The Manitou Singers are 100 first-year students at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN; who have been ably led in renditions of beautiful treble choral literature by Conductor Sigrid Johnson. 'Repertoire for Women's Voices: Vol. 5' is part of a series of recordings of new material by the ensemble, in this case 19 songs. Religious material is plentiful here with cuts like Felix Mendelssohn's 'Children Blessed of the Lord,' Ruth Henderson's 'Cantate Domino,' Daniel Gawthrop's 'Sing Me to Heaven,' David L. Brunner's 'Jubilate Deo,' Katie Moran Bart's 'Blessing' and Ron Nelson's 'Jehovah, Hear Our Prayer.' But the lovely high voices also lend themselves well to secular tunes like David Sargent's 'Mirth,' Neal Pfeifer's 'Lilacs and Rain' and Imant Raminsh's 'Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One.

Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College offers an academically education with a vibrant faith tradition. The Manitou Singers, comprised of 100 first year women students, have a repertoire that ranges from sacred to secular to popular ballads, and their performances have broad appeal on and off campus. This live recording is from the Singers' performance at the popular St. Olaf Christmas Festival, and includes 17 songs. Favorites are standards such as the carols such as 'O Little Town of Bethlehem, 'What Child is This' and 'I Saw Three Ships,' as well as lesser known pieces like William Mathais' 'Susanni,' Daniel Gawthrop's 'Mary Speaks,' David Conte's 'A Stable Lamp is Lighted,' Ian Kellam's 'Alpha to Omega' and Benjamin Britten's 'Procession and Balulalow' (Ceremony of Carols). There are some wonderful songs we are hearing for the first time, and beautifully done standards on this generous Christmas collection!

Listen to Gloria in RealAudio.

The Manitou Singers are a choir comprised of 95 first-year women at St. Olaf College located in Northfield, Minn. They are one of the unique manifestations of vocal traditions fostered at that school which is reknown for it's choirs. Conductor Sigrid Johnsof leads this massive choir of sopranos in an marvelous repertoire of religious and secular music alike. Hymns, gospel tunes, and elements of the Mass find expression next to such works as Debussy's 'Claire de Lune,' 'Three Songs of Innocence' by Robert Wetzler, or Allister MacGillivray's 'Away From the Roll of the Sea.' While a bit more than half of the songs are enhanced by spare instrumental accompaniment, mostly solo piano, the expression of a mass of angelic voices is the substance of this beautiful recording.

Sigrid Johnson conducts the Manitou Singers, comprised of 95 first-year female students at Northfield, Minnesota's St. Olaf College. The Singers have delighted audiences over the years with their beautiful and striking interpretations of treble choral literature. Included are Faure's 'Tantum Ergo,' Manz' 'E'en So Lord Jesus,' John Hilton's 'Now Is The Summer Springing,' How's 'Lenten Litany,' Jackson Berkey's 'Gloria' and 'Little Fire,' 'Leavitt's 'Ubi Caritas,' Scott's 'Exaltation,' de Victoria's 'O Sacrum Convivium,' 'The Lone, Wild Bird,' Mendelssohn's 'Chanson et choeur de Fees' and Mulholland's 'Heart We Will Forget Him.' Piano accompaniment on most songs, but the beautiful voices of the young women are on center stage. Lovely and intricate music!

Sigrid Johnson conducts the Manitou Singers, comprised of 95 first-year female students at Northfield, Minnesota's St. Olaf College. The Singers have delighted audiences over the years with their beautiful and striking interpretations of treble choral literature. Included are Clausen's 'Make a Joyful Noise,' Rutter's 'Candlelight Carol' and 'Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day,' 'There Is No Rose of Such Virtue,' Jackson Berkey's 'Gloria,' 'Sanctus,' 'Make We Joy,' 'Sing A New Noel;' 17 songs in total. Orchestral accompaniment on most songs, but the beautiful voices of the young women are on center stage. Lovely and intricate music for Christmas!

One of the most popular music ensembles at Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College is the 100-strong Manitou Singers, comprised of 100 first year women's voices. Manitou sings at the opening worship service of the college; at daily chapel and church services, the annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival, its own Spring concert and others. Their repertoire includes the sacred, the secular and even popular ballads. On 'Repertoire for Women's Voices, Vol. 6,' well-respected Director Sigrid Johnson leads Manitou's clear, soaring voices in 18 beautiful, mostly piano-accompanied songs; some favorites are Gyorgy Orban's 4-part 'Mass #6,' a pair by David M. Childs, 'I Am Not Yours' and 'She Walks In Beauty;' a pair by Joan Szymko, 'The Peace of Wild Things' and 'I Dream A World;' Z. Randall Stroope's 'Dies Irae;' Michael Cleveland's 'Come to Me' among many others. A delicate, lovely collection from this young, talented group!

'Repertoire for Women's Voices, Vol. 7' continues an impressive series from Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College's youngest vocal ensemble, formed of 100 first year women singers. Facing the daunting task of creating a world-class group from 100 new singers every year, Sigrid Johnson comes through every time, each 'Repertoire' a soaring, poised, impressive winner! A few favorites from this 19 song, mostly lightly piano accompanied collection would be a pair by David P. Rossow, 'Agnus Dei' and 'Sanctus;' a pair of Spirituals, the Moses Hogan-arranged 'Music Down In My Soul' and 'Go Down Moses,' arranged by Mark Hayes; 3 'Songs of Innocence' by Karl Korte; Robert Sieving's 'She Sat and Sang' and many others. Beautiful, well-chosen songlist, and wonderful young, soaring voices-don't miss this one!