Santa Fe Desert Chorale

2007 marks the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s silver anniversary. Founded in 1982 the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the premier professional choral ensembles in the United States. There is no other music festival – certainly not in this country – devoted exclusively to choral music that surpasses the Desert Chorale’s annual two seasons in virtuosity of performance and programming breadth.

Each summer and during the December holiday season 20 of the most glorious voices from around the country come to Santa Fe to perform timeless music from the rich choral literature - as well as programs of lighter genres - in some of the most beautiful and historic sites in New Mexico’s enchanted landscape. While about 70 percent of concert attendees are area residents, the balance consists of visitors from across the country and around the world.

The Desert Chorale’s recording catalogue includes 10 CDs: Live from Loretto Chapel, Christmas in Santa Fe, Passion, A Celebration of Hispanic Music, and Harmony of the Heavens, all led by Linda Mack, the present Music Director and Conductor; Journeys of the Spirit, Transcendence, The Soul Speaks, and Encore conducted by former Artistic Director Dennis Shrock; and Music from Loretto Chapel, a classic recording led by Lawrence Bandfield, the Chorale’s Founding Music Director.

Since 2002, the Desert Chorale Children’s Chorus has provided an opportunity for children, ages 8 to 14, to grow together in their love of music and singing. Public performance is an important component of the program, and each season the children make many appearances in a variety of settings, including senior residences, schools, and for community events throughout Santa Fe.

Discography

A Celebration of Hispanic Music

Missa Criolla - Ariel Ramirez Two Aztec Songs From The Virgin - Don Hernando Franco Sancta Maria, Succurre Miseris - Cristobal De Morales Alleilia! Dic Nobis Maria - Francisco Lopez Capillas Sanctus And Hosanna - Francisco Guerrero In Annuntiatione Benissmae Mariae - Tomas Luis De Victoria Egregie Doctor - Antonio De Salazar Sol-Fa De Pedro - Manuel De Sumaya Sa Qui Turo Zente Pleta - Anonymous In Manus Tuas - Sebastian De Vivanco

A study of the evolution of musical style in Hispanic churches in the New World reveals a remarkable melding of a number of cultures. Spanish colonists carried the musical traditions of the European Renaissance to the native people of the Americas, and, through time and circumstance, these traditions merged in the American Southwest to create a musical genre with a rich historical grounding. A treasury of sacred works by the finest composers from Spain and the New World – from the Renaissance majesty of Morales and Victoria to the Misa Criolla, one of the 20th century’s most beloved choral works. This is the program that was performed for a tour of Northern New Mexico historic churches during the summer of 2005.

Listen to Aztec Song From The Virgin in Real Audio

Passion

Laetentur Coeli - Mathias O Nata Lux - Mathias Chorale - Benjamin Britten Ave Maris Stella - Samuelson Ye Shall Go Out With - Jean Berger Mary Speaks - Gawthrop Salve Regina - Descenclos Soneto de la Noche - Morten Lauridsen A Boy And A Girl - Eric Whitacre La Rosa - Ben-Haim Puncha Puncha - Ben-Haim Kpanlongo - Bermel z Reggel - Ligeti Beautiful River - Hawley My Soul's Been Anchored In The Lord - Moses Hogan Demos Gracias Al Senor Golijov The Lark - Berstein Overture To Candide - Berstei

Throughout history, the singing voice has been a vehicle for the expression of intense emotion. In Passion, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale performs a cappella settings that reflect the heart of human existence: passion for God, country, love and life itself. Although this recording of repertoire selected from the Chorale’s 2005 summer season is focused on music of the 20th and 21st centuries, it encompasses a wide variety of harmonic rhythmic and stylistic elements.

7979 CD $15.95

Live From Loretto Chapel

An American Hallelujah Windham - Daniel Reed Holy Manna - F. Mark Siebert Love - Ron Jeffers We Will Walk with Mother and Mourn - Nina Gilbert Humility - Ron Jeffers Chester, David's Lamentation, O Praise the Lord of Heaven - William Billings Ride On, King Jesus - Alice Parker / Robert Shaw Witness - Jack Halloran The Morning Trumpet - Alice Parker / Robert Shaw Come and Taste, Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal - Alice Parker Sometimes I Feel, My God is a Rock - Alice Parker / Robert Shaw Hehlehlooyuh - James Furman Deep River - Rene Clausen Walk Together, Children, Elijah Rock - Moses Hogan CD Two: Romance Miraculous Love's Wounding - Thomas Morley Flower of BeautyvJohn Clements O Mistress Mine - Matthew Harris Fair Phyllis - John Farmer Dein Herzlein mild, Da unten im Tale - Johann Brahms Walking on the Green Grass - Michael Hennagin Four Arms, Two Necks, One Wreathing - Thomas Weelkes I Love my Love - Gustav Holst Am Strande, Gegenbogen, Ewige Sehnsucht, Seelentrost - Hans von Bulow Te Quiero - Alberto Favero As You Are - Nils Lindberg In My Life - John Lennon / Paul McCartney

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale offers a brilliant two CD set with selections recorded at the historic Loretto Chapel, during the 2006 Santa Fe Summer Festival. Using two small ensembles, under the baton of artistic director Linda Mack, the chorale offers An American Hallelujah featuring songs of faith, joy and praise. The second disc called Romance is lead by assistant Matthew Tresler and offers a sublime view of the trials and tribulations of love, from Brahms to Lennon and McCartney.

8659 2CDs $15.95

Christmas in Santa Fe

Seven Joys of Christmas - Kirke Mechem Christmas Lullaby - Jeffrey Van Lullay - Daron Hagen This Little Babe - Benjamin Britten What Sweeter Music - John Rutter Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - John Rutter Good King Wenceslas - Shaw/Parker Joy to the World - G.F. Handel - Jackson Berkey Little Tree - Steven Heitzeg Alegria - Conrad Susa - Steven Heitzeg Hiney Mah Tov Iris Levine Duermete, Nino Lindo - Wayland Rogers O Holy Night - John Rutter Allelia, Dies Sanctificatus - William Hawley

Recorded live at Santa Fe's Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, the Chorale's latest CD inlcudes beloved carols from around the world, the majestic O Holy Night, John Rutter's lilting Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Steven Heitzeg's charming setting of the e.e. cummings poem, little tree, and much more beautiful music of the season. Christmas in Santa Fe is colored by the Mexican influence. Little lanterns adorn some of the adobe buildings and the candlelight processions known as posadas wend thru the town. The program of 20 separate selections was recorded live during two nights' performances at a Winter Festival last year in the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis. The intent was to capture some of the inspiration and job of this time of the year.

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