Sara Boos

Review: The 190 singers of the renowned, Seattle-base Northwest Girlchoir, ages 4-18 and divided into groups named "Fresca," "Amabile," "Vivace," "Amore" and "Ensemble," bring us a strong collection of favorites from their concert performances, from 2006 to 2008. Among these 22 mostly piano-accompanied tunes are some wonderful gems, including Stephen Paulus' title tune," Benjamin Britten's "A New Year Carol" and the very funny "My True Love Gave to Me" by Fresca; Janet Gardner's "Morning" and "Jazzy St. Nick" by Amabile; Amy F. Bernon's "On Wind, On Wing" and the Bulgarian folk song "Nikolo le, Kikolcho le" by Vivace; the Hungarian-Canadian folk song "Morning Star" and Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" by Ensemble, Dede Duson's "Dawn" and R. Murray Schafer's "Snowforms" by Amore; and Z. Randall Stroope's "Omnia Sol" and Stephen Hatfield's "Living in a Holy City." A very special collection from the sweet, clear voices of NWGC!

Songlist: Daybreak, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, A New Year Carol (from Friday Afternoons), My True Love Gave to Me, Morning, El Desembre Congelat, Jazzy Old Saint Nick, Noel, Noel, On Wind, On Wing, Nikolo le, Nikolcho le, Morning Star, You are the New Day, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Dawn, Snowforms, Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus maisons, Choose Something Like a Star, African Celebration, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Yo Le Canto Todo el Dia, Omnia Sol, Living in a Holy City

Review: Seattle, WA-based Northwest Girlchoir provides extraordinary music education and concert experience to 190 girls and young women ages 4-18, who hail from throughout the Puget Sound. Choristers participate in concerts, community events; regional, national and international festivals and tours, touching thousands of audience members with their artistry and critically-acclaimed choral sound. For this live recorded concert at Seattle's Meany Theatre, the ensemble was joined on the last three selections (the traditional European chant and S. African anti-apartheid song "Hope for Resolution," Sarah Hopkins' "Honour the Earth," and Oscar Peterson's "Hymn to Freedom") by over 50 NWGC alumnae and veteran accompanist Dwight Beckmeyer. There are 18 songs here, mostly accompanied by piano, a "best-of" selection from the group's concert performances. John Muehleisen's commissioned piece "Glory! (A History Lesson), Carolyn Jennings' 4-part "Cat and Mouse," the sweet "Manx Lullaby," Bob Chilcott's "Like a Singing Bird," Marta Keen's "Homeward Bound," the traditional Zambian song "Bonse Aba," the English folk song "Scarborough Fair," and the Stephen Hatfield-arranged spiritual "First to Know." A beautiful collection from this wonderful ensemble from the North country!

Songlist: Glory! (A History Lesson), Cat and Mouse, Where is Love?/Who Will Buy? (from Oliver!), Manx Lullaby, The Trolley Song, Like a Singing Bird, Give Us Hope, Homeward Bound, Mandoline, Bonse Aba, Cantate Domino, Vocalise, Scarborough Fair, Heart We Will Forget Him, First to Know, Hope for Resolution, Honour the Earth, Hymn to Freedom