The St. Olaf College Viking Chorus is a group of 60 first-year college men who have been organized to sing high quality music written for men's voices. They perform a program that includes motets, cantata movements, as well as contemporary choral pieces, spirituals, folk songs and the like. Included are 24 songs, from the title tune, Richard Farrant's 'Hide Not Thou Thy Face,' and Vivaldi's 'Crucifixus,' to Michael Cox' beautiful 'O Holy Child,' the folk songs 'Down By The Sally Gardens' and ' The Miller of Dee,' closing with the lovely spirituals 'Steal Away' and 'Somebody's Calling My Name.' Smooth, strong harmonies--this is powerful, inspirational spiritual music, sung with youthful energy by this wonderfully directed Christian male chorus. Great stuff!

A collection of Sacred Choral Classics, Songs of Christmas, Ethnic Songs and African American Spirituals conducted by Robert Scholz fills this wonderful recording by the Viking Chorus of St. Olaf College. These pieces have been taken from many of their concerts, including their participation in the Christmas festivals. The recording begins with the first and final sections of William Byrd's Mass for Three voices. Other selections include compositions by director Scholz, such as 'Set Me as a Seal' with piano and oboe accompaniment and the a cappella 'All this Night.' They also sing two selections is Swedish. This recording is a well sung variety of repertoire for men's voices.

Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College boasts many fine vocal and instrumental ensembles. The Viking Chorus, founded in 1935, is a group of 60 first-year student men who perform motets, cantatas and anthems, as well as contemporary choral pieces, spirituals, and folksongs. The 26 songs of 'When Love is Found' are largely classical sacred music such as Hovland's 'The Glory of the Father,' Pitoni's 'Adoramus te' (We Adore Thee), Byrd's 'Agnus Dei,' Petrich's 'First Born of Creation,' Biebl's 'Ave Maria' (Angelus Domini), and Gretchaninoff's 'Only Begotten Son,' the title tune and 'Our Father.' The beautiful folk song 'Down by the Sally Gardens,' the sea shanty 'What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor,' the Irish anthem 'Danny Boy,' the driving Israeli tune 'El Yivneh Hagalil,' and the spirituals 'Were You There' and 'Ain'-a That Good News' bring this very strong collection to a close. Some light accompaniment. A touching blend of sacred and secular music from this renowned ensemble.

Listen to If Ye Love Me in RealAudio.

Dr. Christopher Aspaas, assistant professor of choral/vocal music at Northfield, MN's St. Olaf College directs the Viking Chorus, a group of more than 80 first-year student men who have been organized to sing the highest quality literature. Their repertoire includes motets, cantata movements and anthems, contemporary choral pieces, spirituals, folksongs, and music traditionally associated with men's singing groups. There are 17 songs here, some favorites are the Moses Hogan spiritual 'Plenty Good Room,' the African song 'One by One,' from 'Rhythm of the Pridelands,' 'The Water is Wide/Blow Ye Winds' medley, the profound 'This is My Song' by Jean Sibelius, the rhythmic gem (with non-vocal percussion) 'Betelehemu,' the powerful spiritual 'Rainbow Round My Shoulder,' Ludovico Viadana's 'Exsultate Justi,' Franz Biebl's 'Ave Maria,' Eric Sayre's 'Agnus Dei,' and the traditional songs 'Danny Boy,' 'Byker Hill,' 'Loch Lomond' and 'Shine on Me.' There is some light accompaniment (such as organ, piano and percussion). 'Repertoire' is a strong collection, sung with a masculine, soulful spirit that touches and moves us!

Listen to Danny Boy in RealAudio.