Tudor founder Doug Fullington directs the 17-strong Seattle-based mixed choir in a wonderful collection of 18th and 19th century American Shapenote songs, in this their 2nd CD. The composers who wrote and taught Shapenote songs sought ways for the melody to crop up in all of the vocal parts, or at least for each vocal part to have an interesting musical line, as opposed to all the lower parts supporting the sopranos. 24 spirited songs are here, some of the most melodic, upbeat Christian hymns we've heard. It's obviously more fun to sing Shapenote, because the singers are just singing their tails off! 'Montgomery,' 'Sweet Prospect,' 'China,' 'Soar away,' the joyous 'The better land,' the welcoming 'Weeping Mary,' the dynamic 'Eternal day,' 'Heavenly union,' 'Evening shade,' 'All is well,' 'Africa,' 'Traveling on,' the upbeat 'Happy land,' the glorious fugue 'New Jerusalem,' 'Hallelujah'. These are amazing songs, very blue collar, not designed to be sung in cathedrals. One rarely suspects of cathedral choirs that they are having too much fun singing, but we are certain of it here! Extensive liner notes. Recommended!

Listen to Weeping Mary in RealAudio.

The Seattle-based Tudor Choir is a professional mixed-voice choir with a flexible membership between 10 and 30 singers, founded by director Doug Fullington in 1993. They specialize in Renaissance polyphony and also sings Baroque, early American and 20th century music. 'Gentle Words' is their 3rd CD. The Shakers (or United Society of Believers) originated in England in 1747. In 1770 the charismatic Ann Lee became the acknowledged leader, she and 8 others departed for America in 1774 to escape persecution. Their animated and ecstatic worship practices gave rise to their common name. The societies they formed are characterized by pacifism, gender/racial equality and an astounding industriousness and invention. These songs are part of a body of 10,000 Shaker songs. There are 28 a cappella tunes here, all following the Shaker aesthetics of beauty, simplicity and utility. 'I will bow and be simple,' 'In Yonder Valley,' 'All is summer,' 'Love is little,' 'The burning day,' the triumphant 'Circular march,' 'Heavenly display,' the foot-stomping 'Followers of the Lamb,' the joyous 'Angels of heaven,' 'Dismission of Great I,' 'Gentle words,' 'Beautiful Valley,' 'Jubilee,' 'Cords of love' ... There is a quiet beauty and power to these songs--no wonder the Shakers have outlived all other utopian religious groups. Spirited, spiritual music sung beautifully!

The 17 mixed voices of Seattle's Tudor Choir, founded by Doug Fullington in 1993, have a focused repertoire dedicated to historically informed concerts and recordings with an emphasis on Renaissance, early American and English choral music. While putting together 1996's 'The Shapenote Album,' the Choir came across 'An American Christmas Harp,' a shapenote collection, and were inspired to record 'An American Christmas. We won't go into defining shapenote, referring you to the 28-page liner notes, but we will say that it's intensely harmonic and spirited, and often includes fugues. 23 songs, some of which we know by other names, 'Antioch,' for instance, we know as 'Joy to the World.' Some favorites: 'Shiloh,' 'Sherburne,' 'Emanuel, For Christmas,' 'Redemption, S.M.,' 'Anthem from Luke,' 'Joys Seven,' 'Boston, For Christmas,' 'Bonnie Doon,' 'Judea,' 'London,' 'Raymond' and 'Milford.' These now obscure songs were once as familiar to rural Americans as 'White Christmas.' Shapenote is joyous, celebratory music, fun to sing and fun to hear.

The music on this recording spans many centuries, including 20th-century carols, Tudor polyphony, and chant from medieval England's Sarum rite. Producing a choral sound that is distinctly English in heritage, the Tudor Choir sings this music with intelligence and heart. Shape note music, Shaker songs, Sheppard, Tallis, and Victoria.

The Tudor Choir adds to its critically acclaimed collection of recordings with this new CD of music by Renaissance composer Jacob Clemens non Papa (c.1515-c.1555). Clemens composed in all of the expected genres of his time. Much of his music is infused with a personal quality that differs from the generally abstract nature of much Renaissance sacred music. The music on this disc is a survey of his Latin-texted sacred polyphony, including his intimate Requiem, plus a Magnificat setting and a sampling of motets. The pieces chosen for this recording reveal texts that portray such themes as relationships, family, and remembrance and therefore demonstrate the unusual personal quality to be found in Clemens s works.

A follow-up to their successful CD of Shaker tunes, 'Gentle Words,' The Tudor Choir expands the repertoire to include other British and American music of simple character and enduring melody. The Tudor Choir's lovely shaping of phrases, impeccable intonation and unadorned, clean sound allow the words and music to become the Shaker 'prayer language,' to free the mind from the world, to visit the soul.

Listen to The Star Of Purity in RealAudio.