The nineteenth century was a golden age for choral singing in Germany and Austria. Beginning in 1810, singing clubs, and later on, choral societies, shot up all over this part of the world like mushrooms. You could join a Liedertafel, Liederkranz, or Mannersangverein. Carl Friedrich Zelter, Mendelssohn's teacher and the leader of the Berliner Singverein, was the first person to use the term "Liedertafel" in 1808. The term was used to indicate an informal meeting of poets, composers, and singers who came together to sing German partsongs.In a letter addressed to Goethe, Zelter explained that the 25 members of his Liedertafel were accustomed to sit down at a well-furnished table for a sumptuous dinner followed by an evening of singing. Zelter's group preferred original works, so freshly composed that the ink was still wet. The goal was stimulation and promotion of German poetry and music.The Gents is unique All-male Dutch vocal ensemble that obtained in a very short period a prominent place within the international music world. The group of young singers is praised because of their special sound, the large degree of flexibility and the unequalled interpretation of the very divergent vocal repertoire. Whether it concerns religious music from the Renaissance, romantic English music, arrangements of contemporary jazz and pop songs or especially composed works for the ensemble, the concerts of The Gents are always an extraordinary experience. The concerts can count therefore on enthusiastic public and positive criticisms in the press.

Songlist: Sehnsucht (Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt), Die Nacht, Standchen, Grab und Mond, Der Entfernten, Nachtviolen, Nachtstuck, Abendstern, An Sylvia, Die Lotosblume, Die Rose stand im Tau, Der traumende See, Vor den Turen, Traumlicht, Sechs Geistliche Lieder

Of the hundreds of songs written by Franz Schubert, those for solo voice are best known today. He also wrote over one hundred songs for men's choir. Occasionally, they were performed by quartets in private settings and a few of them were published during Schubert's lifetime. But it was not until nearly forty years after his death that people began to realize that this music was out there. In Vienna in 1866 a volume of his choruses was published by Johann Herbeck, who was a champion of Schubert's unknown music. These songs vary in style from piano or string accompaniment to a cappella. Occasionally, there is a soloist, as in "Standchen," for male choir, alto solo and piano. For this recording Orphei Drangar, conducted by Robert Sund is joined by alto Malena Ernman, tenor Jonas Degerfeldt, pianist Folke Alin and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. The always brilliant OD sings these rarely performed works with beauty and grace.

Songlist: Nachtgesang, Die Nacht, Der Gondelfahrer, Sehnsucht, Im Gegenwartigen Vergangenes, Liebe, Standchen, Grab und Mond, Der 23 Psalm, Die einsiedelei, Nachthelle, Trinklied ist der Schritt der Zeit, Geist der Liebe, Gesang der Geister uber

In addition to his many solo songs, Franz Schubert wrote about one hundred male quartets and choruses. These part songs, like their solo counterparts, use texts by the great poets, like Goethe and Schiller, and have equally beautiful melodies. The popularity of these pieces was due to the development of music making by the middle class. Small public concerts, given in taverns or peoples homes, were places that the songs would be performed. Schubert was often requested to compose these part-songs for the occasions. Among the all male songs is the gem "Standchen" which is scored for alto and male chorus with piano accompaniment. The men of the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers perform these rarely heard pieces with great beauty and lyricism. The songs on this CD are a cappella, with a few having guitar or piano accompaniment.

Songlist: Die Nacht, Die Nachtigall, Wehmuth, Der Gondelfahrer, Mondenschein, Nachthelle, Das Dorfchen, Die Einsiedelei, Sehnsucht, Grab Und Mond, Fruhlingsgesang, Liebe, Widerspruch, An Den Fruhling, La Pastorella, Standchen, Der Entfernten