International award-winning girls' concert choir Carmina Slovenika ('Slovenian songs'), under the direction of beautiful, talented conductor Karmina Silec, bring us another exquisite collection of songs. While 'Citira' concentrated on works by Slovenian composers, Veljo Tormis' 'Lauliku Lapsepoli' (The Bard's Childhood) and Randovan Gobec's Ne ouri, ne sejaj' are the only Estonian songs here. Instead we have Pablo Casals' 'Nigra Sum,' the spirited, rhythmic 'Aires de Quisqueya' from the island of Santa Domingo, Herman Rechberger's eclectic 'Postojna,' Benjamin Britten's 'This Little Babe,' Stephen Hatfield's 'African Celebration' and his Inuit chant 'Nukapinguac,' Eduardo Lakscehewitz' fiery Brazilian 'Sambalele,' Jean Sibelius' 'Finlandia Hymn' and the lovely and timely 'Let there be peace on earth.' Some light accompaniment. There's a wonderful photo in the liner notes of the girls dressed as Greek maidens scanning the horizon for their loves' return. 'Sledimo soncu' is a spirited treat from beginning to end by one of our favorite international girls' choirs.

Carmina Slovenika ('Slovenian songs') is a choral association that consists of children's, youth, girls' or chamber choirs, with an aim to offer musical education at the highest level, develop members' musical talent and interest in music, encourage friendship and community spirit, and to travel and meet people from other countries. In doing just that, all-girl concert choir Carmina Slovenika has won many international choir competitions in Canada, the US, Belgium and Denmark. 'Music in the service of Peace' is an important objective of the group, through the performance of the the Slovenian and international musical heritage, which they have done to acclaim throughout the world. Citira includes works by distinguished Slovenian contemporary composers. Some of our (translated) favorites of the 13 songs are the vocal suite 'The Four Seasons, 'Hope,' 'Ave Maria,' Winter Song,' 'Evening,' 'Even the Flowers,' 'God Bless Us With A Good Evening' and 'Ay, the green mountain.' Some light accompaniment. There's a dramatically beautiful picture of the group in concert, dressed in striking white outfits. Just beautiful!

Listen to Aj, zelena je vsa Gora in RealAudio.

Carmina Slovenika is devoted to stage performances-choral theatre, contemporary music and music written by women composers and repertoire of Southern European music. They incorporate dance, theatrical elements, traditional instruments and tape music into exciting artistic events. In their enthusiastic exploration of the international choral world they have come away with many awards. 'Kraji in casi' begins with Daniel Bell's dramatic 'Spring fjord,' Lojze Lebic's Haiku art piece 'Suita Stirje letni casi' (The Four Seasons, Donald Patriuquin's 'World suite #1,' which combines songs like the beautiful 'Cabbage Tree Hat' from Australia, Finland's lovely 'Taivas on sininen ja valkoinen,' Ireland's lilting 'The Stuttering Lovers,' the Czech folk song 'Ach! Synku Synku,' the African-American spiritual 'Deep River' and Canada's 'I Went to the Market.' Some generally light accompaniment. The recording closes with the traditional Zulu 'Siyahamba' and the spirited traditional Xhosa tune, 'Dubula.' In the center of the extensive liner notes is an exciting double-spread photo of the girls in costume, in concert. 'Kraji' is another winner from Carmina Slovenika, who, under the dynamic direction of Karmina Silec, are making some major waves on the international choir scene!

Listen to Dubula in RealAudio.

Under the able direction of Karmina Silec, who has conducted the all-girl Carmina Slovenika choirs since 1987, 'Drumlca' features the Concert Choir alternating songs with the older, elite Chamber Choir. Here are 20 songs, all in Slovenian, which are not described or translated in the liner notes, (although many seem to be Christian sacred songs) so we must simply enjoy them for the wonderfully sung pieces they are. Some favorites are the title tune, one of four by Radovan Gobec ('Ne ouri, ne sejaj,' 'Nmau cez izaro' and 'Vse rozice rumene' are the others), several by Jacobus Gallus ('Benedictus, qui venit,' 'Praeparate corda vestra' and 'Pueri Hebraeorum'), Two by Fran Gerbic, 'Sirota' and Gondolirijeva pesem,' Fran Ferjancic's lovely 'Na morju' and a pair by Danillo Bucar, 'Dve let in pol' and 'Nocoj pa oh nocaj.' Beautiful Slovenian music by rising international choral stars Carmina Slovenika!

Carmina Slovenica is generally well known as one of the foremost avant-garde vocal ensembles, creating contemporary music projects 'Choregie Ð vocal theatre' with introducing new concept which incorporate music, drama, movement and other stage elements. However, this time we can hear choir performing chamber music, life recorded on international festival Music September. Concerts were performed by international renowned musicians (Radovan Vlatkovic, Maria Graf, Nicoletta Sanzin, Ale Kacjan, Andreas Stopner, Miljenka Grdan, etc.), performing Brahms's Four songs for female choir with the accompaniment of two horns and a harp, op.17, Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, Villa-Lobos's Quartour and Wesman's Water under Snow. Concerts were conducted by Karmina ilec.