Review: In the jewel box, behind the "Christmas at Luther 2010" CD is a panoramic photograph, with a bird's eye view of the annual event held at Iowa's Luther College-showing the giant pipe organ, the huge, colorful mural, and the massed music groups: The Symphony Orchestra, Nordic Choir, Cantorei, Cathedral Choir, Aurora, Norsemen and Luther Ringers. One of the largest collegiate music programs in the world, the Luther campus is alive with the sounds of six choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and more than 1,000 student musicians! Here are 20 live cuts, most of them accompanied, that tell the story of the Nativity in music. The spoken narration notable in past events has given way to some of the most beautiful choral Christmas music imaginable: just listen to the dramatic, wonderful "Hope for Resolution," Vivaldi's "Gloria in Excelsis," Mendelssohn's "There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth," "The First Nowell" and "Gloria," all sung by the combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra (sometimes with organ). This is music that rivals Handl's "Messiah" in pure, beautiful power. The Cathedral Choir's lovely spiritual "I Believe This Is Jesus," John Rutter's "Angel's Carol," aptly performed by Aurora, Cantorei and the Symphony Orchestra, the Norsemen's rhythmic, harmonic performance of the traditional Kenyan carol "Wana Baraka"-this is great stuff! "Christmas at Luther" is one of the greatest annual musical traditions in the United States, come join in the celebration!

Songlist: O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hope for Resolution, Gloria In Excelsis (from Gloria), Angel's Carol, Masters in This Hall, I Believe This Is Jesus, Sanctus ( from Messe en Sol Majeur), There Shall a Star From Jacob Come Forth (from Christus, Opus 97), Nocturne (from Incidental Music to A Midsummer Nights Dream), Choral Fanfare for Christmas, Veni, Veni Emmanuel, Sanctus-Benedictus (Mass No. 6), Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Ring Out, Wild Bells!, What Shall We Give?, Wanna Baraka, What Sweeter Music, The First Nowell, Fanfare and Toccata on Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding, Gloria

Review: The oldest, most famous choir at Decorah, IA's Luther College, founded in 1946, The 68-strong, mixed voice Nordic Choir brings us another beautiful, inspirational album, conducted by Craig Arnold. Nordic is now under the direction of Allen Hightower, who picked up the baton from Arnold, who directed the Choir for five years after receiving it from Weston Noble, who greatly enhanced the group's international reputation during his 57 years of leadership. Nordic Choir records at least one CD per year and tours extensively in the United States and internationally. "We Sing with Joy" is a 17-song collection, many of them accompanied by piano, violin, trumpet and organ. Some favorites are "Praise to the Lord" arranged by F. Melius Christiansen, Ola Gjeilo's "Unicornis Captivatur," Frank Martin's "Sanctus (from Mass)," Benjamin Britten's "Hymn to St. Cecelia" movements 1 and 2, Paul Tschesnokoff's "O Lord God," an American Folk song "The Dying Soldier," David Childs' "Where Your Barefoot Walks," Z. Randall Stroope's "All My Heart This Night Rejoices," Dan Forrest's "You Are the Music" and the William Dawson-arranged spiritual, "Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit." But each of these cuts is masterfully done, the rich soaring harmonies rising and intertwining above us. "We Sing with Joy" is simply wonderful!

Songlist: Praise to the Lord, Unicornis Captivatur, How Great Are Thy Wonders, Sanctus (from Mass), Serenade to Music, Hymn to St. Cecilia, movement 1, Hymn to St. Cecilia, movement 2, O Lord God, Immortal, Invisible (with audience), The Dying Soldier (American Folk Song), Where Your Barefoot Walks, Awake O North Wind (from Wedding Cantata), All My Heart This Night Rejoices, How Can I Keep From Singing, You Are The Music, Hermandad, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit

Review: Once again Iowa's Luther College's Department of Music has called upon its renowned Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Aurora, Norsemen and Luther Ringers to create the magnificent 4-day musical story of Christmas, "Christmas at Luther 2009, Joy to the World." These combined music ensembles are joined by the audience on the opening cut, "Processional: Joy to the World," and on the next to last cut, "Silent Night" (with narration). There are other traditional carols such as "Joy, Joy, Joy," "Wexford Carol," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel;" classical songs like Felix Mendelssohn's "Thanks Be to God" and Guy Forbes' "O Magnum Mysterium," and pieces by contemporary composers, Quittez, pasteurs" and "Gloria" by John Rutter, "There is No Rose" by Rene Clausen, "Nowel" by Randall Thompson, Jackson Berkey's "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," and F. Melius Christiansen's lovely "Praise to the Lord." There is an organ solo of Claude Balbastre's "Ou s'en vont ces gais bergers," and "Agincourt Song" by the wonderful Symphony Orchestra. In terms of pure musical magnificence, celebration, wonder and beauty, there really is nothing that compares with "Christmas at Luther!"

Songlist: Joy to the World, Eventide, Thanks Be To God, Narration, Joy, Joy, Joy, There is No Rose, Nowel, Angels We Have Heard on High, Wexford Carol, On This Day, Earth Shall Ring, Fanfare, Quittez, pasteurs, O Magnum Mysterium, Fantasia on a Ukranian Carol, Ou s'en vont ces gais bergers, Suo-Gan, Agincourt Song, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, S nami Bog, Gloria In Excelsis Deo!, Praise to the Lord, Silent Night, Gloria

Review: "Magnificent" and "Beautiful" are words that come to mind a lot when experiencing this DVD of Luther College's 27th annual "Christmas at Luther" festival, featuring over 600 student musicians in numerous choral and instrumental ensembles. This DVD features the breathtaking music, joyous robed choristers and glowing candlelight that makes "Christmas at Luther" so famous and beloved. The various groups, including Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, Norsemen and Luther Ringers, perform individually and in combination to tell the timeless Christmas story in music and narration, from the marvelous "Angels, from the Realms of Glory" by the combined choirs, Symphony Orchestra and organ, to the a cappella solo on "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow" by Norsemen's Timothy Olstad," you will be moved and touched by "Christmas at Luther!"

Songlist: Angels, from the Realms of Glory, I Was Glad, Comfort Ye My People (from Messiah), Candlelight Carol, Carol of the Birds, Sing We Now of Christmas, I Saw Three Ships, Winds Through the Olive Trees, Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (from An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts), Gloria (from Lord Nelson Mass), About Luther College, Rise Up Shepherd and Follow, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Before the Marvel of this Night, Farandole (from L'arlesienne, Suite No. 2), Silent Night, Wonderful Peace, Nation Shall Not Lift Up a Sword Against Nation (from Dona Nobis Pacem)

Review: Docorah, Iowa's Luther College's huge annual 4-day Christmas pageant, which features Luther's Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Cantorei, Christmas Brass and Percussion Ensemble, Cathedral Choir and Pike Kor, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen and the Christmas Ringers. "Arise, Shine" brings us the triumphant sounds of this incredible event in 30 parts, from the Norsemen's performance of Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" to the Combined Choirs and Symphony Orchestra's "Coronation Te Deum." With stirring narrations interspersed, lovely carols such as "Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow," "Patapan," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Come Adore the Infant Holy" join with magnificent choruses from Handel's "Messiah," "Chorus: And the glory of the Lord" and "Chorus: Glory to God." Listening to the beautifully recorded "Arise, Shine" is surely the next best thing to being in the audience to experience "Christmas at Luther 2007."

Songlist: Lux Aurumque, First Movement, Concerto Grosso, Canticle of Joy, Precessional: Arise, O God, And Shine, Narration, Arise, Shine (From What Child Is This), Hark! A Herald Voice Is Calling, Hail Christmas Day!, Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow, Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Sing We Now Of Christmas, Patapan, Carillon on a Ukrainian Bell Carol, Marche, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Narration, This Christmastide, Heroic Entry, Hodie Christus Natus Est, Come, Adore the Infant Holy, A Light Where Jesus Lay, To Him We Sing, Narration, Narration, Coronation Te Deum

Review: Certainly considered to be one of the great American choral conductors Weston Noble last concert tour is represented on this fine recording. After 57 years at the helm of this top-notch choir Weston Noble certainly knows how to get the very best out of both the material and the singers and this recording is a cumulation of those many years of talent and ability. Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" is performed to perfection as are all these a cappella pieces.

Songlist: Be Not Fraid, Gloria A 7 Voci, Who Is This?, Hodie, Christus Natus Est, Drop Drop Slow Tears, Alelouya (Haitian Easter), I Heard A Great A Great Voice, O Clap Your Handds All Ye People, Amore De Mi Alma, Gloria, Lux Aurumque, He'll Make A Way, O Lord God, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Review: The magnificent 4-day Christmas Festival at Decorah, IA's LutherCollege tells the story of Christmas in song and narration, andfeatures the 85-member Symphony Orchestra and hundreds of members of Luther's Nordic Choir, Pike Kor, Cathedral Choir, Norsemen and Cantorei. 26 cuts, all accompanied: "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" from Handel's "Messiah," Leonard Bernstein's dramatic "Chichester Psalms," John Rutter's "Candlelight Carol," Bach's "Gloria," the joyous "Cantemos a Maria"-it's all wonderful!

Songlist: Nimrod, Narration, Fanfare For A Festival, For Unto Us A Child Is Born, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Gloria, As Lately We Watched, Mbiri Kuna Mwari, Gloria, Chichester Psalms, Cantemos A Maria, Candle Light Carol, Sing Nowell Sing Gloria, All My Heart This Night Rejoices, Wake Awake, Vom Himmel Hoch, Agincourt Song, O Magnum Mysterium, A Christmas Alleluia, Still Still Still, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Epilogue, Jerusalem, Narration, Infant Holy Infant Lowly, Silent Night

Review: Not surprisingly, on most of their excellent CDs the Nordic Choir focuses on selections of Christian sacred and spiritual music. In a dramatic change of direction that highlights the Choir's versatility, "Horses" is a collection of World music, beginning with the thundering drums of David Fanshawe's "African Sanctus" and the gentle guitar riffs of "A La Nanita Nana" by Roger Folstrom, the CD continually surprises us. The powerful "Betelehemu" is a "bring the house down" piece in concert, "Prayer of the Children," brings tears remembering children caught in bloodshed and ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslavia in the 1970, and the Chinese "Usuli Boat Song," celebrates finding ways to be happy. The final cut, the title tune, a Mongolian song actually called "Naiman Sharag," gives the feeling of horses running, the song ends quietly, as if the horses are in the far distance. Some strong percussion and light accompaniment. A wonderful, powerful CD!

Songlist: African Sanctus, A La Nanita nana, Betelehemu, Riu, Riu, Chiu, Prayer of the Children, Hacia Belen va un borrico, Cantos Sagrados, African Noel, Song of Cherubim, Usuli Boat Song, Noel Ayisyen (Haitian Noel), Shut de Do, Naiman Sharag (The Eight Chestnut Horses)

Review: Weston Noble has taught at Luther College since 1948, the year the Nordic Choir was founded, becoming its first director as well as director of the Luther College Concert Band. Noble and the Choir have received a host of awards. "Weston Noble Conducts" contains some of the Choir's best recordings, 16 sacred songs. Favorites include a pair by William Byrd, "Haec Dies" and "Sing Joyfully Unto God," Bach's "Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied" and "Komm, Jesu, Komm," the Jester Hairston-arranged spiritual "In Dat Great Getting' Up Mornin'" and a pair by Paul Tschesnokoff, "Let the Holy Spirit" and "O Lord God." A beautiful, impressive collection.

Songlist: Laudate (Choral Fanfare), Haec Dies, God Is With Us, Praise The Name Of The Lord, Singet Dem Herrn Ein Neues Lied, Exultation, Psalm 50, Sing Joyfully Unto God, Credo, Kom, Jesu, Komm, Let Thy Holy Spirit, Arma Lucis, African Sanctus, In Dat Great Gittin' Up Mornin', Shut De Do', O Lord God