Dr. James Rodde

Review: Iowa State's most select choral ensemble, the undergraduate Iowa State Singers chooses its membership from about 400 active choristers on campus. Ably directed by Dr. James Rodde, the choir annually presents a 5-concert season, with a repertoire emphasizing the a cappella tradition. "Choral Spectrum I" is a generous collection of 20 songs, from the choir's repertoire from 2001 to 2004, many of them with classical Christian themes, such as Jan P. Sweelinck's "Pseaume 43, Chris Nielsen's Benedictus Dominus, John Tavener's "The Lamb," Emile Desamours' "Alelouya,"Anthony Bruckner's "Locus Iste," Zdenek Lukas' "Magna Est Vis Veritatis," Heinrich Schutz' "Cantate Domino," Josef Swider's "Cantus Gloriosus" and others. Also wonderful are the Moses Hogan-arranged spirituals "Hold On!," "My Soul's Been Anchored" and "The Battle of Jericho," the Alice Parker-arranged "He's the Lily of the Valley," Rene Clausen's "Quicksand Years," Eric Whitacre's "Sleep" and David Dichau's "If Music Be the Food of Love." This is stunningly beautiful material, with perfect leads that soar above the rich harmonies, touching and moving us. Exquisite!

Songlist: Pseaume 43, Benedictus Dominus, The Lamb, Alelouya, A Boy and a Girl, Hold On!, Locus Iste, Oculus non vidit, There Is No Rose, Cantante Domino, Quicksand Years, Mata del Anima Sola, Sleep, My Soul's Been Anchored, Cantus Gloriosus, Ave Maris Stella, If Music Be the Food of Love, He's the Lily of the Valley, The Battle of Jericho

Review: "Choral Spectrum II" is the second of an amazing series by this talented collegiate a cappella ensemble, a collection of 18 songs from the choir's 2005-2006 repertoire. Dr. Rodde directs his hand-picked mixed-voice singers through difficult classical Christian material like J.S. Bach's soaring "Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf," Pierre Villette's "Jesu, Dulcis Memoria," Felix Mendelssohn's "Im Advent, op 79" and "Weihnachten, op. 79," Roberto Caamano's "Psalm CXVI," William Hawley's "O Maria Maris Stella," Georg Schumann's "Und ob ich schon wanderte" and Vytautas Miskinis' "O Sacrum Convivium" with effortless ease and grace. Other winners are the Moses Hogan-arranged "I'm Gonna Sing 'til the Spirit Moves in My Heart," the Craig Johnson-arranged "Motherless Child," Eric Whitacre's stunning "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine," and Mark Sirett's lovely "Balulalow." Each one of these 18 cuts is as beautiful and perfect as we could have imagined!

Songlist: Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf, Jesu, Dulcis Memoria, Im Advent, op. 79, Weihnachten, op. 79, Psalm CXVI, Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, Balulalow, I'm Gonna Sing 'til the Spirit Moves in My Heart, Motherless Child, Rotala (from Neslegtais Gredzens), O Maria Maris Stella, Cloudburst, Canamus, amici, canamus, Und ob ich schon wanderte, Haec Dies, O Sacrum Convivium, McKay, With a Lily in Your Hand

Review: "Choral Spectrum III" is the last in a remarkable choral trilogy by Iowa State's most select undergraduate choral ensemble, 19 songs from the Singers' repertoire from 2007-2008. The group's emphasis on a cappella renditions of classical Christian pieces is well-represented by "Si ch'io vorrei morire" by Monteverdi, Heinrich Schutz' "Ich bin die Auferstehung," Hans Leo Hassler's "Dixit Maria," Igor Stravinsky's "Ave Maria," Herbert Howells' "Requiem aeternam I," Peter Warlock's "Benedicamus Domino," Frank Martin's "Sanctus Benedictus" and others. A pair of Moses Hogan-arranged spirituals number among our favorites, "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" and "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel," as well as the lovely John Rutter-arranged "Black Sheep," Eric Whitacre's lovely "Lux Aurumque," a pair by Johannes Brahms, "Warum ist das Licht gegeben" and "Tafellied," Gyogy Ligeti's stunning, manic "Reggel," and Guido Lopez-Gavilan's spirited "El Guayaboso." This is difficult, demanding material, but the Singers handle it with effortless grace. An impressive, beautiful collection by one of the best choral ensembles we have heard!

Songlist: Si ch'io vorrei morire, Ich bin die Auferstehung, Dixit Maria, Ave Maria, Requiem aeternam I, Reggel, Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Tafellied, All this Night My Heart Rejoices, El Guayaboso, Black Sheep, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Quem vidistis pastores, Lux Aurumque, Benedicamus Domino, Sanctus-Benedictus, The Sweetheart of the Sun, Seek Not Afar for Beauty, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel

Review: We have just listened to a great 3-part series by Dr. Rodde's talented mixed-voice ensemble, the Iowa State Singers, and now we are treated to the Iowa Statesmen, Iowa State's popular men's over 100-voice choir. The two groups share a love of a cappella classical Christian music, such as Jakob Handl's "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Confirma hoc, Deus;" and spirituals such as Stephen Hatfield's joyous "Heaven Somewhere," and the Moses Hogan-arranged "Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit." The Statesmen also love folk music, such as "Loch Lomond," Gwenyth Walker's piano-accompanied "Crossing the Bar," the silly, live "Johnny Schmoker," "Cindy," the powerful, rhythmic African song "Noel," and the Russell Robinson-arranged "Ol' Man River." Finally, to remind us that the Statesmen are a collegiate group, there is a rousing collection of ISU School Songs. Dr. Rodde's groups share a rich, spirited sound, soaring leads, and top-drawer song selection, arrangements and direction. It adds up to a beautiful, entertaining collection!

Songlist: O Magnum Mysterium, Confirma hoc, Deus, Zion Hears the Watchmen Singing, The Lord is My Shepherd, Heaven Somewhere, The Pasture, Vinum Bonum, The Quest Unending, Ra-ta-plan, Loch Lomond, El Yivneh Hagalil, Dies Irae, Crossing the Bar, Noel, Ol' Man River, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Johnny Schmoker (live), Cindy, ISU School Songs