Linda Mack

Review: A study of the evolution of musical style in Hispanic churches in the New World reveals a remarkable melding of a number of cultures. Spanish colonists carried the musical traditions of the European Renaissance to the native people of the Americas, and, through time and circumstance, these traditions merged in the American Southwest to create a musical genre with a rich historical grounding. A treasury of sacred works by the finest composers from Spain and the New World - from the Renaissance majesty of Morales and Victoria to the Misa Criolla, one of the 20th century's most beloved choral works. This is the program that was performed for a tour of Northern New Mexico historic churches during the summer of 2005.

Songlist: Misa Criolla - Ariel Ramirez, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Die, Two Aztec Songs to the Virgin (Don Hernando Franco), Santa Maria yn ilhuicac, Dios itlaconantzine, Sancta Maria, succurre miseris - (Cristobal de Morales), Alleluia! Dic nobis Maria - (Francisco Lopez Capillas), Sanctus and Hosanna - (Francisco Guerrero), In Annuntiatione Benissimae Mariae - (Tomas Luis de Victoria), Egregie Doctor - (Antonio de Salazar/Manuel de Sumaya), Sol-fa de Pedro - (Manuel de Sumaya), In manus tuas - (Sebastian de Vivanco), Sa qui turo zente pleta - (Anonymous)

Review: Recorded live at Santa Fe's Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, the Chorale's latest CD inlcudes beloved carols from around the world, the majestic O Holy Night, John Rutter's lilting Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Steven Heitzeg's charming setting of the e.e. cummings poem, little tree, and much more beautiful music of the season. Christmas in Santa Fe is colored by the Mexican influence. Little lanterns adorn some of the adobe buildings and the candlelight processions known as posadas wend thru the town. The program of 20 separate selections was recorded live during two nights' performances at a Winter Festival last year in the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis. The intent was to capture some of the inspiration and job of this time of the year.

Songlist: Seven Joys of Christmas, Christmas Lullaby, Lullay, This Little Babe, What Sweeter Music, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Good King Wenceslas, Joy to the World, Little Tree, Alegria, Hiney Mah Tov, Duermete, Nino Lindo, O Holy Night, Allelia, Dies Sanctificatus

Review: Recorded live and in studio session, the works on this recording include choral settings commissioned from four American composers for the 2006 and 2007 summer seasons, in addition to folk music, sacred settings, and significant poetry. The first two tracks were recorded in August 2006 and the remaining works are drawn from the 2007 25th Anniversary summer season. The Desert Chorale is proud to give voice to these exhilarating new and recent works from composers John David Earnest, Z. Randall Stroope, Kirke Mechem, Judith Cloud, Bradley Ellingboe and Emile Desamours.

Songlist: The First Day, The Conversion of Saul, The World Is Too Much With Us, Michelangelo: Ad Caelum Scalas - Words from an Artist's Palette, Leonardo da Vinci: La funzione dei muscoli - Words from an Artist's Palette, Salvador Dali: Dejad que mis enemigos - Words from an Artist's Palette, Camille Pissarro: Benis sont-ils - Words from an Artist's Palette, Georgia O'Keeffe: I Hate Flowers - Words from an Artist's Palette, He Wishes for the Clouds of Heaven, There is Sweet Music, How Sweet the Moonlight Sleeps, Paiute Lullaby, Spell Against Sorrow, A Salutaris Hostia, On Suuri Sun Rantas Autius, Alelouya

Review: 21 works from the summer festival that span a wide range of choral styles - from the early Renaissance to the Russian masters to Be Music, Night, the beautiful new work by New Mexico composer Bradley Ellingboe. Also includes the seldom-heard arrangement of Randall Thompson's Alleluia for women only.

Songlist: Kyrie, Ave Maria, Elegit eum Dominus, Ich lasse dich nicht, Richte mich, Gott, A Hymn to God the Father - from Five Motets for Unaccompanied Choir, Op. 37, Lord, When the Sense of Thy Sweet Grace, Salvator Mundi, Requiem Aeternam from Requiem, Angel Vopiyashe, S nami Bog, Voskres iz Groba, Vzbrannoy voyevode from Vespers, Op. 37, The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee, Alleluia, La Lluvia, Be Music, Night, Come Away to the Skies - Three American Hymns, The Hebrew Children - Three American Hymns, Wondrous Love - Three American Hymns, I Can Tell The World

Review: Throughout history, the singing voice has been a vehicle for the expression of intense emotion. In Passion, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale performs a cappella settings that reflect the heart of human existence: passion for God, country, love and life itself. Although this recording of repertoire selected from the Chorale's 2005 summer season is focused on music of the 20th and 21st centuries, it encompasses a wide variety of harmonic rhythmic and stylistic elements.

Songlist: Laetentur Coeli, O Nata Lux, Chorale, Ave Maris Stella, Ye Shall Go Out With, Mary Speaks, Salve Regina, Soneto de la Noche, A Boy And A Girl, La Rosa, Puncha Puncha, Kpanlongo, Reggel, Beautiful River, My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord, Demos Gracias Al Senor Golijov, The Lark, Overture To Candide

Review: Over the last 25 years, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale has earned a reputation for artistic excellence as well as adventurous and widely varied programming, and this recording of the final performances of the 2007 summer season continues in that tradition! This limited edition CD captures the Desert Chorale presenting monumental works by Gregorio Allegri and Sergei Rachmaninoff live at the Cathedral Basilica St. Francis in Santa Fe on August 10 and 11, 2007. In addition, 32 Desert Chorale alumni singers - including members of the 1983 inaugural season - joined this season's choir in presenting Miserere, mei Deus. This recording is dedicated to the memory of Arthur "Mack" Wright, a wonderful friend and enthusiastic admirer of the Chorale's "glorious music." It is made possible by a generous gift from Mary Wright.

Songlist: Miserere mei, Deus, Priidite, poklonimsia, Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Ghospoda, Blazhen muzh, Svete tihiy, Nine otpushschayeshi, Bogoroditse Devo, Maloye Slavosloviye, Hvalite imia Ghospodi, Blagosloven Yesi, Ghospodi, Voskreseniye Hristovo Videvshe, Velichit dusha moya Ghospoda, Slavosloviye velikoye, Dnes spaseniye, Voskres iz groba, Vzbrannoy voyevode

Review: The Santa Fe Desert Chorale offers a brilliant two CD set with selections recorded at the historic Loretto Chapel, during the 2006 Santa Fe Summer Festival. Using two small ensembles, under the baton of artistic director Linda Mack, the chorale offers An American Hallelujah featuring songs of faith, joy and praise. The second disc called Romance is lead by assistant Matthew Tresler and offers a sublime view of the trials and tribulations of love, from Brahms to Lennon and McCartney.

Songlist: "Es Rigor E Repente", "Desvelado Dueno Mio", "Sa Qui Turo", Missa "Ave Regina Coelorum" (tracks 4-7), "Oigan, Escuchen, Atiendan", Circumdederunt Me Dolores Mortis, "Dios Itlaconantzine", "Sancta Maria yn Ilhuicac", "Los Coflades De La Estleya", Misa a 5