Renowned Conductor Weston Noble directs his talented, mixed-voice Nordic Choir on these 18 live cuts from their 2001 West Coast Tour. Knut Nystedt's 'Be Not Afraid,' Greg Knauf's 'Gloria,' Se Enkhbayar's 'The Eight Chestnut Horses,' the Moses Hogan-arranged 'Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?' and the 8 movements of Mozart's dramatic 'Requiem' are standouts in a strong collection of mostly sacred music.

Weston Noble has taught at Luther College since 1948, the year the Nordic Choir was founded, becoming its first director as well as director of the Luther College Concert Band. Noble and the Choir have received a host of awards. 'Weston Noble Conducts' contains some of the Choir's best recordings, 16 sacred songs. Favorites include a pair by William Byrd, 'Haec Dies' and 'Sing Joyfully Unto God,' Bach's 'Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied' and 'Komm, Jesu, Komm,' the Jester Hairston-arranged spiritual 'In Dat Great Getting' Up Mornin'' and a pair by Paul Tschesnokoff, 'Let the Holy Spirit' and 'O Lord God.' A beautiful, impressive collection.

Decorah, Iowa's Luther College can boast 7 choirs (and 8 bands and orchestras) among its nearly 1,000 student musicians, but none older or more famous than the Nordic Choir, founded in 1946. Directed by Weston Noble from 1948 to 2005, when Dr. Craig Arnold picked up the baton, the Choir won international acclaim as a premier collegiate choral group and a national choral treasure. 'A New Hosanna' contains 17 Classical and Contemporary Christian songs, many with organ accompaniment. Some of our favorites are Alessandro Scarlatti's 'Exsultate Deo,' Jeffrey Van's 'Child of Peace,' Craig Courtney's 'Carol of the Birds,' Francis Poulenc's 'Vinea mea electra,' Hal N. Hopson's 'Beneath the Cross of Jesus, founder of Luther's Music Program F. Melius Christiansen's 'Glorification' (No. 4 from 'Celestial Spring'), Healey Willan's 'An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts,' Stephen Foster's classic folk song 'Laura Lee,' the spiritual 'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel' and Gustof Nordqvist's 'Wonderful Peace.' An inspiring, finely-crafted collection from one of the oldest and finest American choirs! 

Once again Iowa's Luther College's Department of Music has called upon its renowned Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Aurora, Norsemen and Luther Ringers to create the magnificent 4-day musical story of Christmas, 'Christmas at Luther 2009, Joy to the World.' These combined music ensembles are joined by the audience on the opening cut, 'Processional: Joy to the World,' and on the next to last cut, 'Silent Night' (with narration). There are other traditional carols such as 'Joy, Joy, Joy,' 'Wexford Carol,' 'Angels We Have Heard on High' and 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel;' classical songs like Felix Mendelssohn's 'Thanks Be to God' and Guy Forbes' 'O Magnum Mysterium,' and pieces by contemporary composers, Quittez, pasteurs' and 'Gloria' by John Rutter, 'There is No Rose' by Rene Clausen, 'Nowel' by Randall Thompson, Jackson Berkey's 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo,' and F. Melius Christiansen's lovely 'Praise to the Lord.' There is an organ solo of Claude Balbastre's 'Ou s'en vont ces gais bergers,' and 'Agincourt Song' by the wonderful Symphony Orchestra. In terms of pure musical magnificence, celebration, wonder and beauty, there really is nothing that compares with 'Christmas at Luther!'

In the jewel box, behind the 'Christmas at Luther 2010' CD is a panoramic photograph, with a bird's eye view of the annual event held at Iowa's Luther College-showing the giant pipe organ, the huge, colorful mural, and the massed music groups: The Symphony Orchestra, Nordic Choir, Cantorei, Cathedral Choir, Aurora, Norsemen and Luther Ringers. One of the largest collegiate music programs in the world, the Luther campus is alive with the sounds of six choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and more than 1,000 student musicians! Here are 20 live cuts, most of them accompanied, that tell the story of the Nativity in music. The spoken narration notable in past events has given way to some of the most beautiful choral Christmas music imaginable: just listen to the dramatic, wonderful 'Hope for Resolution,' Vivaldi's 'Gloria in Excelsis,' Mendelssohn's 'There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth,' 'The First Nowell' and 'Gloria,' all sung by the combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra (sometimes with organ). This is music that rivals Handl's 'Messiah' in pure, beautiful power. The Cathedral Choir's lovely spiritual 'I Believe This Is Jesus,' John Rutter's 'Angel's Carol,' aptly performed by Aurora, Cantorei and the Symphony Orchestra, the Norsemen's rhythmic, harmonic performance of the traditional Kenyan carol 'Wana Baraka'-this is great stuff! 'Christmas at Luther' is one of the greatest annual musical traditions in the United States, come join in the celebration!

The oldest, most famous choir at Decorah, IA's Luther College, founded in 1946, The 68-strong, mixed voice Nordic Choir brings us another beautiful, inspirational album, conducted by Craig Arnold. Nordic is now under the direction of Allen Hightower, who picked up the baton from Arnold, who directed the Choir for five years after receiving it from Weston Noble, who greatly enhanced the group's international reputation during his 57 years of leadership. Nordic Choir records at least one CD per year and tours extensively in the United States and internationally. 'We Sing with Joy' is a 17-song collection, many of them accompanied by piano, violin, trumpet and organ. Some favorites are 'Praise to the Lord' arranged by F. Melius Christiansen, Ola Gjeilo's 'Unicornis Captivatur,' Frank Martin's 'Sanctus (from Mass),' Benjamin Britten's 'Hymn to St. Cecelia' movements 1 and 2, Paul Tschesnokoff's 'O Lord God,' an American Folk song 'The Dying Soldier,' David Childs' 'Where Your Barefoot Walks,' Z. Randall Stroope's 'All My Heart This Night Rejoices,' Dan Forrest's 'You Are the Music' and the William Dawson-arranged spiritual, 'Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit.' But each of these cuts is masterfully done, the rich soaring harmonies rising and intertwining above us. 'We Sing with Joy' is simply wonderful!

Westin Noble, director of music activities at Luther College, is an internationally known conductor and clinician. He has served as guest conductor for more than 775 music festivals in the U.S. and abroad. The 68-strong, mixed voice Nordic Choir tours annually through the US in such venues as the Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, and the Mormon Tabernacle. 'I Will Sing' is a joyous collection of Christian sacred music (with the exception of 'Eight Chestnut Horses,' a Mongolian song). 13 songs, all dramatically and beautifully performed: 'Song of Praise,' 'Sicut Cervus,' 'Lobet Den Herrn, Alle Heiden,' 'Christus Natus Est,' 'Our Father,' 'Lullaby On Christmas Eve,' 'Why Rage Fiercely the Heathen,' 'Dona Nobis Pacem, 'Song for Athene,''Done Written Down My Name,' 'O Lord God' and 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.' Inspirational, powerful and lovely.

Listen to Lobet den Herrn, Alle Heiden in RealAudio.

In his 57th year as conductor of Luther College's Nordic Choir, elder statesman Weston Noble has served as guest conductor for more than 775 music festivals in the U.S. and abroad. The 68 mixed voices of the Nordic Choir tour annually through the US in such venues as the Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center, and the Mormon Tabernacle. 'Light' has 11 sacred songs from a variety of classic sources: Bach's lovely 'Lobet Den Herrn,' Mendelssohn's 'Denn Er Hat Seinen Engeln Befohlen,' Hovland's 'Saul,' Poulenc's 'Gloria' Tschesnokoff's 'O Lord God' and two traditionals, 'Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head' and 'When I Survey The Wondrous Cross. The Nordic is one of the finest choirs we've heard, and 'Light' joins a group of excellent CDs.

Nordic Choir tours annually throughout the United States, appearing in Lincoln Center, New York; Kennedy Center in DC, Orchestra Hall, Chicago; Crystal Cathedral, L.A.; the Mormon Tabernacle and many others. Here are 13 cuts from the mixed-voice, 74 strong choir from their Southwest Tour 1999. Some of our favorites are the title tune, James T. Fritschel's 'I Sing As I Arise Today,' Herbert Howells' 'A Spotless Rose,' the traditional 'Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head,' Moses Hogan's 'I'm Gonna Sing Til The Spirit Moves,' Paul Tschesnokoff's 'O Lord God,' and the traditional 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.' Another truly beautiful winner from one of America's oldest and finest choirs.

Not surprisingly, on most of their excellent CDs the Nordic Choir focuses on selections of Christian sacred and spiritual music. In a dramatic change of direction that highlights the Choir's versatility, 'Horses' is a collection of World music, beginning with the thundering drums of David Fanshawe's 'African Sanctus' and the gentle guitar riffs of 'A La Nanita Nana' by Roger Folstrom, the CD continually surprises us. The powerful 'Betelehemu' is a 'bring the house down' piece in concert, 'Prayer of the Children,' brings tears remembering children caught in bloodshed and ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the 1970, and the Chinese 'Usuli Boat Song,' celebrates finding ways to be happy. The final cut, the title tune, a Mongolian song actually called 'Naiman Sharag,' gives the feeling of horses running, the song ends quietly, as if the horses are in the far distance. Some strong percussion and light accompaniment. A wonderful, powerful CD!

Weston Noble directs his versatile 74 mixed-voice Choir in this 2004 tour of Texas and the Midwest. A lot of our favorites are among the 14 songs, including the title tune, Bach's soaring 'Singet Dem Herrn,' Paul Weber's 'Arise, Shine,' Frank Ticheli's 'There Will Be Rest,' Smith and Kirkpatrick's 'All Is Well,' Wilbur Chenoweth's 'Vocalise,' and the traditional 'Let Me Fly,' 'The Battle of Jericho' (arranged by Moses Hogan), and 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.' Some organ accompaniment. The Nordic Choir has been, thanks to Noble, one of America's finest for decades, and every cut is a finely-crafted joy.

One of the most magnificent in the world, the 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's Luther College features the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of talented members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei singing 20 beautiful pieces. From the orchestrally-accompanied 'Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me' and Dominik Argento's 'Hodie, Christus Natus Est' to the dramatic a cappella 'Hodie, Christus Natus Est' and the traditional carols 'The First Noel,' 'Angels We Have Heard on High' and 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing;' to the rarely heard 'Little Lamb,' 'Choral Fanfare for Christmas,' 'O Nata Lux,' 'O Come Little Children' and Eric Whitacre's 'Lum Aurumque,' this is a joyous and memorable Christmas CD. The wonderful a cappella 'Natus est Emmanuel' (a glee of angels at the Birth), was written by Libby Larsen for the celebration.

Internationally-known conductor Weston Noble leads his renowned, extensively touring Nordic Choir in an excellent collection of 14 Christmas songs. A few are familiar carols ('Riu, Riu, Chiu,' 'I Saw Three Ships,' 'Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head'), others (Tschesnokoff's 'Salvation is Created,' Franz Biebl's 'Ave Maria,' Renee Clausen's 'Hosanna,' Wm. Mathias' 'Hodie, Christus Natus Est,' F. Melius Christiansen's sweet 'Lullaby on Christmas Eve,' Kenneth Leighton's 'Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child,' E. Paladilhe's 'Benedictus,' Andre Thomas' 'African Noel' and Jean Berger's 'Magnificat') are beautiful, rarely performed gems that are a treat to hear performed by such an esteemed ensemble. Some light accompaniment. 'Christmas with' is a treasure!

The Nordic Choir frequently leaves its home, the campus of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, to tour the US, Europe, and the rest of the world. 'Norway/England Tour' chronicles their 2000 visit to the UK and Norway with 14 live sacred songs, some lightly accompanied. Bach's 'Der Gueist Hilft Unsrer Schwachheit Auf,' Barstow's 'Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,' Eric Whitacre's 'Water Night,' Samuel Barber's 'Agnus Dei,' the Moses Hogan-arranged 'Elijah Rock,' and Paul Tschesnokoff's 'O Lord God' are standouts in a fine collection by this great choir, conducted by Weston Noble.

The magnificent 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's LutherCollege tells the story of Christmas in song and narration, andfeatures the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei. 26 cuts, all accompanied: 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born' from Handel's 'Messiah,' Leonard Bernstein's dramatic 'Chichester Psalms,' John Rutter's 'Candlelight Carol,' Bach's 'Gloria,' the joyous 'Cantemos a Maria'Ðit's all wonderful!

Listen to As Lately We Watched in RealAudio.

The magnificent 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's Luther College tells the story of Christmas in song and narration, and features the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei. 26 cuts, all accompanied: 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born' from Handel's 'Messiah,' Leonard Bernstein's dramatic 'Chichester Psalms,' John Rutter's 'Candlelight Carol,' Bach's 'Gloria,' the joyous 'Cantemos a Maria' - it's all wonderful!

This CD is a compilation of performances by Nordic Choir throughout the Midwest, including their own Center For Faith and Life at Luther, Chicago's renowned Orchestra Hal, director Craig Arnold's hometown of Brainerd, Minn., the birthplace of Lutheranism in Wittenberg, Germany; and the regional concert landmark, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The repertoire is a great selection of some of the 20th century's finest choral composers including Randal Thompson, Stephen Paulus and Ralph Vaughn Williams. This great choir with it's long and accomplished history releases yet another quality recording that's bound to please.

Listen to Why Oh Why in RealAudio.

Certainly considered to be one of the great American choral conductors Weston Noble last concert tour is represented on this fine recording. After 57 years at the helm of this top-notch choir Weston Noble certainly knows how to get the very best out of both the material and the singers and this recording is a cumulation of those many years of talent and ability. Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Aurumque' is performed to perfection as are all these a cappella pieces.

Following in the very large footsteps, and the 57-year tenure of Weston Noble at Decorah, IA's Luther College, Dr. Craig Arnold returned to serve as director of choral activities, conductor of the Nordic Choir, and professor of music at Luther. 'Everlasting God' is a spirited collection of 20 songs, which highlight the rich, powerful sound of this great choir. Rene Clausen's 'Laudate,' two selections from Herbert Howells' 'Requiem,' the wonderful 6-part 'Liebeslieder Walzer, op. 52' by Brahms, the Stephen Paulus-arranged traditional hymn, 'We Gather Together,' the 2-part 'The Lord is the Everlasting God' by Kenneth Jennings, Ola Gjeilo's haunting 'Ubi Caritas,' the heart-tugging 'Danny Boy' and the spiritual 'Wade in the Water' are favorites. There is some light piano and organ accompaniment. Luther College places a focus and emphasis on music instruction and performance found in few other institutions, and that's why we consistently hear recordings of the highest quality-the Nordic Choir is simply one of the best in the world!

Listen to My Spirit Sang All Day in RealAudio.

Singing is a very big part of the campus of Luther College by being alive with the sound of its seven choirs. Music is considered to be an integral part of the community of faith and learning at the College and ever since it's founding Christmas has always been a very special time of year. The Christmas concerts are legendary and in 2006 celebrated the 25th anniversary of the combined musical ensembles including the Nordic Choir, Cantorei, the Norsemen and the Symphony Orchestra.

Docorah, Iowa's Luther College's huge annual 4-day Christmas pageant, which features Luther's Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir and Pike Kor, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen and the Christmas Ringers. 'Arise, Shine' brings us the triumphant sounds of this incredible event in 30 parts, from the Norsemen's performance of Eric Whitacre's 'Lux Aurumque' to the Combined Choirs and Symphony Orchestra's 'Coronation Te Deum.' With stirring narrations interspersed, lovely carols such as 'Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow,' 'Patapan,' 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,' and 'Come Adore the Infant Holy' join with magnificent choruses from Handel's 'Messiah,' 'Chorus: And the glory of the Lord' and 'Chorus: Glory to God.' Listening to the beautifully recorded 'Arise, Shine' is surely the next best thing to being in the audience to experience 'Christmas at Luther 2007.'

Listen to Hail Christmas Day! in RealAudio.

Of all the dynamic music programs (seven choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians) that have flourished at Decorah, Iowa's Luther College, the very first, the flagship choral ensemble, is the 70-strong, mixed-voice Nordic Choir. In 1948 Weston Noble began a 57-year tenure that would bring the choir into national and international acclaim as one of the best Collegiate choral ensembles. In 2005 Dr. Craig Arnold became the director of choral activities and conductor of the Nordic Choir. 'In the Beginning' is a collection of 15 contemporary Christian pieces, beginning with Alice Parker and Robert Shaw's arrangement of 'I Will Arise,' John Rutter's 'Hymn to the Creator of Light,' the lovely, 15-minute long title tune by Aaron Copland, Stephen Paulus' 'The Old Church,' the premiere of Brooke Joyce's 'The Revelation of St. Julian,' F. Melius Christiansen's 'Psalm 50,' the premiere of student Patrick Burzlaff's 'Psalm 50,' 'Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow,' Paul Tschesnokoff's 'O Lord God,' and Carl Orff's 5-part, piano-accompanied 'Carmina Burana.' Beautiful solos and harmonies on this often difficult material by one of the oldest and most respected Collegiate choirs!

Listen to I Will Arise in RealAudio.

Every Christmas season, the wonderful music groups at Decorah, Iowa's Luther College, including Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Norsemen and Luther Ringers, present their massive 'Christmas at Luther' festival, which tells the story of the Nativity in narration and music. The music is always magnificent and amazing, with the various groups performing individually and combined, and the story moving and timeless. Very hard to pick favorites, but Colin Marnach's solo on 'Comfort Ye My People' from Handel's 'Messiah,' Cathedral Choir's a cappella 'Arise, Shine!,' Nordic Choir's 'Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones,' Collegiate Chorale's 'Weihnachten,' Norsemen's 'Rise Up Shepherd and Follow,' and the final cut, Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'Nation Shall Not Lift UP a Sword Against Nation (from Dona Nobis Pacem)' by the combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra and organ, will have to do. Every year 'Christmas at Luther' outdoes itself in magnificence and beauty.

'Magnificent' and 'Beautiful' are words that come to mind a lot when experiencing this DVD of Luther College's 27th annual 'Christmas at Luther' festival, featuring over 600 student musicians in numerous choral and instrumental ensembles. This DVD features the breathtaking music, joyous robed choristers and glowing candlelight that makes 'Christmas at Luther' so famous and beloved. The various groups, including Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Norsemen and Luther Ringers, perform individually and in combination to tell the timeless Christmas story in music and narration, from the marvelous 'Angels, from the Realms of Glory' by the combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra and organ, to the a cappella solo on 'Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow' by Norsemen's Timothy Olstad,' you will be moved and touched by 'Christmas at Luther!'