Linda Beaupre

Review: The 4 choirs of the Bach Children's Chorus (BCC) have earned acclaim throughout greater Toronto for their beautiful, musical sound and professionalism. Totally approximately 200 children and youth, the BCC choirs are Choir I (ages 6-9), Choir 2 (ages 8-13), Choir III (treble singers ages 10-16) and Bach Chamber Youth Choir (boys with changed voices and girls 16-23). 23 songs, about half composed or arranged by Canadian composers. Particularly nice secular songs are the Quebecois folk songs "Canadian Boat Song" and "Un Canadien Errant," the Nova Scotia folk song "The Blackbird," James Gordon's "Frobisher Bay," Michael Unger's "Sea Song, the Cuban folk song "Son de Camaguey," Carolyn Jennings' "Panda," and the Venezuelan folk song "El Barquito." Favorite religious songs are 4 by Eleanor Daley, "The Cloths of Heaven," "O Be Joyful in the Lord," "My Master from a Garden Rose" and "The Angels Will Guide You Home," Z. Randall Stroope's "Lux Aeterna," Christopher Brown's "There is no rose of such virtue" and the final cut, "Hope for Resolution." The bright, clear sound of these childrens' voices makes "Go Where You Will" a special, moving CD. Accompaniment and percussion on some songs. Beautiful and extensive liner notes.

Songlist: Canadian Boat song, The Cloths of Heaven, O Be Joyful in the Lord, Lux Aeterna, There is no rose of such virtue, Come, Colours Rise, The Blackbird, Frobisher Bay, Sea Song (Michael Unger), Son de Camaguey, A Celtic Prater, My Master from a Garden Rose, Lift Up Your Voice!, Un Canadien Errant, Spring is singing in the garden, Panda, The Butterfly and the Shadow, The Angels Will Guide You Home, El Barquito, The Garden Song, Like a Rainbow, Hope for Resolution

Review: The first recording from this fine chorus displays great virtuosity as they perform some of their favorite songs.

Songlist: All Things Bright and Beautiful, Verbliches Standchen, Where Go the Boats, Here's to Song, Mi'kmaw Honor Song, Winter Store, O Lovely Peace, Ask the Moon, Magic Store, Schmucht das Frohe Fest mit Maien, Song for the Mira, And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears, Arcady, A la rurru nino, Pick a Bale of Cotton, The Water of Tyne, We Will Sing for Joy, Bashana Haba'a, Each Child, A Tree Toad, Rise Again

Review: We have always loved Toronto's Bach Children's Chorus, founded in 1987 and comprised of 185 singers aged 6 and up in four choirs. Conductor Linda Beaupre directs these wonderfully trained choirs in 21 tunes in "Land of Tomorrow," all accompanied by light piano and sometimes percussion. Some favorites are "Psalm 100," "The Little Sandman," "Skylark and Nightingale," "Somewhere a Child is Singing," "Ballerine du Vent," "The Grey Donkey," "Give Ear Unto Me" and "Niska Banja" by Choir III, "Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild" by Choir II, "Hark the Tiny Cowslip Bell" by Choir I, "Blessing" by the Bach Chamber Youth Choir and "Song for Canada" by All Choirs. These sweet, innocent voices are a joy to listen to on every well-chosen, finely-crafted cut. Treat yourself to "Land of Tomorrow" by one of Canada's finest children's choruses! PS, the extensive liner notes have all the lyrics and some great photos.

Songlist: Psalm 100, The Little Sandman, Yo le Canto Todo el Dia, Skylark and Nightingale, Cantate Domino, Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild, Hark the Tiny Cowslip Bell, Sing a Song, Come, Let Us All This Day, Dirait-On, Somewhere A Child Is Singing, I Waited For The Lord, Ballerine du Vent, The Grey Donkey, O Rest In The Lord, Give Ear Unto Me, Niska Banja, A Croon, Laus Deo, Blessing, Song For Canada

Review: The Toronto, Canada-based Bach Children's Chorus and Bach Chamber Youth Choir, led by founder and Artistic Director Linda Beaupre, bring us this nice collection of live performances from 1991 to 2006, with performances under guest conductors Elmer Iseler and Jean Ashworth Bartle, and guest pianist Ruth Watson Henderson. The beautiful, extensive liner notes booklet contains a history of the group from their founding in 1987, and many photographs of the almost 200 children involved in four choirs. There are 21 songs by different groups and configurations of the choir, such as "Like as a Father" by the Massed Choirs, the spirituals "Ain't That News" and "Go Down Moses" by Choir III, "Behold the Beauty of the Lord" by the Bach Chamber Youth Choir, "My Shadow" by Choir I, "When the Tide Goes Out" and "Down By The Riverside" by Massed Choirs with Guest Dads. There's some magical material we're hearing for the first time, "The Piper and the Chiming Pea," "I'm A Train," "Raking Song," "The Bold Hunter" and others. Some light accompaniment. "Look to this Day" is a very enjoyable and upbeat collection.

Songlist: To Music, Antiphonal Alleluia, Like As A Father, Akakomborerwa, Children Blessed Of The Lord, Ain't That News, And God Shall Wipe Away All The Tears, Kneel Always', Ma Navu, Go Down Moses, Praise The Lord, God's Glories Show, Set Me As A Seal, Behold The Beauty Of The Lord, Seeds Grow To Plants, The Piper And The Chiming Pea, I Want Two Wings, My Shadow, Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet, The Bold Hunter, A Jubilant Song, Vagabond Song, O Lord Of Life, Ching-a-Ring Chaw, Pecos Bill, Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, Have You Seen A Rainbow, P'tit Galop Colinda, When The Tide Goes Out, Ngana And So It Goes, Skye Boat Song, I'm A Train, Come, Live And Be Merry, La Lluvia

Review: Toronto's BCC, 200 talented singers ages 6 and up, are divided into 4 choirs and have become a beloved part of Toronto's musical culture. The Christmas CD "Outside" is the BCC's second, their first being the lovely "Go Where You Will." This is a joyous CD, the high, sweet voices of the children are perfect for traditional carols such as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "O Holy Night," "Ding Dong! Merrily on High," and "Echo Carol," a pair by John Rutter, "The Angels' Carol" and "Carol of the Children," and many by Canadian composers we haven't heard, Eleanor Daley's "What Sweeter Music," Mark Sirett's "Sunny Bank," Edith Harrhy's "Ring, Bells, Ring," W.H. Anderson's "Long, Long Ago," Alexander Tilley's "When Christ Was Born," Heather Barnes' "Torches!" and others. 24 songs, all lightly accompanied. A lovely gift from one of Canada's finest children's choirs.

Songlist: A King Is Born, What Sweeter Music, Sunny Bank, The Angels' Carol, Echo Carol, Go Where I Send Thee, Carol Of The Children, Pat -A- Pan, Ring Bells, Ring, Long, Long Ago, Were You There?, When Christ Was Born, S'Vivon / Candle Lullaby, Ding - Dong - Doh!, El Cant Dels Ocels, This Little Babe, Winds Through The Olive Trees, Torches!, Song Of The Innkeeper's Children, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, O Holy Night, This Joy, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, Sleigh Ride

Review: Guelph Youth Singers, Linda Beaupre, Conductor: The Wind in our SailsPride of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, the Guelph Youth Singers bring us this well-selected group of 22 songs, 14 written by Canadian composers. Favorites are Connie Kaldor's "Wood River," "Strings in the Earth and Air," the spiritual "Little Wheel," Franz Schubert's "To the Moon" (An den Mond), the Canadian folksong "The False Young Man," Thomas F. Dunhill's "April's a Lovely Lady," the English folksong "May Day Carol," James Gordon's "Song of Our City," Bach's "Ich Jauchze Mit Lachen und Schall," Eleanor Daley's "Rise Up My Love," Engelbert Humperdinck's "Evening Prayer," Stephen Adams' "The Holy City," and the final cut, Allister MacGillivray's "Song for Peace." All songs are lightly piano accompanied. An impressive, spirited collection from the talented and beautifully-directed Guelph Youth Singers.

Songlist: Psalm 100, The Lamb, Wood River, Strings in the Earth and Air, Little Wheel, To the Moon, Ave Maria, The False Young Man, April's a Lovely Lady, Orion, May Day Carol, Song of Our City, Come, Ye Makres of song, Ich Jauchze Mit Lachen und Schall, Ye Songs of Israel, Rise Up, My Love, Loving Shepherd, Evening Prayer, Can You Hear Me?, The Holy City, Canticle to the Spirit, Song for Peace