Joann Weber

Review: The organization of the St. John's Boys' choir of central Minnesota consists of several divisions, including "Stile Antico," which performs sacred music of the Renaissance," The Recorder Ensemble, The Training Choir, The Junior Varsity Choir focuses on the musical development of the boys in the 5th and 6th grades, and The Concert Choir is the principal touring division. "Clear Voices" features 15 mostly lightly accompanied, mostly sacred songs: Joseph M. Martin's "A Festive Call to Praise," Haydn's lovely "Kyrie and Gloria," di Lasso's "Hodie," Ralph Williams' "My Master Hath a Garden," "For Unto Us A Child is Born," from Handel's "Messiah," Brian Kay's "Gaudette," the spirituals "Hush, Somebody's Callin' My Name," "Great Getting' Up Mornin'," Rutter's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and others. What's Clear? That the sweet, high voices of the boys are the perfect complement to this fine, well-chosen material.

Songlist: A Festive Call to Praise, Kyrie and Gloria, Hodie, My Master Hath a Garden, For Unto Us A Child Is Born from "Messiah", Gaudete, The Nightengale, Allez Souspirs, Hollis Berrie, Elijah Rock, Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name, Great Getting Up Morning, She Shall Have Music, O, Colored Earth, The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Review: The St. John's Boys' Choir has been delighting audiences from their base in central Minnesota, throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada and England since their founding in 1981. Consisting of several divisions, including the Recorder Ensemble, Training Choir, Junior Varsity Choir and Concert Choir, the Choir seeks to teach music literacy to the boys, who come from many parts of Minnesota. "The Promise of Living" commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the Choir, and is a compilation of live performances and recording sessions from 2001-05, and includes the Alumni Choir. 16 songs, all lightly accompanied: Aaron Copland's "Zion's Walls" and the title tune, Karl Jenkins' lovely "Adieamus," Morten Lauridsen's "Dirait-on," Brant Adams' "Exsultate justi in Domino," "Ave Marias" by Franz Biebl and Zoltan Kodaly, Pablo Casals' "Nigra Sum," the American Folk Song "Dance, Boatman, Dance," and Douglas E. Wagner's "Bright is the Ring of Words" are some favorites. You may count us among the SJBC's many delighted audiences!

Songlist: Zion's Walls, Adieamus, Ave Maria, Dirait On, Salve Regina, Exsultate justi in Domino, Ave Maria, Prayer of the Children, Ave Maria, Tota pulchra es, Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia, Nigra Sum, Dance Boatman, Dance, Songs Eternity, Bright is the Ring of Words, The Promise of Living