Richard Sparks

Review: This recording represents forty years of Peter Hallock's work. While organist and choirmaster of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, he composed an impressive array of original choral works in the Anglican tradition, including both large and small-scale works for choir, with and without instruments. Often dissonant and difficult, many of these works are recorded here for the first time. The CD opens with the triumphant anthem "Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" for choir, organ, brass and percussion. Led by Richard Sparks, Choral Arts Northwest gives glorious performances of Hallock's stunning music.

Songlist: Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem, Show Us Your Mercy, O Lord, Dominus Regnavit, There Is a Stream, The Song of Moses, Exsultate Deo, Phoenix, Gloria in Excelsis Deo, Qui Tollis, Quoniam, Commit Your Way to the Lord, Behold, the Eye of the Lord, Whom Should We Love Like Thee

Review: 30-strong, mixed-voice, Seattle-based Choral Arts (formerly Choral Arts Northwest), founded by artistic director Richard Sparks, is one of the outstanding chamber choirs in the United States. Focusing primarily on romantic and contemporary music, the choir's repertoire has ranged from Renaissance music to contemporary Swedish works. Randall Thompson achieved iconic status for choral works like "Frostiana" and the hugely popular anthem "Alleluia" in the middle part of the 20th century. Included here are 14 pieces, some favorites: the world premiere recordings of "Antiphon" and "Five Love Songs," "The Last Invocation" (based on words by Walt Whitman), the previously mentioned "Alleluia," "Vitas hinnuleo," and the title tune (based on words by Longfellow). Some light accompaniment. Beautiful, romantic music performed by one of America's finest choirs!

Songlist: The Best of Rooms (Robert Herrick), Two Herbert Settings (George Herbert):, - Antiphon, - Bitter-sweet, The Last Invocation (Walk Whitman), Odes of Horace:, - Montium custos (book 3, 22), - Vitas hinnuleo (book 1, 23), - O fons Bandusiae (book 3, 13), - Felices ter (final verse of book 1, 13), Alleluia, Five Love Songs:, - The Light of the Stars (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), - The Passenger (Mark Anthony DeWolfse Howe), - Two Worlds (Edmund Waller), - Siciliano (Philip H. Rhinelander), - The Happy Shore (Edmund Spenser)