The Stockholm Singing Classes, now known as the Adolf Fredrik Music Classes, were started in Sweden in 1939 by Hugo Hammarstrom to give vocally talented children a chance to develop their talent free of charge. This idea remains the same today, for 1,000 pupils aged 11-16. There are two official choirs, the Boy's Choir and the 46-strong Girl's Choir, which was founded in 1971 by Bo Johansson, and for many years it has been ranked as one of the foremost in the world. Included on 'Cantemus 2' are 14 little-known choral pieces from the Int. Federation for Choral Music, all sung in their original languages, of which there are 10 in this recording. Samuel Barber's 'To Be Sung On The Water,' Michael Head's 'Ave Maria,' Andre Caplet's 'Sanctus,' Ro Ogura's 'Hotaru Koi,' Lajos Bardos' 'Magos A Rutafa,' Egil Hovland's 'O Come, Let Us Sing,' and Javi Busto's 'Salve Regina' are particularly lovely. The sweet, soaring voices of the Choir shine on some excellent little-known music!

Listen to Hotaru Koi in RealAudio.