Steven Sametz wears multiple hats on this recording of his work by the Princeton Singers. All of the pieces on this album were arranged by Sametz and it includes the premier of his work 'Dudaryku - A Village Scene' which depicts life in a nineteenth century Ukrainian village. This piece features guest artists Chanticleer. The recording is an assortment of folksongs from around the world, American standards and American folk and gospel songs. The choir adapts beautifully to the variety diverse cultures and musical styles on this recording.

The music on this recording is a juxtaposition of joyous and somber. The album begins and ends with music by Gerald Finzi and features two Requiem settings by Henry Walford Davies and Herbert Howells. The setting by Davies, which is 'in memory of those fallen in the war,' begins with a beautiful soprano solo. The Requiems are set using texts from the Book of Common Prayer. The majority of the music on this recording is by twentieth century British composers, which is the focus of this group. The notable exception is Samuel Barber's Reincarnations. This superb choir is conducted by founder John Bertalot.

Reincarnations was recorded during the choir's first season under the direction of Steven Sametz. The repertoire explores a series of connections between the old and the new. It opens with Samuel Barber's Reincarnations, with texts by James Stephens which focus on different facets of love. Sametz has three pieces showcased on this recording: 'On the Death of a Friend,' 'Magnificat' and 'in time of .' Sametz's 'Magnificat' is juxtaposed by that if Villiers Stanford, both featuring the resident choir of the American Boychoir School. Other pairings are two very different settings of the joyful text 'Exultate Deo' by Palestrina and Poulenc. This is a very nice recording marking the beginning of a new era for this wonderful choir.

One of America's finest choral ensembles, the Princeton Singers offer us a collection of Christmas medieval through modern. Intertwining traditions from all over the world, this collection has carols from America, Germany, Ireland and the Ukraine; works from Brazil and Italy; as well as compositions which borrow traditions. This album features pieces such as Franz Beibl's beloved 'Ave Maria,' 'Canite tuba' by Palestrina and the American hymn 'Wondrous Love,' arranged by Sametz. This diverse celebration of Christmas will surely bring you joy.

Steven Sametz has been called 'one of America's most respected choral composers.' His compositions have been heard throughout the world at the Tnaglewood, Ravinia, Salzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Santa Fe music festivals. His in time of appears on the Grammy award-winning CD by Chanticleer, Colors of Love, and his work may be heard on six other Chanticleer CDs, as well as several by The Princeton Singers. Sametz has received commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Connecticut Council on the Arts, and the Santa Fe Music Festival, creating new works for Chanticleer, the Dale Warland Singers, Philadelphia Singers, Pro Arte Chamber Choir, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Connecticut Choral Artists, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the King of Thailand. Sametz is an exciting new voice in modern American choral music and a great fresh addition to choral repertoire. Includes 24 page booklet and most of the arrangements are published.