Ragazzi: The Penninsula Boys Chorus

Ragazzi Boys Chorus is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere young men's choruses. Its 125 singers range in age from 7-18 years and represent communities throughout the Bay Area. Under the artistic leadership of founder Joyce Keil, Ragazzi trains boys and young men to sing outstanding musical works from many cultures. In 2000, Ragazzi was honored for its contribution to the San Francisco Symphony’s GRAMMY award-winning “Stravinsky” CDs.

Hailed by critics as “one of the Peninsula’s finest treasures,” Ragazzi Boys Chorus is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s premier arts organizations.  Founded in 1987, the organization is a regional center for music education and performance for boys and young men, ages 7–18.  More than 130 singers from 86 schools in 26 Bay Area communities including San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties participate in this internationally recognized program.  Under the leadership of artistic director and co–founder, Joyce Keil, Ragazzi, which means “guys” in Italian and is also the term used in Italian opera to designate children’s voices, performs a full range of traditional and contemporary works sung in their original languages for both the treble and changed voice. 

In addition to its own concert series, Ragazzi performs regularly with Bay Area arts organizations including San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Opera San José and West Bay Opera among others, and has toured to Canada, Russia, Eastern Europe, Italy, Japan, the British Isles, Spain and Portugal.  Ragazzi won honors at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Competition in Wales, and this year, out of 150 choirs considered, Ragazzi was selected as one of only 20 choirs from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America to participate in the 2006 International Choral Festival in Missoula, Montana, the first non-competitive festival of its kind in the United States

Magnificat - My Spirit Rejoices

Kyrie - Anonymous Ave Maria - Tomas Luis De Victoria Bist Du Bei Mir - Bach Der Herr Segne Euch - Bach Ave Maria - Franz Biebl Psalm 23 - Srul Irving Glick Inscription Of Hope - Z. Randall Stroope To The Ploughboy - Ralph Vaughn Williams Bethelemu - Via Olatunji Balulalow - Benjamin Britten This Little Babe - Britten Magnificat - Rupert Lang Recitative - Rupert Lang Mary's Song - Rupert Lang Magnificat - Rupert Lang Quia Fecit - Rupert Lang Suscepit Potentiam - Rupert Lang Gloria - Rupert Lang

Recorded at Skywalker Sound in spring 2005, the music Ragazzi Boy's Chorus to perform on this CD serves to set the scene for the United State premiere of Magnificat, by Canadian Composer Rupert Lang. The texts of the other works they sing on this recording also mix traditional Marian and Nativity music with music celebrating life through various human experiences.

Canciones de Alabanza

Estampie Natalis Stella Spelndens Salve Regina Salve Regina Magnificat A 4: Et misericordia Fecit potentiam Recordatus Sicut locutus est O Sacrum Convivium Misa Criolla: Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei

The 50 boy singers of San Mateo, CA's Ragazzi are conducted by Joyce Keil in this wonderful and diverse collection of songs of praise. From the solemn 14th-century pilgrim song ("Stella Splendens") and the wonderful Renaissance motet ("Salve Regina") to the folk rhythms of the "Misa Criolla" and the wild instrumental colors of the modern "Estampie Natalis," these songs all celebrate the birth of Jesus, and his mother. Taking on the hard work of learning these difficult pieces, the young singers skipped and danced out of the studio after perfecting a song. Other favorites are the 5 movements of Giacomo Perti's "Magnificat A 4," and Thomas Luis de Victoria's "O Sacrum Convivium." There is some accompaniment by organ, piccolo, strings, recorder, bass and percussion. A joyful, touching effort by talented Ragazzi.

Good News!

Panis Angelicus (Cesar Franck) O gracious light (Gwyneth Walker) Ave maria (J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod) Ave verum (Sir Edward Elgar) Sanctus (Gabriel Faure) Der Herr ist Gross (Heinrich Schutz) Jesus Christ, the apple tree (Elizabeth Poston) Alma del core (Antonio Caldara) Danza, danza fanciulla gentile (Francesco Durante) Lasst Lautenspiel und Becherklang (Robert Schumann) Ombra mai fu (G.F. Handel) Wir eilen (J.S. Bach) Ma Hvezda (Bedrich Smetana) Water under snow is weary (Harri Wessman) Niska Banja (Serbian Folk Song) Evening Song (Zoltan Kodaly) To ta Hel' pa (Slovak Folk Song) The Kalanta of the New Year (Greek Folk Song) Ain-a that good news (spiritual) What a Wonderful World (G. Weiss & B. Thiel)

Since its founding in San Mateo, CA in1987, Ragazzi, The Peninsula Boys Chorus has grown to be one of the largest and most successful boy choirs in the San Francisco Bay area. Under the direction of Musical Director and and Co-founder, Joyce Keil, the chorus has toured Canada, Russia and Eastern Europe. "Good News" is live recordings from concerts given in the 1995 and 1996 seasons. The 20 songs are in 3 categories: sacred repertory, such as Cesar Franck's "Panis Angelicus," Bach's "Ave Maria," Gabriel Faure's "Sanctus (from Requiem)," and Elizabeth Poston's "Jesus Christ, the apple tree;" solos, duets and trios, like Antonio Caldera's "Alma del core," Handel's "Ombra mai fu," and Bach's "Wir eilen (from Cantata 78);" and secular repertory, Bedrich Smetana's "Ma Hvezda," the Serbian folk song "Niska Banja," Zoltan Kodaly's "Evening Song," the Slovak folk song "To ta Hel' pa," the Greek folk song, "The Kalanta of the New Year," and the spiritual "Ain-a that good news." Piano, flute and percussion accompaniment on some cuts. A beautiful collection by the talented boys of Ragazzi!

A Holiday Collection

Laudate Dominum Pueri Concinite God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen Ave maria, Opus 12 Verbum Patris Hodie Cantate Domino Laudamus Te Fanfare for Christmas Day Totus Tuus, opus 60 Silent Night Evergreen Angels We have Hear On High

"A Holiday Collection" combines traditional favorites like "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen," "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" and sacred music like Mozart's "Laudate Dominum," Brahms' "Ave Maria," Dietrich Buxtehude's "Cantate Domino," and Vivaldi's "Laudamus Te," with contemporary originals like Martin Shaw's "Fanfare for Christmas Day," David Urrows' "Verbum Patris Hodie," Henryk Gorecki's "Totus Tuus Opus 60" and Daniel Pinkham's "Evergreen." Piano or organ accompaniment on most cuts. This is a soaring, lovely Christmas CD by the pride of San Mateo, CA, the Peninsula Boy's Chorus!

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