Review: Composer's Notes: The first pieces I wrote for the Amabile Youth Singers, beautifully conducted by John Barron, were the cornerstone of my career. People often ask why they can't get those early classics on one CD. Now you can. Here in one collection are the legendary performances of "Nukapianguaq", "African Celebration", "Heaven Bound Train", "Missa Brevis", "The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy", and more from those astonishing early sessions in 1991-95. Spanning fifteen years of recordings, the CD also features the choir under my direction in superb live performances of new material such as "Geordie" and "The Sparks Fly Upward", plus gorgeous concert versions of "Once I Had A Sweetheart" and the 2nd movement of "Three Ways To Vaccum Your House". I am especially delighted that the CD includes several beloved performances that have never been commercially available before, such as the ferocious live version of "TJAK!", the first, unreleased recording of "La Lluvia" which remains my favourite version of the piece, and a radiant, mystical "Amazing Grace", performed here with oboe instead of bagpipes.

Songlist: Heaven Bound Train, African Celebration, Amazing Grace, Nukapianguaq, La Lluvia, Geordie, The Sparks Fly Upward, Apple Tree Wassail, TJAK!, Missa Brevis-Kyrie, Missa Brevis-Gloria, Missa Brevis-Sanctus, Missa Brevis-Agnus Dei, Carol of the Ladder, J'ai vu le loup, Three Ways to Vaccuum Your House (II), Go Where I Send Thee, Once I Had a Sweetheart, The Virgin Mary had a Baby Boy

Review: London, Ontario, Canada boasts seven children's choirs, and the Youth Singers, founded in 1985, is an auditioned choir of 50 young women ages 12 to 24. John Barron directs this sweet-singing choir in the music of Canadian composter Stephen Hatfield, who were the first choir to commission him, and their early recordings of his work were very important in establishing his reputation. There are 25 cuts here, favorites are "Uberlebensgross," the title tune,"O-Yo-Yo," "Let Me Ask You," the rhythmic "O Sapo," the haunting "A Maid That's Deep In Love" and "Dwa Serduszka." Cuts 13 to 25 are Hatfield's sublime "Christmas Cantata." There's considerable non-vocal percussion, and some flute, bass and acoustic guitar and handbells on the album. The beautiful, soaring blended voices are perfect for Hatfield's excellent compositions. A very special collection by one of the best youth choirs in the world.

Songlist: Uberlebensgross, For Elizabeth: Gold, Frank Innocence And Mirth, Take A Step, Family Tree, O -Yo - Yo, Let Me Ask You, Set, O Sapo, A Maid That's Deep In Love, Las Amarillas, Dwa Serduszka, Double Lotus, Christmas Cantata - When The Night Is Sweet With Starlight

Review: Since its founding in 1985, the Amabile Youth Singers of London, Canada has developed the musical talents of hundreds of young singers. This auditioned ensemble features 65 young women ages 12 to 21. No strangers to competitions, founding directors John Barron and Brenda Zadorsky have led them to wins in 11 national and 4 international competitions. "Garden" is a lightly-accompanied, varied collection of 20 songs-some favorites are E. Elgar's "The Snow," J. Brahms' "Lullaby," Handel's "No, divoi non vo fidarmi," D. Gawthrop's "Mary Speaks," E. Daley's lovely "Each Child," R. Thompson's "Choose Something Like a Star," A. Bevan's "Ave Maria," C. Ives' "Serenity," R. Thompson's "A Girl's Garden," J. Mantyjarvi's surprising, eclectic "Pseudo-Yoik Lite" the joyous, soaring "Paruparong Bukid" and Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow." Some of these pieces are dissonant and difficult to perform, but these young women make it sound easy. If you'd like a tasty feast of tunes by one of the best young women's ensembles on the planet, the aptly-named "Garden of Delights" is for you!

Songlist: The Snow - Elgar, Song Of The Angels - Sirett, Lullaby - Brahms, No Di Voi Non Vo Fidarmi - Handel, I Thank You God - Walker, Mi'Kmaq Honour Song - Adams, Mary Speaks - Gawthrop, Each Child - Daley, Choose Something Like A Star - Thompson, Noel Des Enfants Qui Non Plus Des Maisons - Debussy, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Ave Maria - Bevan, Serenity - Ives, Cloths Of Heaven - Daley, A Girl's Garden - Thompson, Poi E, Pseudo-Yoik Lite, Paruparong Bukid, Over The Rainbow, Praise His Holy Name - Hampton

Review: Award-winning conductor Stephen Hatfield's London, Canada-based Amabile Boys Choirs have entertained audiences throughout Canada, the US, Europe and Australia, receiving numerous awards including 10 first places at the prestigious CBC Choral Competition. The ABC's refreshingly varied song selection and clean, spirited harmonies are in ample evidence on "All Good People," beginning from the first exuberant cut, the Reggae tune "Don't Bend Down." 18 other gems follow: the 4-part "Missa Brevis," the Japanese work song "Ohisashi buri" (It's been a long time), the spiritual "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel," the lovely "When The Stars Fall," the salsa-flavored "Son de Camaguey," the raucous sea shanty "All For Me Grog," the heart-tugging "All Too Soon," "Double Shot," the spirited "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well," and the South African tune "Dubula." Each song surprises us with the energy and joy of singing of these talented boys. We have heard some of these songs before, but Amabile makes each one their own, the definitive version. "All Good People" is a treat, and winning CD #4 for Amabile!

Songlist: Don't Bend Down, Missa Brevis-, -Kyrie, -Sanctus, -Gloria, Agnus Dei, Ohisashi Buri, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, Un Flambeau, Jeannette Isabelle, When The Stars Fall, Ka hia manu, Elibama, Son de Camaguey, All For Me Grog, All Too Soon, Double Shot (Honey in the Rock), Jesus Met The Woman At The Well, Living In A Holy City, Dubula, God-Bless Wassail

Review: Composer's Notes: The title for this CD refers to the fact that it opens and closes with all 300 members of the Amabile family singing and dancing in killer versions of "Oolichan" and "Dubula". These live performances, which I conducted, show all the Amabile choirs at their most fiery and confident, and include several massed choir selections that give an extra richness to the sound. The massed Amabile trebles give stunning performances of "Ahe Lau Makani", "Ain't That News" and "Acceptance Speech". The Amabile men are at their Olympian peak with "Heaven Somewhere" and "O Yo Yo". "Living In A Holy City" and "All For Me Grog" are sung as only 300 voices can sing them, while the younger choirs in the Amabile family give stand-out versions of "Two Minutes Before Sleep", "Foggy Birthday Shuffle", "Set" and the previously unavailable "Three-Part Conniption". In addition to the fourteen live performances that capture the singers at their high-flying best, the CD includes three treasures from the studio: the Amabile men tear up the speakers with their show-stopping TTBB version of "Nukapianguaq" ; the Chamber Choir gives their definitive performance of "Hard Shoulder", one of my best pieces ; and the Junior Amabile Singers serve up one of the rarest of Hatfield recordings, the reggae-soaked "No Rock". Fans of Amabile and Hatfield will not be disappointed in this collection of treasures from the archives.

Songlist: Oolichan, Ahe Lau Makani, O Yo Yo, Two Minutes Before Sleep, Foggy Birthday Shuffle, Set, No Rock, Ka Hia Manu, Three- part Conniption, Ain't That News, Acceptance Speech, Nukapianguaq, All for Me Grog, Living in a Holy City, Hard Shoulder, Heaven Somewhere, Dubula

Review: The young women of the Junior Amabile Singers, one of 7 choirs in the Amabile Choirs of London, Canada, are joined in this exploration of the hopes, desires and human experiences of today's young women by the Amabile Da Capo Choir, a training choir for the JAS. Artistic directors Jacquelyn Norman and Wendy Gee conduct them in this rich collection of 23 lightly accompanied songs. Favorites are the title tune, whose lyrics are from the nursery rhyme, "Ride a cock horse to Banbury cross," Darla Eshelman's "A Song from the Heart," Z. Randall Stroope's "The Poet Sings," Bob Chilcott's "The Lily and the Rose," Ed Robertson's "Sing a Song," Eugene Butler's "Music is My Life," Ruth Morris Gray's lilting, humorous "No Thank You, John," Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," the Gershwins' "Someone to Watch Over Me," Billy Joel's "Lullabye" and Smokey Robinson's "My Guy." This is a poised, confident collection by one of the finest young women's ensembles in the world, beautiful, entertaining and moving.

Songlist: She Shall Have Music, To Be Young, A Song From The Heart, Think On Me, The Poet Sings, Dirait-On, The Lily And The Rose, Come To Me O My Love, Sing A Song, One Song, Just A Single Voice, Music Is My Life, He's Gone Away, Banks Of Doon, No Thank You John, Joan Of Arc, Give Us Hope, A-Tisket A-Tasket, Someone To Watch Over Me, Lullaby, Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, My Guy, Ma (He's Making Eyes At Me)

Review: The Amabile (Ah MAH bee lay) Singers, based in London, Ontario, Canada is an auditioned choir of 50 young women, ages 12 to 23 years. It exists to give its members musical experiences of the highest caliber and to develop musical talents. Its repertoire ranges from Medieval to Broadway. Amabile rose quickly to national and international prominence with competition wins at the CBC Biennial Choral Competition, International Choral Competition, and many others. They have toured Europe several times and performed at Carnegie Hall. The music of Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield is surprising and wonderful, and it has never sounded better. 17 songs, the energetic spiritual "Run Children Run," the dramatic "Vus Vet Zayn," the lovely "Camino Caminante," the powerful 3-part a cappella gem, "Three Ways to Vacuum Your House," the sweet, plaintive "Queen Jane," the haunting "When It Was Dark," the plaintive "Once I Had a Sweetheart," the finger-snapping "Sweet Tooth," "Crimson, Ivory and Aquamarine" and "La Lluvia" (with percussion by Hatfield and others), the short, harmonic "Old Fox Wassail," the complex, dramatic, accompanied "Ya Faraoule" and the rhythmic, primitive "TJAK!" are favorites. This is edgy, interesting, entertaining stuff that definitely pushes the Choral envelope.

Songlist: Run Children, Run, Vus Vet Zayn, Ower the Hills, Camino Caminante, Three Ways to Vacuum Your House, Queen Jane, When It Was Yet Dark, Once I Had a Sweetheart, Odi Odi, Sweet Tooth, Crimson, Ivory and Aquamarine, La Lluvia, Old Fox Wassail, Ya Faraoule, TJAK!

Review: The ACC is is a mixed-voice ensemble of 50 senior members of the seven London, Ontario, Canada children's choirs. 24 beautiful pieces, including Bob Chilcott's "Dona Nobis Pacem," versions I-IV, a pair of "O Magnum Mysteriums," one by Lauridsen and one by Thomas Luis de Victoria., Eleanor Daley's "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" and "My Master from a Garden Rose," and three with guest soloist Denise Pelley, "The Rain is Over and Gone," "Worthy to Be Praised" and "I Go to the Rock." Secular tunes "Flanders Fields," "The Banks of the Don," "Song of the Breton Fishermen," "Un Canadian errant" and Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" are also very special. Some piano accompaniment. We enjoyed every cut of this beautifully crafted collection from talented Amabile!

Songlist: Dona Nobis Pacem I, O Magnum Mysterium, Dona Nobis Pacem II, My Master From A Garden Rose, Flanders Fields, Le Temps De Vivre, Dona Nobis Pacem III, El Hambo, Rattle On The Stovepipe, iod Mar Chaidh an Cal a Dholaidh, The Banks On The Don, Song Of The Breton Fishermen, Un Canadien Errant, Dona Nobis Pacem IV, O Magnum Mysterium, Sing Me To Heaven, Sing Lullaby, Gloria In Exelcis Deo, Precious Lord, The Rain Is Over And Gone, Worthy To Be Praised, And So It Goes, Dona Nobis Pacem V