Washington Men's Camerata

The Washington Men's Camerata was founded by its members in 1984 to perform, promote and preserve the rich legacy of men's choral music. In support of its mission, the Camerata seeks to: 1) present concerts of the highest artistic quality to the widest possible audience; 2) educate young people and generate interest on their part in choral music; 3) collaborate with orchestras, other ensembles and recording companies in performances and recordings of the men's choral repertoire; 4) through the National Repository Library project, preserve and share worthy collections of music that are no longer in use; and 5) encourage composers to write music for male chorus by promoting and performing newly composed men's chorus works.

In addition to its regular subscription series, which since 1994 has included annual performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Camerata has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra (Christopher Hogwood, Guest Conductor) and the National Gallery Orchestra (George Manos, Music Director); at the Smithsonian Institution; the Embassy of the Russian Federation; the National Building Museum; Harvard, Princeton, and Rutgers Universities; and the White House. The Camerata has colleborated with internationally renowned artists including soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson, baritone John Shirley-Quirk, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. Listeners nationwide have heard the Camerata on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," "Performance Today" and "Pipe Dreams."

Frank Albinder became the Music Director of the Washington Men's Camerata in the fall of 1999. He came to Washington, DC from San Francisco, where he spent eleven years as as singer in and the Associate Conductor of the a cappella vocal ensemble Chanticleer. He appears on 17 of the group's recordings, including Wondrous Love, which was recorded under his direction, and the Grammy Award-winning Colors of Love, for which he chose the repertoire and designed the concept. From 1984-88, Mr. Albinder was Director of Choral Activities at Davidson College in North Carolina, and he has conducted and sung in numerous festivals in the United States and abroad. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and master's degrees in both vocal performance and choral conducting from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Albinder also serves as Music Director of the Woodley Ensemble, an 18-voice professional, mixed chamber choir in Washington, DC and is Music Director designate of the University of Virginia Glee Club (the men's chorus of the University of Virginia).

Discography

Brothers Sing On!

Brothers, Sing On - Grieg Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes - Old English Air The Pasture - Thompson De Animals A-Comin - Traditional Down By The Dawn Of Peace - Jeffers Down By The Sally Gardens - Old Irish Air Ave Maria - Biebl If Ye Love Me - Tallis Spaseniye Sodelal - Chesnokov Song Of Peace - Persichetti Ride The Chariot - Traditional The Long Day Closes - Sullivan Vive L'Amour - Traditional Down In The Valley - Kentucky Folk Song What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor - English Sea Shanty Shenandoah - American Sea Shanty Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Steffe

The ancient art of men’s choral singing began early in the history of western music. From its roots in Jewish liturgical chant and the monastic chants of the early Christian church, through groups of troubadours in Medieval France and the male singing societies of nineteenth-century England and Germany, the male chorus has a rich and varied history, influenced by many of the world’s most important cultures and religions. In modern times, male chorus traditions are carried on by collegiate and community choruses in dozens of countries around the world. With this program, the Washington Men’s Camerata begins a series of recordings of some of the timeless gems of our repertoire, with the hope that this lasting testament to the power of men’s voices raised in song will serve to inspire future generations of singers.

Listen to "Down By The Sally Gardens" in Real Audio.

Masters In This Hall - Christmas Music For Men's Chorus

Carol of the Drum The First Mercy O Maria, Diana Stella The Three Holy Kings Lo, How a Rose e'er Blooming The Shepherds' Farewell Ave Maria O Tannenbaum/Adeste Fideles Wassail Song The Holly and the Ivy Carol of the Birds March of the Kings O Holy Night Carol of the Bells Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring El est ne Quittez Pasteurs In Dulci Jubilo/Angels We Have Heard on High

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