August 22, 2008

YL Male Voice Choir - Sibelius

YL Male Voice Choir was founded in 1883 under the auspices of the Helsinki University. Two years later Jean Sibelius became a student at the conservatory in Helsinki, and soon what would become a long and fruitful collaboration began. When the composer made his breakthrough with Kullervo in 1892, singers from YL formed the backbone of the choir, and when he started to write for male choir a cappella the following year his first work was Venematka (The Boat Journey), composed for the choir’s tenth anniversary. After that, a majority of Sibelius's most famous works for male choir were commissioned and premiered by YL, which has never ceased to be regarded as the foremost exponent of Sibelius’s music for male choir – the voice of Sibelius! The present program includes both a cappella works and works for male choir and orchestra, in which YL is supported by Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä. It takes us through a variety of moods and themes: from the brief and very moving Sydämeni laulu – a lullaby for a dead child – to Tulen synty (The Origin of Fire), a re-telling of the ancient Kalevala legend of how fire came into the world, as well as the patriotic sentiments of Vapautettu kuningatar (The Captive Queen) and, of course, the hymn from Finlandia, probably Sibelius’s most famous composition, here in a choral version. 8921 CD 15.95

Posted by acapnews at 10:45 PM

August 20, 2008

Portland Symphonic Girls Choir - Stars That Sing

Co-Conductors Roberta Q. Jackson and Debra R. Burgess have led the 168-strong PSG to its current status as one of the finest children's choirs in the US, widely acclaimed by composers, conductors and audiences. Composed of five ensembles, all of whom benefit from Jackson and Burgess' unique collaborative approach to artistry and teaching; the PSG was awarded the prestigious ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, and the conductors continue to commission new works for PSG ensembles each season. They also created "Music in the Making," an annual Girlchoir event, hosting guest composers, conductors and area school and community choirs. "Stars" is a wonderful collection of 19 lightly accompanied live performances from 2005-2007 by the 5 ensembles, individually and combined. Some favorites are the soaring, dramatic "Kayama & Ademus" (from Songs of Sanctuary by Karl Jenkins), the Stephen Hatfield-commissioned a cappella spiritual "First to Know," Bob Chilcott's "Benedictus" (from A Little Jazz Mass), Lee Kesselman's "Hwayana yaMwari" (Agnus Dei from Shona Mass), Eleanor Dale's "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," Mozart's "Papageno, Papagena Duet" (from the Magic Flute), Irving Berlin's "I Love a Piano," the lovely folk song "Away From the Roll of the Sea," James Rankin's "Fare Thee Well, Love" and the final cut, Keith Hampton's "Praise His Holy Name." From beginning to end, the aptly named "Stars that sing…" is a beautiful recording that touches and moves us! 8930 CD 15.95

Posted by acapnews at 6:33 PM