Paul Halley

Review: This CD is a lovely assortment of familiar Christmas carols. The opening carol, "Once in Royal David's City" with soloist Maribeth Diggle is especially nice as voices are gradually added until the full choir is singing. Most pieces are a cappella with a few accompanied by organ. Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus are both directed by Paul Halley. The combination of the children's and adult choirs creates a beautiful sound. This is a delightful treat for Christmas.

Songlist: Once In Royal David's City, Torches, Jesus Christ The Apple Tree, Joys Seven, Huron Carol, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, The First Nowell, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Nativity Carol, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Lo, How A Rose E'Er Blooming, Personent Hodie, There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue, O Come, All Ye Faithful, I Sing Of A Maiden, Sussex Carol, In The Bleak Mid-Winter, Sir Christmas, Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Review: The well-known children's choir Chorus Angelicus (the Angelic Choir), founded in 1991 by three-time Grammy Award-winning composer, Paul Halley, is administered by the unique and inspiring choral organization, Torrington, CT's Joyful Noise. They transform the lives of 90 children from more than 15 towns in Northwest Connecticut and the Berkshires. The 45 mixed-voice Chorus members, ages 8-15, travel twice weekly to receive training in the art of singing, reading and understanding music and music theory, and adhere to a rigorous schedule of rehearsals and concerts. "Untraveled Worlds" is a musical world tour, beginning with the US and a Halley original, the title tune, and later we hear another Halley original, "God Be Merciful Unto Us." England's "Drop, Drop Slow Tears," Finland's "Who Can Sail," Russia's "Gladsome Light," South Africa's "Mbiri Kuna Mwari" and Scotland's "The Grey Selchie" are particularly nice, as is Serbia's lilting "Niska Banja." Ireland's "The Song of Wandering Aengus," Lithuania's "Nepusk, vejeli" and Canada's heart-tugging folk tune "Away From the Roll of the Sea" round out the collection of 20 songs. Through hard work and dedication these young singers learn to blend their voices to create the unique sound that is Chorus Angelicus, one of the best children's choruses in the world! Some light accompaniment.

Songlist: Untraveled Worlds, Drop, Drop Slow Tears, Who Can Sail?, Gladsome Light, Mbiri Kuna Mwari, Ave Maria, The Grey Selchie, Pie Jesu, The Cherubic Hymn, Improperium, The Song of Wandering Aengus, Niska Banja, Nepusk, vejeli, God Be Merciful Unto Us, Misa Pequena Suite, Away from the Roll of the Sea

Review: Paul Halley's renowned choirs Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus pair up for another spectacular offering. The choirs sing with precision and clarity while incorporating a warmth and immediacy to the performance of each song. What Child Is This? comprises a selection of the new, adventurous, and less familiar sacred Christmas repertoire, much of it performed in recent years in the choirs' annual Christmas Angelicus concert series (now in its sixteenth season and broadcast annually by National Public Radio.) More than half the arrangements on the CD are Halley's work, which adds a refreshing, new sound to this mix of Christmas music. Halley's arrangements and compositions, written for these choirs and previously unrecorded, deliver the adventurous harmonies and captivating lyricism for which he is celebrated.

Songlist: What Child is This?, Angelus ad Virginem, Angelus ad Virginem, Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head, O Leave Your Sheep, The Blessed Son of God, I Saw Three Ships, O Magnum Mysterium, Agnus Dei, The First Nowell, Bogoroditse Devo, Tis Winter Now, Good King Wenceslas, A Nativity, The Holy Boy, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Lullaby My Jesus, Beannact Leat, Infinite Light, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Watts' Cradle Hymn

Review: Paul Halley directs his acclaimed choirs in spirited performances his choral works of with organ and brass accompaniment, from the popular suite Love Songs for Springtime, and the magnificent setting of the Appalachian hymn Wondrous Love.

Songlist: Love Songs for Springtime, The Maypole, The Bailiff's Daughter, Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?, The Despairing Lover, The Lover's Arithmetic, Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Christe Qui Lux Es Et Dies, Jesu, The Very THough of Thee, Verbum Caro Factum Est, What Stood Will Stand, Wondrous Love

Review: This superb group of singers once again brings forth their signature sound under the direction of Paul Halley-music filled with spirit, nuance, and freshness of expression. Recorded by Tom Jung for his widely respected label, DMP Records, the CD beautifully combines the clarity of sound for which Jung is known with the rich acoustic of this collegiate gothic structure. The realism and immediacy of the performance is documented in a way which truly brings these classic choral pieces to life.

Songlist: Beati quorum via, O Vos Omnes, Ubi Caritas, Justorum Animae, Coelos Ascendit Hodie, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, O Sacrum Convivium, Ave Verum Corpus, Hail Gladdening Light, Ave Maria, Pater Noster, Crucifixus, O Sacrum Convivium