come Little Children" and Eric Whitacre's "Lum Aurumque," this is a joyous and memorable Christmas CD. The wonderful a cappella "Natus est Emmanuel" (a glee of angels at the Birth), was written by Libby Larsen for the celebration.

Songlist: Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me, The First Noel, Gloria from the Masque of Angels, Hodie, Christus Natus Est, The Moon of Wintertime, Little Lamb, Choral Fanfare for Christmas, Farandole from L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2, Machet die Tore weit, Christmas The Morn, Svete tihiy, Natus est Emmanuel, A Nata Lux, O Come, Little Children, Lux Aurumque, A Child is Born in Bethlehem, Angels We Have Heard on High, Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain, Toccata from Orgel Partita Opus 8 No. 2, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Review: In his 57th year as conductor of Luther College's Nordic Choir, elder statesman Weston Noble has served as guest conductor for more than 775 music festivals in the U.S. and abroad. The 68 mixed voices of the Nordic Choir tour annually through the US in such venues as the Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center, and the Mormon Tabernacle. "Light" has 11 sacred songs from a variety of classic sources: Bach's lovely "Lobet Den Herrn," Mendelssohn's "Denn Er Hat Seinen Engeln Befohlen," Hovland's "Saul," Poulenc's "Gloria" Tschesnokoff's "O Lord God" and two traditionals, "Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head" and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross. The Nordic is one of the finest choirs we've heard, and "Light" joins a group of excellent CDs.

Songlist: Verbum Caro Factum Est, Lobet Den Herrn, Chichester Mass, Qui Sedes, Gloria, Denn Er Hat Seinen Engelm Befohlen, Saul, Credo, Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head, Usuli Boat Song, O Lord God, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Review: Nordic Choir tours annually throughout the United States, appearing in Lincoln Center, New York; Kennedy Center in DC, Orchestra Hall, Chicago; Crystal Cathedral, L.A.; the Mormon Tabernacle and many others. Here are 13 cuts from the mixed-voice, 74 strong choir from their Southwest Tour 1999. Some of our favorites are the title tune, James T. Fritschel's "I Sing As I Arise Today," Herbert Howells' "A Spotless Rose," the traditional "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head," Moses Hogan's "I'm Gonna Sing Til The Spirit Moves," Paul Tschesnokoff's "O Lord God," and the traditional "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Another truly beautiful winner from one of America's oldest and finest choirs.

Songlist: Sing Joyfully Unto God, I Love The Lord, The Lord is the Everlasting God, I Sing As I Arise Today, A Spotless Rose, O nata Lux, Benedicamus Domino, Song for Athene, Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head, I'm Gonna Sing Til The Spirit Moves, Jesus Loves Me, O Lord God, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Review: Weston Noble directs his versatile 74 mixed-voice Choir in this 2004 tour of Texas and the Midwest. A lot of our favorites are among the 14 songs, including the title tune, Bach's soaring "Singet Dem Herrn," Paul Weber's "Arise, Shine," Frank Ticheli's "There Will Be Rest," Smith and Kirkpatrick's "All Is Well," Wilbur Chenoweth's "Vocalise," and the traditional "Let Me Fly," "The Battle of Jericho" (arranged by Moses Hogan), and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Some organ accompaniment. The Nordic Choir has been, thanks to Noble, one of America's finest for decades, and every cut is a finely-crafted joy.

Songlist: I sing As I arise Today, Singet Dem Herrn, Vere languores, Arise! Shine!, There Will Be Rest, Cantos Sagrado (Ill Sun Stone), Sleep, Fum, Fum, Fum, All Is Well, Vocalise, Let Me Fly, The Battle of Kericho, O Lord God, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Review: Westin Noble, director of music activities at Luther College, is an internationally known conductor and clinician. He has served as guest conductor for more than 775 music festivals in the U.S. and abroad. The 68-strong, mixed voice Nordic Choir tours annually through the US in such venues as the Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, and the Mormon Tabernacle. "I Will Sing" is a joyous collection of Christian sacred music (with the exception of "Eight Chestnut Horses," a Mongolian song). 13 songs, all dramatically and beautifully performed: "Song of Praise," "Sicut Cervus," "Lobet Den Herrn, Alle Heiden," "Christus Natus Est," "Our Father," "Lullaby On Christmas Eve," "Why Rage Fiercely the Heathen," "Dona Nobis Pacem, "Song for Athene,""Done Written Down My Name," "O Lord God" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Inspirational, powerful and lovely.

Songlist: Song of Praise, Sicut Servis, Lobet den Herrn, Alle Heiden, Cristus Natus Est, Our Father, Lullaby on Christmas Eve, Why Rage Fiercly the Heathen, Dona Nobis Pacem, Song for Athene, Eight Chestnut Horses, Done Written Down My Name, O Lord God, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Review: Certainly considered to be one of the great American choral conductors Weston Noble last concert tour is represented on this fine recording. After 57 years at the helm of this top-notch choir Weston Noble certainly knows how to get the very best out of both the material and the singers and this recording is a cumulation of those many years of talent and ability. Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" is performed to perfection as are all these a cappella pieces.

Songlist: Be Not Fraid, Gloria A 7 Voci, Who Is This?, Hodie, Christus Natus Est, Drop Drop Slow Tears, Alelouya (Haitian Easter), I Heard A Great A Great Voice, O Clap Your Handds All Ye People, Amore De Mi Alma, Gloria, Lux Aurumque, He'll Make A Way, O Lord God, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Review: Not surprisingly, on most of their excellent CDs the Nordic Choir focuses on selections of Christian sacred and spiritual music. In a dramatic change of direction that highlights the Choir's versatility, "Horses" is a collection of World music, beginning with the thundering drums of David Fanshawe's "African Sanctus" and the gentle guitar riffs of "A La Nanita Nana" by Roger Folstrom, the CD continually surprises us. The powerful "Betelehemu" is a "bring the house down" piece in concert, "Prayer of the Children," brings tears remembering children caught in bloodshed and ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the 1970, and the Chinese "Usuli Boat Song," celebrates finding ways to be happy. The final cut, the title tune, a Mongolian song actually called "Naiman Sharag," gives the feeling of horses running, the song ends quietly, as if the horses are in the far distance. Some strong percussion and light accompaniment. A wonderful, powerful CD!

Songlist: African Sanctus, A La Nanita nana, Betelehemu, Riu, Riu, Chiu, Prayer of the Children, Hacia Belen va un borrico, Cantos Sagrados, African Noel, Song of Cherubim, Usuli Boat Song, Noel Ayisyen (Haitian Noel), Shut de Do, Naiman Sharag (The Eight Chestnut Horses)

Review: Renowned Conductor Weston Noble directs his talented, mixed-voice Nordic Choir on these 18 live cuts from their 2001 West Coast Tour. Knut Nystedt's "Be Not Afraid," Greg Knauf's "Gloria," Se Enkhbayar's "The Eight Chestnut Horses," the Moses Hogan-arranged "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?" and the 8 movements of Mozart's dramatic "Requiem" are standouts in a strong collection of mostly sacred music.

Songlist: Be Not Afraid, Ovos Omnes, Gloria, Praise the Lord, O My Soul, Water Night, The Eight Chestnut Horses, Hacia Be'n Va Un Borrico, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, O Lord God, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Excerpts from "Requiem" Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Review: Weston Noble has taught at Luther College since 1948, the year the Nordic Choir was founded, becoming its first director as well as director of the Luther College Concert Band. Noble and the Choir have received a host of awards. "Weston Noble Conducts" contains some of the Choir's best recordings, 16 sacred songs. Favorites include a pair by William Byrd, "Haec Dies" and "Sing Joyfully Unto God," Bach's "Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied" and "Komm, Jesu, Komm," the Jester Hairston-arranged spiritual "In Dat Great Getting' Up Mornin'" and a pair by Paul Tschesnokoff, "Let the Holy Spirit" and "O Lord God." A beautiful, impressive collection.

Songlist: Laudate (Choral Fanfare), Haec Dies, God Is With Us, Praise The Name Of The Lord, Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied, Exultation, Psalm 50, Sing Joyfully Unto God, Credo, Kom, Jesu, Komm, Let Thy Holy Spirit, Arma Lucis, African Sanctus, In Dat Great Gittin' Up Mornin', Shut De Do', O Lord God

Review: Creating the Special World is a collection of lectures that epitomize the teachings of Weston Noble, on of the most influential leaders in choral music of the past 55 years. His enthusiasm emanates from the pages, providing insight into his artistry.

Songlist: The Special World Of Choral Music, Choral Pedgogy, Stylistic Awareness, Choral Music: A Retrospective

Review: For sixty years Weston Noble has been touching hearts, nurturing minds and changing the lives of musicians. By providing insight into what has sustained this legendary conductor as his legacy has grown, this DVD is a strong offering for the improvement of conductor preparation and the enlightenment of practicing conductors and singers. Marvel at the vitality that springs forth from this man, at age 82, as he motivates, educates and unifies a diverse group of volunteer singers. Whether interacting with the choir or speaking candidly during interviews, Weston Noble reveals his faith, vision, humor and joyful optimism.

Songlist: Extended Interviews with Weston Noble, Professionals vs. Amateurs, Realignment, The Challenge Of Discovery, A Point Of Reference, Archtypes And Symbols, A Home For The Spirit, The Football Player And Handel's Messiah, Beginnings, Influences, Choral Pedogogy, Positioning Singers To Achieve, The First Noel, Optimum Voice Matching, All Music Must Dance, Singers' Tributes, A Chorister's Point Of View, Luther College, Trailer