This recording highlights the tremendous contribution of black composers to the repertoire of church and concert organists. Includes organ works by composers from the late nineteenth century to the present day. The masterfully arranged spirituals and dynamic original compositions can add the perfect touch to a worship service. Artist Nathaniel Gumbs has been recognized as "one of 20 outstanding organists under 30 years old for his achievement in organ performance and church music (The Diapason magazine, 2017). The Newberry Memorial Organ, in Woolsey Hall at Yale University, heard on this recording is one of the most renowned Romantic organs in the world.

Poetry and music accomplish together what neither can accomplish alone. For the majority of the works on this album, John Wykoff collaborated with one of the best choral lyricists of our time. In writing the words for many of the works, Charles Anthony Silvestri was finely sensitive to the ways in which music transforms a text and is transformed in return. His lyrics are imaginative and beautiful, yet he leaves room for music to interpret the text and divert it's meaning... Music can account for many dimensions. From the comfort, consolation, protection, sacredness in Out of This Darkness, it also has the power to combine these with their opposite: threat, danger, and disquietude. Only the combination of words and music makes all these nuances possible. While lyrics typically precede music, sometimes it is the other way around, as with the Inventions for Choir (and Piano), where Wykoff considered what it would mean to take the spirit and purpose of Bach's famous keyboard inventions, but not the style, and write a set for singers in a contemporary choral idiom. And then there is Five American Songs, which began not with words or music separately, but with old songs whose words and music were already wed. Wykoff set out not to alter or change each song, but to lovingly frame it (to "curate it," as he heard Alice Parker say once). Any undue intrusion of the composer would distract from these charming songs, not enhance them. Songs do not live on paper. They come alive only when sung and played. The Missouri State Chorale, Parker Payne, and Cameron LaBarr bring these works to life. Music is something humans do together. And singing together is something that usually makes us more human.

Westminster Choir 100th Anniversary Recording

Music has the ability to illuminate aspects of the human condition in ways that only sound married to texts can achieve. One of the greatest preachers of the twentieth century, William Sloan Coffin, often remarked that music in most cases was more powerful than the spoken word. This recording represents just that. All the music on this recording reflects, in sound, that serenity (and, yes, beauty) is within all of us if we choose to go there. This recording celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Westminster Choir in 1920 by John Finley Williamson, albeit a bit later.

Prior to 1991, students at Westminster Choir College organized services of lessons and carols during the season of Advent. Inspired by the famous Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, these services were held in Bristol Chapel under the leadership of Sacred Music students and accompanied by student organists. Each year, for the past 30 years, we have gathered to witness this familiar tradition and to be moved by sound and word. This evening brings stability, beauty, and comfort to all who experience the music in this great space. This 30th Anniversary live recording at the Princeton University Chapel includes the Westminster Alumni Choir, Westminster Chapel Choir, Westminster Choir, Westminster Concert Bell Choir, Westminster Jubilee Singers, Westminster Symphonic Choir, Timberdale Brass, and alumnus Robert McCormick on organ.

TRACKLIST OF WORKS:

Disc 1:

• Who is This King of Glory?
• Nata Lux
• Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
• Angel Tidings
• Toccata on Veni Emmanuel
• I Wonder as I Wander
• Missa Carolae
• Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Handel: Messiah, HMW 56
• Organ Improvisation
• In Splendoribus Sanctorum (Strathclyde Motets)
• Dame Russa Trepak
• Betelehemu

Disc 2:

• Come, All Ye Faithful
• In the Bleak Midwinter
• On This Day Earth Shall Rise
• Dona Nobis Pacem
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing
• Festival First Nowell
• Silent Night
• Ringing in the Season
• Joy to the World
• L’année d’or
• The Lord Bless You and Keep You
• Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

From international recording artist Rafael Moreno comes this imaginative and musical interpretation of the rosary. For each of the four sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous), Moreno has composed a common refrain along with unique verses for each of his five mysteries. The verses and choruses can be sung together as a complete song or interspersed between the five decades. A short narrative is provided to introduce each mystery; together, the effect is a beautiful meditative journey through the entire rosary. Additionally, Raphael offers impressive sung renditions of the Apostle's Creed and Hail, Regina.

A youthful Mass for all generations. Whether led by a youth choir or a more seasoned adult group, Mass of the Next Generation is sure to inspire assemblies to fully participate in the liturgy! Thoroughly singable with dynamic, syncopated rhythms throughout, this Mass features several musical genres including rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel. An inspirational setting for today’s church!

A versatile Mass setting for use throughout the liturgical year, Mass of the Sun of Justice / Misa Sol de Justicia is fully bilingual, singable entirely in English or in Spanish, or any pastoral combination of both languages. At its core, this setting is built on assembly-minded melodies. Much of the choral writing is two-part, albeit spelled out in four voices, whereby the basses frequently double the soprano melody, and the alto and tenor lines essentially share a single harmony in their respective ranges, splitting only at cadence points for a fuller effect.

Optional descants and divisi further expand the voicing possibilities. The additional instrumentation is particularly spirited, further enhancing these sung texts for solemn occasions. “Sun of justice” is a term used to reference Christ with respect to his second coming, as found in the ancient “O” antiphons. This title appears in the Lectionary among the Alleluia options for the common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is, in fact, assigned to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated within the Advent season. As such, the music is “Advent-like” in nature, joyful and filled with hope.

A new collection of songs from a true talent and vibrant voice in sacred music, Roger M. Holland II. Featuring the title track, We R the Church, which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic in home studios in New York and Denver, Colorado.

The Barcelona Clarinet Players commissioned six prominent Latin American composers to write new works for clarinet quartet and wind band. During their 2021–2022 season; they recorded each work with a different wind band in the United States or Latin America; and the result is a captivating album of extraordinary musical richness and diversity that showcases the unique aesthetic of each composer and the artistry of the performing ensembles.

Years ago; Tony Alonso composed a simple Gospel Acclamation based on the tune LAMBILLOTTE ("Alleluia: Song of the Spirit"). Song of the Spirit Mass fully extends this tune-based approach to all of the sung portions of the Mass. It features a driving; rhythmic piano part. However; to accommodate a range of contexts; it also includes an alternate accompaniment with more intentional melodic support that is suitable for organ. With the joyful exuberance of the tune at its core; Song of the Spirit Mass is especially well-suited to Easter and Ordinary Time.

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.

In partnership with Oxford University Press and authorized by the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust, this major new initiative brings the incredible catalog of Ralph Vaughan Williams to the wind band community, with scholarly transcriptions by leaders in wind band composition. Titles in the Symphonic Series come from treasured major orchestral works by Vaughan Williams that have never before been available for wind band.

The creation of the WindWorks label represents an expanded relationship between the North Texas Wind Symphony and GIA Publications. GIA’s generous support and ongoing dedication to wind music has made it possible for the ensemble to continue producing recordings of the highest quality that are a testament to the perseverance and work ethic of everyone involved. SPECIAL NOTE: This is the last recording Eugene Migliaro Corporon will conduct for the WindWorks series.

The creation of the WindWorks label represents an expanded relationship between the North Texas Wind Symphony and GIA Publications. GIA’s generous support and ongoing dedication to wind music has made it possible for the ensemble to continue producing recordings of the highest quality that are a testament to the perseverance and work ethic of everyone involved. SPECIAL NOTE: This is the last recording Eugene Migliaro Corporon will conduct for the WindWorks series.

“This third edition of the Colours recordings emerges from the quiet moments of quarantine – time to reflect, create, and record these arrangements for solo piano amidst the many wounds of the world. While the season offers us much music that sings of “good news of great joy,” there are also those for whom it is a season of emptiness, sadness, and loss. With these new arrangements, I attempt to capture the full range of the season and the God who comes among us in our pathos and our joy.” (Chris de Silva)