From a stunning single line of chant to the explosive polyphony of William Byrd and J.S. Bach, each of the works on this recording is in some way related to light’s presence in our life journey: from birth to death, through love, disappointment, forgiveness, and transcendence. The presented repertoire spans the mystical 12th-century chant of Hildegard von Bingen through the Renaissance and Baroque eras, plus two special 19th century works by composers who were deeply inspired by the ideas and musical styles of these earlier time periods. Westminster Kantorei has been honored as a national finalist for The American Prize, whose judges praised the ensemble’s “finely-measured and delicate balance of voices, and a mastery of stylistic performance practice.” It has performed at the Boston Early Music Festival, the American Handel Festival and the Reformation 500 Anniversary Concert as well as in England and France, where it performed at the Festival Musique en L’ile in Paris. The ensemble has also collaborated with the Westminster Choir to perform Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Kurt Masur.

Innovative guitarist & composer Scott Fields makes his Delmark debut with a recording of 5 original compositions inspired by the work of playwright David Mamet. Fields, whose previous ensembles have included such notables as pianists Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford, and saxophonist Joseph Jarman, finds himself in excellent company here. Drummer Michael Zerang is a stalwart of the Chicago scene and has provided the pulse for the Ken Vandermark Quartet & the explosive Peter Br"tzmann Tentet. Bassist Michael Formanek is a respected composer, bandleader, and bassist.