On this recording, the PWC celebrates a close relationship with prominent Estonian composer, Veljo Tormis. Influenced by his deep conviction that ancient song traditions reflect a close connection to nature, the prolific Tormis gives us the four seasons in 36 miniatures of intense choral imagery in his evocative song cycles, Looduspildid (Nature Pictures). We are proud to present the first American recording of this cycle! This eclectic recording continues the theme with Karl Korte's 'Spring', Chen Yi's 'Looking at the Sea' and Samuel Barber's 'To be Sung on the Water.' Also included are Edward Elgar's 'The Snow' and Kenneth Leslie's lovely 'Cape Breton Lullaby,' a PWC favorite.

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Music strengthens your inner-self, whether in times of joy or sorrow. Songs of Spirit features music from the documentary Song of Survival. This music is from the collection of vocal orchestral pieces which were sung by Dutch, English and American women in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. Among the pieces sung were, 'Largo' from the New World Symphony by Dvorak, the 'Pastoral Symphony' from Handel's Messiah and the steadfast 'Captive's Hymn' written in 1942 by one of the music's arrangers Margaret Dryburgh. These pieces were first performed by the Peninsula Women's Chorus for the documentary 'Song of Survival' and featured in the movie Paradise Road. Also featured is the song cycle 'Indian Singing,' based on poetry by Gail Tremblay, composed by Ron Jeffers. This piece was written specifically for the Peninsula Women's Chorus. This CD contains some very powerful music

Highlights include the Pastoral Symphony by Handel, Caritas abundat by Hildegard von Bingen, selections from Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, Bach's In dulci jubilo arranged for piano and performed by Josephine Gandolfi, and several pieces from Seven Joys of Christmas by Kirke Mechem.

Established in 1966, the 73-strong PWC has been ably led since 1975 by renowned Director Patricia Hennings, Director of Choral Activities at Skyline College. The group has performed at numerous ACDA conventions, toured internationally and appeared on NPR and television both here and abroad. Josephine Gandolfi supplies gentle accompaniment, placing the focus on the angelic voices of the group. The group's repertoire includes contemporary sacred music like Agneta Skold's 'Gloria,' Hakan Olsson's 'Da Pacem,' David Conte's 'Hosanna,' Libby Larsen's 'Who Cannot Weep, Come Learn of Me,' Michael Cleveland's 'Pie Jesu,' Brian Holmes' Christmas carol 'Good Cheer, and Nancy Telfer's lovely 'The Blue Eye of God.' Also included are de Victoria's 16th century sacred song, 'Domaine, Non Sum Dignus,' Gustav Holst's 19th century masterpiece, 'Hymn to the Waters,' Knut Nystedt's 'Shells' and 'Suoni,' and finally, 'In Praise of Music,' written by David Conte to celebrate the PWC's 25th anniversary. 'Treasures' is exactly that, soaring, beautiful and uplifting!

The 61-strong Peninsula Women's Chorus was established in 1966, and has been under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hennings since 1975, and the Christmas CD 'Carols' is their fourth CD. The first 10 songs are a marvelous group called 'Carols and Lullabies, Christmas in the Southwest' by Conrad Susa. A friend of Susa's showed him a collection of traditional Spanish carols he had sung as a boy in Arizona, and Susa put them together to form a narrative. combining homey, artful simplicity with Renaissance music, Songs like 'Alegria' and the Andalusian song 'Chiquirriquitin,' with their lilting, dancing marimbas, and the lovely 'A La Nanita Nana,' are the gems of the CD. The second half of the CD takes us more in the direction of the sacred (Karai's 'Hodie Christus natus est' and Missa Brevis' 'Kyrie,' 'Sanctus' and 'Agnus Dei'). Throw in 'The Carol of the Rose,' 'Alleluia' and others, and you have a surprising, delightful Christmas CD!

The sound of wind and water, the Sierra Nevada mountain range-late PWC artistic director Patricia Farris Hennings had a love for these things, and envisioned producing a CD of 20th century music that would transport the listener and inspire the soul. That CD is Earthtones, a musical journey through both nature and spirituality. Opening with Libby Larsen's soaring 'Psalm 121,' commissioned by the Palo Alto, CA-based PWC, Gwyneth Walker's 'I Thank You God,' Hildegar von Bingen's beautiful 'O viridissima virga,' Ramona Luengen's joyous 'Celebremus,' H. Garrett Phillips' dramatic 'Odysseus and the Sirens,' Lojze Lebic's rhythmic 'Urok,' the fast-moving 'Mouth Music,' the traditional South African song 'Nginani Na,' and the lovely folk song 'Shenandoah.' 13 songs, some with light accompaniment and percussion. The PWC is one of our favorite women's choruses, and the perfectly recorded 'Earthtones' is a wonderful tribute to their beloved director from 1975 to her passing in 2001.

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The 60-voice Palo Alto, CA-based PWC is known for adventurous programming, seeking out music written especially for women, and frequently commissioning new works. 'Winter Patterns' is a Christmas collection of sacred works such as Chesnokov's 'Dostoyno yest' (It is truly fitting) and 'Svete tihiy' (Gladsome Light), Daniel Pinkham's 3-part 'Christmas Cantata,' Rebecca Clarke's 'Ave Maria,' Charles Griffin's 'Agnus Dei,' Poulenc's 'Litanies a la Vierge Noire' and Veljo Tormis' 4-part 'Talvemustrid' (Winter Patterns). There are also carols, Franz Gruber's 'Silent Night,' and the lesser-known 'Salvator Mundi, A Carol Sequence' by William Mathias, which includes 'Make we Merry,' 'Mirabile Mysterium,' 'Susanni,' 'Lullay' and 'Welcome, Yule.' 'Patterns' is a rare and beautiful collection of sacred music from one of the world's best women's choral ensembles. Some accompaniment.

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