December Stillness
Although this is not a new release (it was first issued in 1995, in the days pre-Classicstoday.com), its program and performances are very worthy of the attention of choral music fans. The Christmas-themed repertoire, an enduring collection of mostly newer works coupled with several classics, brings us top-notch renditions of Stravinsky'sAve Mariaand Poulenc's motetQuem vidistis pastores diciteas well as the rarely heard Herbert Howells pieceLong, long ago(choirs usually opt for hisA spotless rose) and Arvo Pärt's increasingly popularMagnificat. Stephen Paulus'Evensong(a setting of an obscure 19th-century German poem by Matthias Claudius) is a highlight, as is Basque composer Javier Busto's lovelyAve Maria(which should be in the standard repertoire of every choir!). There's more, much more, and I'll leave it to you to discover the many delights of this well-chosen program. Of course, the Dale Warland Singers invariably offer first-rate singing and interpretations, especially in their performances of more modern repertoire, and they do so here, complemented by very fine sound from (appropriately) The Church of the Nativity in St Paul, Minnesota. Highly recommended! --David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com