Anton Armstrong

Review: Those familiar with the works of St. Olaf's know that the choir is part of a long tradition of Scandinavian chorale singing, which often features the compositions and arrangements of the venerated F. Melius Christiansen. One of his arrangements, "O Day Full of Grace," is included here, as well as a seventeenth century spiritual, "O Savior, Throw the Heavens Wide"; a Greek vespers (evening prayer service) hymn, "Hail, Gladdening Light," and various other liturgies. There is piano accompaniment on "Gloria in excelsis Deo" and the spiritual, "Here's a Pretty Little Baby." The purity of the tones and blend is all the more amazing, as the recording was done live. Elegant and pristine.

Songlist: O Savior, Throw The Heavens Wide, Hail, Gladdening Light, Let All Mortal Flesh, There is No Rose Of Such Virtue, Benedictus, Carols & Lullabies: Christmas In The Southwest, All This Night, In Terra Pax, Cherubim Song, Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn, What Sweeter Music, Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Here's A Pretty Little Baby!, Laudate Dominum (Une Cantate De Noel), Angels' Dance, At The Manger: Carols For Choirs, Night Of Silence / Silent Night, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, O Day Full Of Grace, The Spirit Of The Lord, Once In Royal David's City, Nune Dimittis

Review: "Great Hymns of Faith" marks the first time the ensemble has produced an entire recording of hymns. Traditional and new songs of faith include "A Mighty Fortress", "Children of the Heavenly Father", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", "Here I Am Lord", as well as F. Melius Christiansen's settings of "Praise to the Lord", and "Beautiful Savior". The selections are performed here with the rich tonalities and emotional impact we've come to expect from the internationally acclaimed St. Olaf Choir.

Songlist: Holy God We Praise Thy Name, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Praise to The Lord, Rise Up, O Men of God, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Children of the Heavenly Father, We Praise You. O God, From Heaven Above, O Day Full of Grace, Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Beautiful Savior, Blessed Assurance, Abide With Me, What a Friend We Have In Jesus, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Let Us Talents And Tongues Employ, Praise His Holy Name, Here I Am, Lord, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Review: The St. Olaf Choir was founded by F. Melius Christiansen in 1911 who had come to St. Olaf College in 1903 to organize the music department. It was he who fostered the tradition of a cappella sacred music. Now Anton Armstrong is the fourth conductor in the history of the choir who adds his interest in the Western European choral music and both U.S. and global folk music into the repertorial mix of this historic choir. Thus we'll find folk songs, Bach, Rachmaninoff, and compositions of Kenneth Jennings who was the choir's third director. You will share sacred music from a variety of countries in a whole host of musical settings, from pure a cappella to selections accompanied by solo piano, organ, or viola. Lovely!

Songlist: God is Here, Fairest Lord Jesus, Der Geist hilft unsrerSchwachheit auf, Bogoroditse Devo, Our Father, Noel: Christmas Eve, The Lord is an Evelasting God, Stabat Mater, Before I Go My Way, Daemon Irrepit Callidus, Water Night, Yom Seh Le-Yisrael, Take My Hand, Precious Lord, My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord

Review: Out of Darkness Let Me Shine is the 75th anniversary recording of the Christmas at St. Olaf festival. This program features the many combined choirs and orchestra of this legendary musical institution. Selections include many hymns set by the music school founder F. M. Christiansen (This Night; Praise to the Lord; Beautiful Savior) and his son and successor Olaf (Guiding Star Carol; Now is Born Emmanuel) and pieces by George F. Handel (And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah)and Randall Thompson (Walk as Children of Light). This CD is full of a variety which is sure to have something for everyone.

Songlist: This Night, In the Beginning, Appalachian Spring (excerpt), O Come, All Ye Faithful, And the Glory of the Lord from "Messaih", O Magnum Mysterium, Ding-Dong Merrily On High, Glorify the Lord With Me, Good Christian Friends, Rejoice, O Gladsome Light, Sing A New Noel, Danse Vllageoise from "Suite Pastorale", Today There Is Ringing, Guiding Star Carol, Lullaby on CHristmas Eve, Now Is Born Emmanuel, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Alleluia from "Brazilian Psalm", Sanctus from "Missa Brevis", The Godly Stranger, Walk As Children of the Light, Praise To the Lord, Psalm 150 (excerpt), Rise, Shine, You People, Beautiful Savior

Review: Recorded on the campus of St. Olaf College in Boe Memorial Chapel between 2001 and 2006 this recording presents a great selection of material from this top a cappella choir. Whitacre's "A Boy and a Girl" is a particular delight.

Songlist: Jachzet, dem Herrn, alle Welt, When David Heard, In Slumber, Peaceful Slumber, Misa Brevis in B-flat Major, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Schaffe in min, Gott, Mass for Double Choir Sanctus, Mass for Double Choir Agnus, In Remembrance, Sing Me to Heaven, Be Tho a Smooth Way, Amor de mi alma, A Boy and a Girl, O My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose, If Music Be the Food of Love, Gospel Mass, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Acclamation, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, John the Revelator

Review: William Levi Dawson, born in 1899, was educated at Tuskegee Institute, the Horner Institute of Fine Arts, and the American Conservatory, and wrote his own "Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony" in 1934. He began publishing and recording his arrangements of traditional African-American spirituals in 1955, lovingly recorded here by the acclaimed St. Olaf Choir with Marvis Martin, soprano. Included are "Ain'-a That Good News," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Soon Ah Will Be Done," "In His Care-O," "Hail Mary," "Mary Had A Baby," "Behold The Star," "There Is A Balm In Gilead," "Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit," "Steal Away" and "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel." All a cappella, nice liner notes, great music!

Songlist: Ain' -A That Good News!, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Soon Ah Will Be Done, In His Care-O, Hail Mary, Mary Had A Baby, Behold The Star, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Steal Away, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel

Review: Anton Armstrong conducts the St. Olaf Choir in 14 sacred and traditional Christian songs: Robert Stone's "The Lord's Prayer," Palestrina's "Exsultate Deo," Juan de Lienas' "Coenantibus Autem Illis," Ned Rorem's "Praise The Lord, O My Soul, Roberto Caamano's "Dilexi, Quoniam Exaudiet Dominus," Robert A. Harris' "Canticle: The Hungry Angels," "Lord Of The Dance," Steven Leek's "Ngana (Songs of Passage), "Three Scottish Folk Songs," "Halle, Halle, Halle," Allen Pote's "The Lord Is My Shepherd" and Byron J. Smith's "Worthy To Be Praised." Extensive liner notes with all the words. All a cappella, and of the highest quality, as we've come to expect from the St. Olaf Choir!

Songlist: The Lord's Prayer, Exsultate Deo, Coenantibus Autem Illis, Praise The Lord, O My Soul, Dilexi, Quoniam Wxaudiet Dominus, Canticle: The Hungry Angels, Lord Of The Dance, Ngana (Songs Of passage), Three Scottish Folk Songs, O Whistle And I'll Come To Ye, My Love's In Germany, I'll Ay Call In By Yon Town, Halle, Halle, Halle, The Lord Is My Shepard, Worthy To Be Praised

Review: This is a 2-CD set of one of the largest and most magnificent Christmas events, the 95th annual St. Olaf Christmas Festival at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, featuring the St. Olaf Choir, St. Olaf Orchestra, St. Olaf Cantorei, Manitou Singers, Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus, performing both as individual groups and a massed ensemble. In reviews of previous festivals, we often wondered if anything had to be left on the cutting room floor, but with this 2-CD set removes all such thoughts. John Steiner's "God So Loved the World," Caroline Jennings' "Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain," "Christ is Alive," Founder F. Melius Christiansen's "Lost in the Night," John Ferguson's "Isaiah's Voice" and "Mary's Story and The Magnificat," Paul Webber's "Arise, Shine," Rosephayne Powell's "The Word Was God," Miles Lane's "All Hail the Power," Benjamin Britten's "The Spirit of the Lord"... these beautiful songs are interspersed with narration about the story of Christmas. If you have heard one or more of these collections, you will know how wonderful and inspiring they are. If you haven't, prepare yourself for a sumptuous Christmas treat!

Songlist: Lo, How A Rose e'er Blooming, God So Loved The World, Climb To The Top Of The Highest Mountain, Christ Is Alive, Christus Paradox, Lost In The Night, Isaiah's Voice, A Spotless Rose, Mary's Story And The Magnificat, The Road Ahead, Arise Shine, And The Glory Of The Lord, Joy To The World, The Word Was God, Karin Boye's Evening Pyayer, Out Of Your Sleep Arise, Gloria, The Godly Stranger, Go Where I Send Thee, O How Beautiful The Sky, Pat-A-Pan, Betelehemu, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Praise To The Lord, The Spirit Of The Lord, All Hail The Power, Beautiful Savior

Review: This collection showcases five of Undine Smith Moore's spirituals edited by Anton Armstrong and includes an instructional forward written for this newly-engraved edition.

Songlist: I Believe This Is Jesus, I'm Going Home, I Will Trust in the Lord, Oh, That Bleeding Lamb, We Shall Walk through the Valley