Dr. Timothy Peter

Review: One of the most magnificent in the world, the 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's Luther College features the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of talented members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei singing 20 beautiful pieces. From the orchestrally-accompanied "Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me" and Dominik Argento's "Hodie, Christus Natus Est" to the dramatic a cappella "Hodie, Christus Natus Est" and the traditional carols "The First Noel," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing;" to the rarely heard "Little Lamb," "Choral Fanfare for Christmas," "O Nata Lux," "O Come Little Children" and Eric Whitacre's "Lum Aurumque," this is a joyous and memorable Christmas CD. The wonderful a cappella "Natus est Emmanuel" (a glee of angels at the Birth), was written by Libby Larsen for the celebration.

Songlist: Gracious Spirit Dwell With Me, The First Noel, Gloria from the Masque of Angels, Hodie, Christus Natus Est, The Moon of Wintertime, Little Lamb, Choral Fanfare for Christmas, Farandole from L'Arlesienne, Suite No. 2, Machet die Tore weit, Christmas The Morn, Svete tihiy, Natus est Emmanuel, A Nata Lux, O Come, Little Children, Lux Aurumque, A Child is Born in Bethlehem, Angels We Have Heard on High, Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain, Toccata from Orgel Partita Opus 8 No. 2, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Review: Luther College's rich heritage of singing grew out of Scandinavian and German Lutheran congregations singing hymns. Founded in its present form in 1981, Norsemen is exclusively for men in their first year at Luther College and boasts a membership of 80-90 singers under the direction of Dr. Timothy Peter. 18 songs are here, from the title tune, Bach's "Come Holy Ghost," Pavel Chesnokov's "Bladoslovi, dushe moya, Ghospoda," the Kirby Shaw-arranged "Down By the Riverside," G.B. Martini's "In Mounte Oliveti," Harry Simeone's "Little Drummer Boy," the spirituals "My Lord, What a Mornin'" and "De' Mornin' Come, Cole Porter's "Blow, Gabriel, Blow!" and Michael Smith's lovely "All is Well." There is some light accompaniment. Rich harmonies, spirited leads and the aptly-named Norsemen's rich, deep sound add greatly to our enjoyment and appreciation of each of these tunes. Great stuff!

Songlist: Oh Sing Jubilee, O Vos Omnes, Come Holy Ghost, The King Of Love, Blagagoslovi Dushe Moya Ghospoda, Silent Noon, All That Hath Life And Breath, Down By The Riverside, In Monte Oliveti, Fergus Molly, Little Drummer Boy, My Lord, What a Mornin', Gaudeamus Igitur, Blow Gabriel Blow, Adiemus, Lily's Eyes, De' Mornin' Come, All Is Well