Kaleidoscope: America's Faith in Song

By (artist) Gloriae Dei Cantores

$16.99

ISBN: 9781557255426
Trim size: 0 x 0 inches
Weight: 3 ounces.
Publication Date: 01 Aug 2007
Product ID: G118
Format: CD-Audio

Celebrate the sacred Sounds of America with Kaleidoscope!

This is the music that has lofted through church rafters across the United States since its founding, and continues to bring comfort and strength to its faithful people today. Gloriae Dei Cantores presents a new arrangement of "Amazing Grace"; classics by some of America's great composers such as Aaron Copland,Virgil Thomson, Leo Sowerby and Paul Manz; and beloved hymns from Appalachia and the South, arranged by Alice Parker and others. Also features the brass quintet Gabriel V in a new arrangement of the spiritual "Let Us Break Bread Together".

Premiere and Only Works:

I Will Arise arr. Alice Parker
Foundation arr. Alice Parker
The Twenty-Third Psalm Foote
Holy Manna arr. John Carter
Psalm 136 Thomson
Come, Holy Ghost Sowerby

Media

Reviews

"Annotations and texts are integrated into a single, listener-friendly sequence, an approach that I wish was much more widely adopted in the industry. And the graphic design of the booklet is appealingly lavish without becoming tacky. Still more attractive, to my taste, is the program's alternation of explicitly composed works with others of folk origin, which works rather more persuasively than you might imagine. If you think you've long since overdosed on Amazing Grace, you need to re-open the subject until you've heard the enchanting new choir-and-solo-strings arrangement that opens this program. And the rest of it, too, is warmly recommended."
—Fanfare

"If you think you've been overdosed on Amazing grace, you need to re-open the subject until you've heard the enchanting new choir-and-solo strings arrangement that opens this program."
— Fanfare Magazine

"Fans of American sacred choral music, particularly early-American hymns and 20th-century church anthems, will find much to enjoy on this diverse and very well sung program...Several of the early American pieces are Alice Parker arrangements (I Will Arise, Foundation, Hark, I Hear the Haerps Eternal), and others are newer versions of favorite hymns Amazing Grace, What a Friend We Have in Jesus the former a richly scored rendition of this classic that includes cello and violin accompaniment, the latter a very modern realization of the old standard for solo organ. Also include are such beloved repertoire staples as Jean Berger's The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee, Randall Thompson's The Best of Rooms, and Paul Manz's E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come.

In other words, for many listeners, this will be like a visit to an old, familiar place of spiritual nurturing, of communal worship, or of just plain memorable choral singing. And Gloriae Dei Cantores is one of America's best advocates for this repertoire; for these singers, music like this is not performing material but rather is part of life's essence, and their commitment comes across in the exuberance and consistent, sensitive expressive character of the singing. ...There's a nice feel to this disc, a sensibility that conveys the intended spiritual qualities embodied in most of the musical works, and as such, it's a success -- and as mentioned, worthy of serious consideration by lovers of American hymns and sacred anthems."

—Classics Today

Author Bio

Gloriæ Dei Cantores (Singers to the Glory of God) holds a passionate dedication to illuminate truth and beauty through choral artistry, celebrating a rich tradition of sacred choral music from Gregorian chant through the twenty-first century. Currently under the direction of Richard K. Pugsley, Gloriæ Dei Cantores has received critical acclaim for its artistic elegance, performance authenticity, and compelling spirituality. Sharing its vision of inspiration and hope, the choir has toured extensively, touching the hearts of audiences in twenty-four countries in Europe, Asia, and N. America. Its discography of over fifty recordings is distributed internationally through Paraclete Recordings, a division of Paraclete Press, Inc., and NAXOS, Inc. The choir makes its home in Orleans, MA. www.gdcchoir.org