Mark S. Johnson

Review: The 35th Anniversary Concert of the Minnesota Boychoir was recorded in Benson Great Hall in St. Paul and includes a wide variety of music sung by the Concert Choir, Training Choir and Alumni Choir. The songs range from world folk songs to pieces by Brahms, Britten and even Billy Joel. The twenty six tracks display a breadth of repertoire, interesting arrangements and performed by one of the nation's top boychoirs.

Songlist: Musiken Klang, Ave Maria, Le Sommeil De L'Enfant Jesus, Agnus Dei (from Missa Brevis), Let the Nations Sing, Innoria, Land of the Silver Birch, Nodle Kangbyon, Al Shlosha D'Varim, Gloria Tibi (from Mass), Go Where I Send Thee!, Lone Dog, There Was a Man of Newington, Some One, Bumblebee, Summer Song, Blustery Day, The Longest Time, We Shall Not Give Up the Fight, Old King Cole, Pala Pala, A-Tisket, A-Tasket, I Give You Thanks, Never Tell Thy Love, He Never Failed Me Yet, Blessing

Review: Composed of four ensembles and including members of diverse faiths, races, social and economic backgrounds, the Minnesota Boychoir boasts over 100 members, representing the Twin Cities and over 25 suburbs. "Forty & Fine" refers to the year of the group's founding, 1962, to the date of this recording, 2002. Included are 19 of the MB's favorite and most-requested songs. Plenty of (piano-accompanied) religious and spiritual songs are here, "Festival Sanctus," "The Storm is Passing Over," the lovely "Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen," "Rise Up, O Men of God," "Steal Away," "Zion's Walls," "Freedom Come," "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and many others. Secular tunes like "Loch Lomond," Michael McGlynn's "Dulaman," John David's wonderful a cappella "You are the New Day" and Ysaye M. Barnwell's haunting "Wanting Memories" are other favorites. In fact, every one of these songs touches and moves us-a truly beautiful collection!

Songlist: Festival Sanctus, Pie Jesu, The Strom Is Passing Over, The Gift To Be Simple, Rise Up, O Men Of God, Steal Away, Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia, Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen, Wind, You Are The New Day, Wanting Memories, Zion's Walls, Freedom Come, Lux Aeterna, The Lord Bless You And Keep You, Loch Lomond, Dulaman, Worthy To Be Praised, If Music Be The Food Of Love

Review: How Can I Keep From Singing features the Allegro Choir of the Minnesota Boychoir. This group of tenors and basses was formed in 1997 as a graduate program of the Boychoir. They sing sacred and folk song arrangements as well as some lighter pieces with arrangements by Kirby Shaw, Andrea Klause, John C. Philips and others. Lanell Lightfoot is the featured soloist for "I Love the Lord."

Songlist: Exultate justi in Domino, Blagoslovi, dushe moya, Ghospoda, Goin' Up to Glory, I Love the Lord, Media Vita, Listen to the Sounds in Heaven, Song of Peace, Prayer of the Children, Jingle Bells, Exultate Justi in Domino, Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel), La Carolina, Fergus an' Molly, Two Folk Songs for Male Voices, Down By The Sally Gardens, The Miller of Dee, What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor, How Can I Keep from Singing

Review: The oldest boychoir in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (founded in 1962), The Minnesota Boychoir's reputation for excellence has led to invitations local and national music conventions, touring Broadway companies, orchestras, operas and symphonies. They have toured in 10 states and on five continents. "Impart" is a piano-accompanied collection of 16 sacred and religious songs, beginning with Jeffrey LaValley's "Holy, Holy, Holy" and Vivaldi's "Et Exultavit" and "Esurientes" from "Vivaldi for Treble Voices." Rollo Dilworth's "Jordan's Angels," "Sherri Porterfield's "Laudate Dominum," Antonio Lotti's short-but-lovely a cappella "Cum Sancto Spiritu," Gabriel Faure's "Sanctus" and "Cantique de Jean Racine," Julie Knowles' "Let the Nations Sing," Bach's "Der Herr Segne Euch," Keith Hampton's "True Light" and the title song by Stephen Paulus are some favorites, but in fact every cut is beautifully chosen and performed. A deep, confident, impressive recording by one of our favorite boychoirs.

Songlist: Holy Holy Holy, Et Exultavit, Esurientes, Esurientes, Jordan's Angels, Cum Sancto Spiritu, Laudate Dominum, City Called Heaven, Sanctus, O Sifuni Mungu, Cantique De Jean Racine, Ozi VeZimrat Yah, Let The NAtions Sing, Der Herr Segne Euch, One By One, True Light, Impart

Review: The first and oldest choir in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, the Minnesota Boychoir brings us a spirited, exuberant collection of 17 songs, beginning with the inspirational title tune by Bob Chilcott and three selections from Karl Jenkins' "Songs of Sanctuary," "Adiemus," "Kayama" and "Hymn." The Serbian Gypsy Dance "Niska Banja," the Canadian Indian folk song "Land of the Silver Birch," Susan Brumfield's "The Wind," Eleanor Daley's "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," the Spanish folk song "Vive la Quince Brigada," and Allister MacGillivray's "Away from the Roll of the Sea" are particularly fine. But although there's some light accompaniment, there are no weak cuts here. Another winner from one of our favorite ensembles, the talented Minnesota Boychoir!

Songlist: Look To This Day, Adiemus, Hymn From Songs Of Sanctuary, Niska Banja, O Colored Earth, Land Of The Silver Birch, Reel a'Bouche, The Wind - Susan Brumfield, J'entend Le Moulin, The Lake Of The Isle Of Innisfree, Mi Yitneni Of Who Will Give Me Wings, Vive La Quince Brigada, Away From The Roll Of The Sea, I Cannot Count The Stars, The Violet, Come Travel With Me

Review: Until We Meet Again, by the Minnesota Boychoir, contains folk songs from around the world, including many from South Africa. Also included are several hymns such as "And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time" and Beautiful Savoir. This highly regarded group is led by Mark Johnson.

Songlist: Siyahamba, Thuma Mina, Niska Banja, Bashana Haba-A, from Three Hungarian Folk Songs:, The Handsome Butcher, The Old Woman, Freedom is Coming, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Non Nobis, Domine, Da Pacem, Domine, And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time, Sound the Trumpet, Al HaNissim, Revelations, Beautiful Savior, Haleluya!Pelo Tsa Rona, I Hear America Singing, Who Can Sail, O Sifuni Mungu, Blessing

Review: Mark S. Johnson directs his renowned 87-member Minnesota Boychoir in a strong, varied 10-song program that includes some Christian music, "Consecrate the Place and Day" form Lloyd Plautsch's "Triptych," the title tune by Leon Dubinsky, and the spiritual "Ride the Chariot;" some nice folk tunes including "Three Madrigals" by Emma Lou Diemer, the lovely "Danny Boy" and "Londonderry Air", and the Israeli Folk song "Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses"), Keith Hampton's "True Light" and more. There is some piano accompaniment. "We Rise" is another beautiful collection by one of our favorite Boychoirs!

Songlist: Consecrate The Place And Day, Three Madrigals, Erev Shel Shoshanim, Ride The Chariot, Tres Cantos Nativos Dos Indios Krao, Danny Boy, Congori Shango, True Light, We Rise Again, Until We Meet Again

Review: Mark S. Johnson leads his internationally renowned, 117-strong Boychoir in this beautifully performed, piano and organ-accompanied Christmas CD. 12 songs, from familiar tunes like Carole Stephens' "Gloria," John Rutter's "Angels' Carol," the exciting "The Sleigh," "Jingle Bells," Kurt Bestor's "Prayer of the Children" and "Good King Wenceslas;" and less familiar (but no less enjoyable) tunes like Joseph Martin's "Winter Song," Richard Soto's "Cuncti simus," "Hope for Resolution (A Song for Mandela and DeKlerk)," the lively "Dance and Turn from Six Folksongs" and John Phillips' "Listen to the Sounds in Heaven." The rich harmonies and spirited, joyous singing from these talented boys and young men are sure to add to your holiday enjoyment!

Songlist: Gloria, Winter Song, Angels' Carol, Cuncti Simus, A La Russe, Water Under Snow Is Weary, Hope For Resolution A Song For Mandela And DeKlerk, Jingle Bells, Prayer Of The Children, Dance And Turn, Listen To The Sounds In Heaven, Good King Wenceslas

Review: Building their excellent reputation since 1962, the Minnesota Boychoir applies their rich, youthful sound to 11 piano-accompanied Christmas standards. Favorites such as "Winter Wonderland," "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," a rich a cappella arrangement of "I Saw Three Ships," "Riu, Riu, Chiu" and "Once in Royal David's City" are here, as well as more unexpected gifts: Keith Hampton's spiritual medley "True Light," Bob Chilcott's lovely "Mid-winter," John Rutter's "Candlelight Carol," Carolyn Jennings' "Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain" and the rhythmic gem, "African Carol." "Wonderland" is exactly that, a sweet gift to all from Minnesota's talented Boychoir.

Songlist: Winter Wonderland, It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, I Saw Three Ships, True Light, Mid-Winter, Riu, Riu, Chiu, Candlelight Carol, African Noel, Climb To The Top Of The Highest Mountain, Once In A Royal David's City, Christmas Time is Here