Acclaimed Argentine composer and conductor Oscar Escalada leads the Coral del Nuevo Mundo (Chorale of the New World) in this bright collection of 12 songs, some accompanied, by South American composers and arrangers. Particularly wonderful are the opening cut, 'El ultimo cafe,' a tango from Argentina, the upbeat 'El Pinteo' from Argentina, ' 'O pato,' a jazzy, manic bossa nova from Brasil, 'Crece desde el pie' from Uruguay, and the dramatic 5-part title cut, by Ariel Ramirez of Argentina. 'Misa Criolla' is an excellent, complex recording of the best in Contemporary South American choral music!

The Coro del Nuevo Mundo del Teatro Argentino de La Plata is a professional choir of sixteen singers and a pianist, percussionist and guitarist that tours extensively through Argentina, North and South America from their base in Buenos Aires, conducted by founder, composer and arranger Oscar Escalada. 'Choral Music' features 11 works by South American composers. 'Hanacpachap,' 17th century Peruvian, is thought to be the first polyphonic music to be composed in the Americas. 'Estrellita del Sur' is a lovely Peruvian waltz, 'Manchai Puito' is a haunting folk song from Argentina, 'Tonada y Cueca' and 'La Doble' are joyful dances, and we enjoyed the upbeat 'Pueblito Mi Pueblo,' a warm and elegant piece for women written by Carlos Guastavino, one of Argentina's finest composers. 'La Chaparrita' is a bright Venezuelan folk melody, 'Se Equivoco La Paloma' tells of a dove that loses its way, 'Santafecino de Veras' is a joyful Argentinian dance and 'Milonguera' is an exuberant and challenging work written by Oscar. A lovely, bright, surprising collection of South American music we rarely get a chance to hear! Some light accompaniment.