Sunrise Mass is a magical recording that includes compelling music by Ola Gjeilo along with several complementary selections by Durufle, Mendelssohn, and Mocnik. The title was chosen to hopefully represent the journey of each listener to hear new worlds ot colors in each of the selections. At the heart of this recording is Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass, a spiritual, extended work in four movements that will bring you on a metaphysical journey from the heavens to earth. This recording is expertly sung by the Westminster Williamson Voices and conducted by James Jordan. It is simply exquisite. Jordan writes: “This has been our experience living with this music and, for me, allowing this choir to resonate these sounds in the most honest way we could. Gjeilo’s music allows us to connect to a vast wordless world that speaks directly to each of us in deeply personal and meaningful ways. His music was a gift to us, and hopefully will be a gift to you. All of the music on this recording connected itself to us and tethered each piece, one to the other, inside us. And for that reason, and all the reasons above, we are excited to share the magic we felt through sounding all of these incredible scores.”

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REVIEW:

Norwegian New Yorker Aja Gjeilo's music is thoroughly tonal. He seems to specialize in church music, with quotations in this mass from Duruflé and Mendelssohn. Texts by Hildegard von Bingen are rewritten and freely orchestrated. The others are by the composer. Harmony is clean and conservative, with occasional surprises in the voiceleading. For the most part, this is lovely and very beautiful. There is nothing here that could not be sung by well-schooled amateur choir singers. In fact, choral aficionados will surely enjoy this.

– American Record Guide (Allen Gimbel)

All For The King is a newly-formed ensemble that plays modern heavy hard rock. Journalist Mikael Good writes about the band’s debut: “In spite of a high average age of a debut band, it does not feel funky and old, but young and vital. With their routine and joy, they can easily play both the shirt and the tie of many younger bands. Erik Tilling…plays with a lot of pondus, delivering one heavy guitar riff after another…I think of riff champion Tony Iommi when I hear him play. But Erik does not plagiarize without finding his own personal expression and style. The singer Ricard Hulteke delivers the songs with his entire registry. He has his roots in soul, gospel, and praise, and is also a singer in the critically acclaimed hard rock band Empire 21. Although Ricard began singing hard rock late in life, he has already emerged as one of the best…”

Hymn singing is fundamental in protestant churches, but not normally the subject of an album released worldwide. The musicianship presented here is singular, sung by two volunteer choirs with power and emotion. The inspired arrangements heard on this recording have developed over decades of working with wonderful choirs and congregations, as well as by singing with, and listening to, many inspired colleagues. Some of the descants were conceived for particular services, while other arrangements grew further for special occasions. Several of the brass arrangements were composed for the ordination and consecration of the Rt. Rev. Alan Gates as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in 2014. Australians Michael S. Murray and Stuart Forster have worked together for more than 20 years, including conducting and accompanying in one another’s Episcopal churches, Christ Church in Cambridge and Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, located on opposite sides of the river Charles in Boston, Massachusetts, and during choir tours throughout America and Europe. Waiting and planning for the right moment to share their combined parish traditions of engaged singing from the vast legacy of hymnody bestowed upon the Anglican tradition has been fulfilled in this album. The installation of the exquisite Schoenstein organ at Church of the Redeemer, the restoration of the acoustic in Henry Vaughan’s exquisite architecture, and the publication of some of Stuart Forster’s hymn arrangements made the timing just right. What you will hear on this album is a superlative combined choir of about eighty voices singing some of the best-known hymns accompanied by a newly designed organ as they’ve never been heard before.

Michael Joncas's newest collection, Deep and Lasting Peace, is as rich as it is varied. Here you'll find festive settings of great hymns scored for congregations, choir, brass, and organ, incorporating Joncas's original texts. Simple settings of the three gospel canticles found in Luke utilize a "psalm tune," while another setting of the Maginificat is ideal for festive occasions. Responding to frequent requests, Joncas has revised the Gloria from his Psallite Mass, casting it in a "festive" setting using a refrain format augmented by brass as well as in a "ferial" setting for everyday Sunday use with two woodwinds and guitar. Not to be missed is the title track "Deep and Lasting Peace," which is sure to enter mainstream congregational Communion repertoire.

For the Taiz� Community, prayer together, three times a day, is a vital way to return to the wellsprings, to renew hope, and to get ready to take on practical commitments. This album, like the other recordings made in Taiz�, shows how this prayer is renewed while yet remaining constant throughout the years. Many of the songs presented here are new: they were written by brothers of Taiz� between 2012 and 2017 and are recorded here for the first time. Others have been part of the community's prayer for many years. A few come from a much older tradition: for example, the hymn � vous qui dans l'obscurit� (You who in darkness) comes from the German evangelical churches of the 17th century; the litany � Sagesse (O Wisdom), which calls for the coming of Christ, is based on antiphons of the age-old tradition of the Latin Church. These last two pieces are sung at Taiz� especially during the season of Advent. Most of these songs focus on an essential reality that can be internalized more and more deeply, as the words are tirelessly repeated. The simplicity of these repetitive forms makes them easy to sing in many situations; but they can nevertheless achieve great breadth and depth, especially when the voices of a large assembly are united with solo singers and instruments.

By his words and actions, Pope Francis invites the global Church to a radically renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ in the presence of everyone and everything we meet. The songs in this collection are a response to that invitation. They sing of the risk and the promise of encountering Jesus in the gaze of those we love, those we struggle to love, those we fear, those we don't understand, even those who have caused us or others pain. We pray these songs will anchor the joy of taking that risk deep within the hearts of those who pray with them, inspiring the work of healing wounds and creating a revolution of tenderness in a world hungry for mercy and thirsty for justice. -Tony Alonso and Jeanne Cotter. This music is one element of a larger work of story, song, and prayer available to parishes and communities wishing to reflect on and pray with the words of Pope Francis.

Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, Washington, DC writes: ‘I Will Bring You Home’ is a selection of 17 songs from David Haas’s book of the same name. David has been putting music on the lips of the people of God for over four decades, and this companion recording highlights some of his most beloved songs and hymns from throughout his prestigious career as a liturgical composer. It also includes two newly composed songs that David wrote specifically for this collection, “I Will Walk with You,” and “What Can I Leave Behind.” “We are called,” as David wrote, “to love tenderly.” But sometimes, we need to sing it to feel it and feel it to live it. No one helps us along that path of love better than David Haas. His work invites us to sing, feel, and live a life of love. No follower of the gospel could hope for more, and these stories help begin to tell us why.

This captivating collection of liturgical music in varied styles highlights the scriptural themes of love, discipleship, healing, reconciliation, and praise. The best-selling title track, "To You Who Bow," shows us an alternative path for humanity. "Turn Around," a literal translation of the word "metanoia," announces the choice offered by Christ and echoes the Gospel call to repent and believe. "God Is Love, based on 1 Corinthians 13, expresses the concept that God's love is the connective life and energy that binds us all together. Each song in this collection invites us to follow the way of Jesus shaping a world of peace and justice. Rory Cooney has been the director of liturgy and music ministries at St. Anne Catholic Community in Barrington, Illinois, since 1994. His published compositions span a career of songwriting that began nearly 35 years ago, and continues to the present, as he tries to write to the needs of the church and the communities in which he serves. Early compositions were published by Composers' Forum for Catholic Worship and Resource Publications in the 1970's, and his works are represented in Gather and RitualSong, as well as other publications.

Paul Tate is back with his first solo liturgical music collection in over a decade, and the results are spectacular. This collection features songs of hope and encouragement that you will find useful for funeral celebrations, the sacrament of reconciliation, All Saints'/Souls' Day, graduation celebrations, and more. You'll find Paul's signature piano style and vocal arrangements, plus beautiful obbligato parts played by flute, recorder, saxophone, violin, and cello. Three energetic bonus tracks from Paul's recent independent releases are now available through GIA Publications, Inc., "Child of God," "I Will Call upon the Name of the Lord," and "Christ Reigns" round out this recording. Complete your Paul Tate collection and order this tremendous collection today!

Rejoice and Be Glad explores Matthew's version of the Beatitudes through the lens of music he and others have written; through texts of Pope Francis; and David's own exploration of the Beatitudes in everyday living. Rejoice and Be Glad! The Kingdom of God is (Y)Ours! The Kingdom of God is both yours and ours - it belongs to all of us: the poor, the sorrow-filled, the lowly, the hungry, the homeless, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, you and me, all of us, the Children of God. DAVID Haas resides in Eagan, Minnesota, where he is director of The Emmaus Center for Music, Prayer and Ministry and serves as campus minister at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota where he directs the CDH Liturgical Choir and serves as the animator for the Cretin-Derham Hall Taize' Prayer Community. Highly regarded as one of the preeminent liturgical music composers in the English-speaking world, he has produced more than 45 collections of original music. His liturgical works are sung and prayed throughout the world and appear in hymnals of many Christian denominations and in many languages.

The TANGOSTORIA album is a continuation of one of BANDONEGRO’s projects, in which the musicians focus on the traditional tango. The album refers to the greatest creators of this genre and is a response to the constantly growing interest in Argentine culture. We can find here the greatest hits of sung tango such as: ‘Sur,’ ‘Remembranza’ or ‘Ballada Para un Loco,’ but also the most interesting traditional tangos, selected by the ensemble, by such composers as Juan D’Arienzo, Alfredo Gobbi, Anibal Troilo, Horacio Salgan or Astor Piazzolla. Despite the considerable variety of styles presented by the aforementioned composers, the album is a closed, coherent whole, and it is listened to as a story with its necessary elements of introduction, development and ending. The musicians from Bandonegro invited Uruguayan vocalist Andres Martorell to cooperate. By adding new, fresh arrangements of existing pieces, they created a project with no expiry date. Undoubtedly, Bandonegro’s trip to Buenos Aires in 2019 had an impact on the interpretations of the works present on the album. The experience gained during that tour resulted in new ideas, one of which was recording this album. ‘Traditional tango is an inseparable element of Argentine culture, based on a strong relationship between music and dance. As musicians dealing with this genre, we want to cultivate these traditions, as evidenced by the album Tangostoria.’ The album was recorded six months after Bandonegro’s trip to Buenos Aires.

Sarah Maria Sun's "Killer Instincts" is an incredibly creative and colorful collection of songs about bad people doing bad things. Perhaps no longer "hip" thing to do, it is a concept album - pleasurable journey in bad people's shoes. To assemble the collection, Sarah brought together songs from a wide range of genres - classical art song and melodrama, opera, Broadway, movie soundtracks, and classic rock and pop. How can this work? In these songs, Sarah inhabits a wide range of characters, at the same displaying her amazing abilities in disparate styles. The arrangements, by Max Renne and Sarah, are as clever as the repertoire. Bernstein's virtuoso "Glitter and Be Gay" arranged for an ensemble of banjos and guitar, and his "There's a Law About Men" sung to an electronic background of the orchestral accompaniment chopped and minced with filters. Joe Walsh's rock classic "Life's Been Good" sung accompanied by just bass guitar. Tom Waits' "Just the Right Bullets" in a wild west meets surf music arrangement. Others are sung basically straight: the Schubert melodrama "Abschied von der Erde" and the first recording of Stefan Wolpe's harrowing "Hitler." And on and on. Keep an open mind and enjoy the ride!

A glorious choral Christmas collection of music from around the world! Through Chris de Silva’s incredible choral writing and inspired instrumental scoring, the themes of Christmas are exquisitely retold – those of light, darkness, shepherds, angels, heaven, earth, fear, wonder, peace, joy, silence, and sound. Chris de Silva’s formal, classical composition training shines through on each piece. From the joyfully powerful “Singing, We Come Singing” to the regal “The Child Is Born in Bethlehem” and the dance-like “Shepherds on to Bethlehem,” each of these eight pieces work beautifully as stand-alone choices for your choir’s Christmas celebrations. Together, the pieces would work well as part of a well-rounded lessons and carols service. For choral music lovers, the Mysterium recording will become one of your seasonal favorites!

Sublime and calming plainchant and celebrations of Gloria, Kyrie, Sanctus and Magnificat invoke the glories of the Christian faith. A rich sound, a fine acoustic and expressive music lift the spirits. This release is perfect for meditation and relaxation during a quiet moment of the day. Ensembles featured on this masterful compilation include the Oxford Girls’ Choir directed by Richard Vendome, Magdala directed by David Skinner, Singscape conducted by Sarah Tenant-Flowers, The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge directed by David Skinner, The Monks and Novices of St. Frideswide, and more.

GIA Publications, Inc. is pleased to offer Easter in Ireland, our first recording by Steve Warner and The Newman Vocare Ensemble, music ministers at the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason in Dublin, Ireland. This album offers a taste of the rich fabric of sounds found in Ireland. It is a merging of traditions: four-part choral singing; Uilleann pipes, low whistle, harp and harmonium; strings, organ and guitar. All of the selections are directed toward the joy of Easter. The available octavos and downloads include choral anthems, hymns, refrain songs, psalmody and liturgical items for use in any parish. This recording also honors one of the newest and most celebrated saints, St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, who commissioned the building of University Church, home to the Newman Vocare Ensemble and site of this recording.

One of the world’s most salient features is that there is so much trouble, but one of the world’s deepest hopes is for something better. A better life. A better place. A better world that transcends our troubles. A haven. A Heaven. A full home and a final one. The tension between these two ideas (trouble and transcendence) is the binding theme of this collection of choral works. Each piece takes up some aspect of that theme. Some describe the sorrow and tragedy of this world. Some express fear and trembling at the cost of redeeming it. Most of the works express a hope for a better world. The implications of the difference between trouble and transcendence is most deeply explored in the centerpiece of the collection, “Prayers of Kierkegaard.”

Following the well-received first volume of Colours, Chris de Silva offers another installment in this popular collection of programmatic pieces, with original composition material as well as arrangements of hymn tunes and contemporary classics. The intended expressive, reflective qualities of many of the settings, including "Wondrous" and "Benediction," are palpable, although ample consideration is provided for rhythmic, energetic moods as well-such as in "Triumph" or "Manna"! Performer and listener alike will be captivated by the creativity with which de Silva weaves melodic material throughout the music, with fresh harmonic tones and rhythmic treatment. The end result is truly a rich palette of colors! Chris de Silva is originally from Singapore and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. He is a composer, arranger and recording artist with GIA Publications, Inc. Chris shares his gift of music ministry at national conferences, diocesan conventions and parish retreats around the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.

Love, Burn Bright features finely crafted ritual music for celebrations throughout the year that will quickly become beloved pieces in the life of your assembly. Original compositions for Ascension, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and imaginative settings of acclamations for the revised marriage rite make this a collection you will turn to again and again. Chris de Silva is at the top of his form, presenting songs with a strong sense of melody and fresh contemporary style. Bring added dimension to your liturgical repertoire with de Silva's latest collection of liturgical music. Chris de Silva is originally from Singapore and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. He is a composer, arranger and recording artist at GIA Publications, Inc. Chris shares his gift of music ministry at national conferences, diocesan and parish retreats around the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Chris has served at several faith communities in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, including Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Los Nietos) and St. Brendan Church (Los Angeles). He has recently joined the campus ministry team at Loyola Marymount University as Associate Director of Music and Liturgy, and is excited to journey with the students.

Ranging from timeless hymns of devotion to powerful Christian songs, Vocal Point's highly anticipated inspirational album highlights the Savior's love for the one, His mission, divinity, and ultimately-His grace. Vocal Point was founded in 1991 by two students at Brigham Young University. Dave Boyce and Bob Ahlander first heard the contemporary a cappella sound during a visit to the eastern U.S., where it had already grown to considerable popularity at colleges throughout the east. Seeking to bring that sound westward, Dave and Bob recruited Jill Petersen-Lex to serve as the group's first Artistic Director. The three held auditions in the fall of 1991. After the members were selected and began singing, the nine-man group became an instant hit on campus, selling out it's very first concert. In Fall 1994, the ensemble was adopted into the School of Music.

Take Nothing for the Journey was a labor of love for composer David Haas. He has been captivated by Franciscan spirituality since childhood. Over the years this draw deepened and was nurtured by Franciscans who have walked with him on his journey. Whether used in your liturgical celebrations or for your personal spiritual journey, the songs in this collection are meant to strengthen the love of God's faithful and to inspire others to discover the divine fire found in the hearts of saints Francis and Clare. They are a reflection of and tribute to the lives these two saints lived–their care for others, the earth, and all its creatures. It is our hope that the sung prayers of Take Nothing for the Journey will offer you encouragement as you come to embrace the vast richness of the Franciscan tradition, deepen your prayer life, and become closer to God.

Leave your thoughts here is Mr Mibbler's third album following The Long Journey released in January 2021. Mr Mibbler is musicians and producers Thom Hell, J�rn Raknes and Vidar Ersfjord, and this time they have invited an incredible number of first-class Norwegian musicians to play around in their musical world. The guest musicians have been the starting point for the tracks and Mr Mibbler has built the songs around their contributions. Among the guest artists we find very exciting names such as Knut Reiersrud, Lindstr�m, Andreas Ulvo, Mathias Eick, Jan Bang, Bj�rn Klakegg, J�rgen Munkeby, Sigmund Groven and Nils Petter Molv�r, all experienced and acclaimed within their genres in Norway and internationally. This makes Leave your thoughts here a musical journey of different moods, exciting instrumentation and a wonderful mix of genres. You will hear folk, jazz, ambient and electronica performed by the very best musicians in Norway.

Classical Music

All For The King' was formed in 2016 by Erik Tilling and Ricard Hulteke who found each other by way of forums and discussions on Facebook where they expressed similar views on issues regarding God, the Bible, faith, the church and Christianity in general. They spoke about this and decided to meet and it was during this meeting that Erik presented some musical ideas to Ricard, who's jaw dropped when he heard the riffs that Erik had created. Ricard added melody and they decided on lyrics and recorded the three first songs; Rules of love, The old man and Never back down. After that Erik and Ricard contacted bass virtuoso extraordinaire Johan Tjernstr�m who added the depth and heavy bass that was needed. Olof Gardestrand contributed on the first three songs with open, heavy rhythms but never decided to be in the band. In January of 2017, heavy rock drummer Richard Tonyson took over the drum throne. This is the group's second album.

From the Introduction to the hymnal... One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism contains selections of diverse styles and genres, including traditional ecumenical hymns, contemporary texts written for the twenty-first-century church, praise and worship selections, music from Taizé, The Iona Community, choral responses, responsorial psalmody, traditional and contemporary gospel music, and Negro spirituals.

“We Praise Our God” captures the daily and uniquely beautiful rhythm of chapel worship at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, an Anglican seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin, founded in 1842. Each day of the academic year begins with Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. The day ends with Evensong, the music taken from The Hymnal 1982 and the Nashotah House Plainsong Psalter or the New Nashotah House Anglican Chant Psalter. Once a week, on Thursdays, the day begins with sung Matins in the morning, followed by a community music rehearsal when new music and a brief singing lesson are offered. Thursday’s Solemn High Eucharist in the evening is usually attended by the wider community of student and faculty families. This album attempts to recreate the experience of the “Alleluia, Sing” LP recording of the early 1970s, from the opening track of Nashotah’s beloved bell, Michael, to new settings of the Mass Ordinary used in the chapel, along with compositions by Nashotah faculty. The album was primarily recorded from live services during the celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 24 and 25, 2022.