Dr. Ronald Staheli

Review: A big seller at the recent ACDA Convention, "Eric Whitacre" is a stunning collection of songs composed in the classical style of Monteverdi, Debussy and Prokofiev, but with inspiration from such groups as the Beatles, Sting, Queen, Madonna and Peter Gabriel. His choice of texts also reflects a broad range of poets - Octavio Paz, Ogden Nash, James Joyce, e.e. cummings and Emily Dickenson, religious poets being conspicuous in their absence, although "three songs of faith" are included here. The mixed-voice Brigham Young U. Singers do justice to Whitacre's difficult, eclectic, wonderful, soaring compositions. 12 songs, "Water Night," the three songs of faith: "I Will Wade Out," "Hope, Faith, Life, Love," "I Thank You God for most this Amazing Day," "Cloudburst", "Sleep," "I Hide Myself," "With a Lily in Your Hand," "Go Lovely Rose," "When David Heard," "Lux aurumque" and "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine." "Beautiful" is an inadequate word to describe Whitacre's work and the BYU Singers' interpretation of it. "Amazing" works much better! Recommended.

Songlist: Water Night, Three Songs of Faith:, I Will Wade Out, Hope, Faith, Life, Love, I Thank You God For Most This Amazing Day, Cloudburst, Sleep, Three Flower Songs:, I Hide Myself, With A Lily In Your Hand, Go, Lovely Rose, When David Heard, Lux Aurumque, Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machines

Review: In 1999 the BYU Singers, conducted by Ronald Staheli, performed two Whitacre pieces - "When David Heard" and "Water Night" - as part of their solo premier at New York's Carnegie Hall. The success of the BYU Singers: Live at Carnegie Hall recording, demand for more Whitacre music, and the fruitful partnership between the composer and BYU Singers led to Whitacre's request for the group to record his complete a cappella works in 2001. As a result of the enormous response to that album, the Singers are pleased to release a companion volume, Eric Whitacre 2. This CD was recorded in the spring of 2008, is essentially volume two of Eric Whitacre: The Complete A Cappella Works. That recording, released by the BYU Singers, continues to be one of the best-selling choral CDs worldwide. This recording includes some of Whitacre's compositions for accompanied choir, but is mostly his a cappella pieces written since 2001. The varied nature of these pieces in this second compilation led to the Singers' collaboration with the BYU Concert Choir, conducted by Rosalind Hall, and the BYU Women's Chorus, conducted at the time by David Thomas. A very highly recommended release!

Songlist: Little Birds, A Boy And A Girl, This Marriage, Her Sacred Spirit Soars, Tmuna, Larov, Eyze sheleg, Rakut, She Weeps Over Rahoon, Little Tree, The Panther, The Cow, The Firefly

Review: This recording continues the intent of the Singers' two earlier CDs, "We Sing of Christ" and "Songs of the Soul," adding another dimension in expressions of love and faith for Jesus Christ in their interpretations of African-American spirituals. There are 21 classic Spirituals here, the title tune, "Were You There" (sung in concert with the BYU Concert Choir and Men's Chorus), Adolphus Hailstork's "Crucifixion," "By and By," "Ain't Got Time to Die," "See What the End Is Gonna Be" (an original by founder/conductor/arranger Ronald Staheli), Moses Hogan's "I Got a Home in-a dat Rock" "Elijah Rock," Didn't My Lord Daniel Deliver" and "The Battle of Jericho," "Shut de Do'," "Let Me Fly" and "Ain't that News." But there's not a weak cut on this recording- "I Believe" is upbeat, joyous stuff, one of our favorite recordings by a great chorus!

Songlist: I Believe This Is Jesus, Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Were You There?, Crucifixion, By and By, Steal Away, Ain't Got Time To Die, See What the End Is Gonna Be, I got a Home in-a dat Rock, Shut de Do', Let me Fly, Rock-a My Soul, Witness, Black Sheep, Little Innocent Lamb, Wade in the Water, Elijah Rock, Is a Light Shinin' in the Heavens, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Ain't that News, The Battle of Jericho

Review: In 2003 the veteran, prolific BYU Singers were preparing for a concert tour of Ukraine when war in the Middle East caused its cancellation. They shifted their energies to this new recording, their 4th on the Tantara label, which includes two Ukrainian choral treasures, Dimitri Bortnyansky's "Cherubic Hymn" and Konstantin Shvedov's "To Thee We Sing (Tebe Poyem)." Some other favorites are the title tune, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," Robert Starer's soaring "Give Thanks unto the Lord," the energetic "Praise the Name of the Lord (Laudate Nomen)," the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee," and Hofford/Millard's sweet "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide." Some light piano accompaniment. A beautiful, deeply-felt collection!

Songlist: My Redeemer Lives, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, Mine Arm Is Lengthened out, Sweet is the Work, Give Thanks unto the Lord, How Great Thou Art, Praise the Name of the Lord, I Stand All Amazed, The Eyes of All Hope in Thee, O Lord, Cherubic Hymn, To Thee We Sing, Nearer My God to Thee, Ubi caritas, Abide with Me; Tis Eventide

Review: Founder/arranger Ronald Staheli directs his 47-strong mixed choir in some lovely, rarely-performed Christian choral pieces by such master composers as Eric Whitacre (the 14 _-minute "When David Heard That Absalom Was Slain," and "Water Night"), Morten Lauridsen ("O nata lux,"), Edward Elgar ("Light Eternal (Lux aeterna)"), and John Tanner/Jean Sibelius' ("I Love The Lord"). 13 songs, with some light piano and organ accompaniment. A couple of other favorites: Reynolds/Greene/Belafonte's inspirational "Turn Around," Mary Ann Morton/Alfred Durham's "Sweet Is The Peace," and the final cut, "Give Me Jesus." Another winning recording from this veteran choir.

Songlist: I Love The Lord, Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands, O Nata Lux, Light Eternal (Lux aeterna), When David Heard, I Know that My Redeemer Lives, Bring Forth my Zion, Turn Around, Hold On, A'Soalin', Water Night, Sweet Is the Peace, Give Me Jesus

Review: The Peace of Christ, envisioned as a follow-up to BYU Singers' first CD, We Sing of Christ, uses a wonderful mixture of new arrangements of hymns and anthems to speak directly to the depths of our hearts and souls. Join Ronald Staheli and the BYU Singers as they use music to express the peace that is offered to all of us by Christ.

Songlist: Where Can I Turn For Peace/ Grant Us Thy Peace, O Peace Of Christ, Love Divine, I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say, Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me, O Heart Subdued With Grieving, Nearer My God To Thee, My Heavenly Father Loves Me, Ave Verum Corpus, Jesus Christ, The Apple Tree, O Sing A Song Of Bethlehem, Lord, Accept Our True Devotion, Morning Has Broken, Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, Abide With Me

Review: Since 1984 The Celebration Of Christmas Concerts have launched the Christmas season on the BYU campus. Because of the beauty and exhilaration of this traditional event, tickets are sold out weeks in advance. This CD includes live performances of many favorites sung by BYU Singers over the years. Some selections are familiar to you. Others, new perhaps, will bring fresh, colorful sounds to your holiday celebration. These all a cappella selections are sure to bring you increased feelings of comfort and joy at Christmastide.

Songlist: Hark The Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon The Midnight Clear, What Child Is This?, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, Sing We Now Of Christmas, Ubi Caritas, Gesu Bambino, Gloria, 'Tis Winter Now, Joy To The World, The Shepherds Had An Angel, Follow The Star, Calm On The Listening Ear Of Night, Silent Night, Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Follow The Light, Isseh, Isseh, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, The Secret Of Christmas

Review: First formed in 1984 by conductor and arranger Ronald Staheli, the BYU Singers are a small, select choir of singer/musicians. "We Sing Of Christ" is a wonderful collection of traditional English and Christian hymns and folk songs. 16 Songs, some favorites are "More Holiness Give Me," "Come, We That Love The Lord," "The Morning Breaks," the inspirational "How Great Thou Art," "Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake," "How Can I Keep From Singing," the rousing "The Promised Land" and the sweet "Come Unto Him." There is some light to heavy accompaniment.

Songlist: More Holiness Give Me, Come, We That Love the Lord, Carthage: June 27, 1844/A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, The Wintry Day Descending to Its Close, The Morning Breaks, Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, How Great Thou Art, Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake, If You Could Hie to Kolob, This Is the Christ, How Can I Keep From Singing, The Promised Land, Peace Like a River, Come, Come, Ye Saints, I Stand All Amazed, Come Unto Him