Mirinesse : Hope Sings Eternal   

Review: Co-Conductors Beth Ann Bonnecroy and Rebecca Rottsolk specialize in healthy singing and development of singers' personal vocal technique, and this contributes to the free, beautiful sound their choirs achieve. Seattle's Mirinesse Women's Choir, founded in 2006, has thrilled audiences in and around northwest Washington with the lovely sound of healthy, classically-trained women's voices, singing a challenging and diverse repertoire of historic and contemporary tunes from around the world. "Hope Sings Eternal" is the fourth excellent CD by Mirinesse, an auditioned group of women, ages 21 to 70, who were honored to perform at ACDA Conventions in Oklahoma City and Seattle, and at the 2012 Elektra Women's Tapestry Festival in 2012. There is a generous collection of 16 cuts here, some favorites are Eleanor Daly's "A Hymn for St. Cecilia," the traditional "Peace Like a River," Jaakko Mantyjarvi's lively "Pseudo-Yoik Lite," Nicola Porpora's "Lauda Jerusalem," "Chant for Great Compassion" by Abbie Betinis, Antonio Sacchini's sweet, violin-accompanied "Te Dum Laudamus, mvt 3," Eric Whitacre's violin-accompanied "She Weeps Over Rahoon," Joan Szymko's "The Peace of Wild Things," David Sasso's flute and piano-accompanied "Night" and a live cut, the clarinet and piano-accompanied Yiddish Folksong "Ale Brider." Most of the songs are lightly accompanied by piano and/or other instruments. "Hope Sings Eternal" is a feel-good, soaring collection of perfectly sung tunes, and like us, we think you'll love Mirinesse!

Songlist: A Hymn for St. Cecilia, Da Pacem, Peace Like a River, Ritmo, Pseudo-Yoik Lite, Lauda Jerusalem, Tundra, A Witness to Majesty, Chant for Great Compassion, Heleluyan, Te Deum Laudamus, Magnificat, She Weeps Over Rahoon, The Peace of Wild Things, Night, Ale Brider

Review: Since their founding in 2006, Mininess Women's Choir has been thrilling audiences in Seattle and around northwest Washington with the soaring, beautiful sound of classically-trained adult women's voices. They are an auditioned group of women, ages 21-70 who joyfully share their love of music, and strive, under the able direction of conductors Rottsolk and Bonnecroy, to attain the highest level of musicianship, artistry and individual vocal ability. There are 17 tunes here, some favorites are Haydn's "Laudate pueri Dominum," the traditional spiritual "Deep River," Z. Randall Stroope's "Psalm 23," Valerie Shields' 3-part "The Evening Star," the title tune by Donna Gartman Schultz, Richard Nance's "Set Me As a Seal," a pair by John Muelheisen, "Spring Night" and "Joy;" the Shaker Song "Love is Little," the traditional "Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal" and Aaron Copland's "Zion's Walls." There are several accompanied tunes here, but the focus and emphasis is on the lovely, high voices of Mirinesse. "Sudden Light" is a wonderful, not-to-be-missed collection from one of our favorite women's ensembles!

Songlist: Laudate pueri Dominum, Agnus dei from Missa Kenya, Deep River, Psalm 23, The Evening Star: Awed by Her Splendor, The Evening Star: Tonight I've Watched the Moon, The Evening Star, Prayer of a Woman, Sudden Light, Set Me As a Seal, Sprint Night, Joy, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, Love Is Little, Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal, No Time, Zion's Walls

Review: Seattle's 50-strong, auditioned, committed Marinese Women's Choir has earned a reputation for excellence spreading far beyond their Puget Sound region. "Debut" is a live-in-concert recording from 2007 in Seattle. Of the 21 lovely selections, some favorites are Niccola Porpora's 6-part, strings-accompanied "Magnificat," Eric Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs" (based on poems by Hila Plitmann), Daniel Gwthrop's a cappella "Sing Me to Heaven," Bern Herbolsheimer's surprising, dissonant a cappella "Magpie," Ysaye M. Barnwell's joyous a cappella "Breaths," the Czech folksong "Ach! Synku Synku," the Balkan folksong "Nickolo le, Nikolcho le," "Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Mattinata," and Thomas Moore's "Quick! We Have but a Second." An impressive, finely-crafted debut collection from the Mirinese Women's Choir!

Songlist: Magnificat anima mea, Et exultavit, Et misericordia, Fecit potentiam, Gloria Patri, Sicut erat, Temmuna, Kala kalla, Larov, Eyze sheleg!, Rakut, Sing Me To Heaven, Crossing the Bar, Magpie - poem, Magpie, Breaths, Vivos Voco, Ach! Synku Synku, Nikolo le, Nikolcho le, Mattinata, Quick! We Have but a Second

Review: Delighting audiences in Seattle and around northwest Washington since 2006 with the beautiful sound of classically-trained women's voices singing a diverse repertoire of historic and contemporary music, the Mirinese Women's Choir brings us another excellent live recording of 18 songs. Favorites are Gyorgy Orban's 4-part, piano-accompanied "Mass No. 6," H. Hollanders' a cappella "Exultate, justi, in Domino," Stephen Paulus' "Sing Creation's Music On," Claude Debussy's lovely "Beau Soir," Bob Chilcott's "Skye Boat Song" and "White Waves on the Water" (these last four are piano-accompanied, as are most songs on the album), Sarah Hopkins' "Honour the Earth as Your Mother," the spiritual "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down" and Rene Clausen's "Set Me As A Seal." A powerful collection from this talented, wonderfully-directed ensemble!

Songlist: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus/Benedictus, Agnus dei, Exultate, justi, in Domino, Sing Creation's Music On, Night, Les Berceaux, Beau Soir, Ay bord de l'eau, Skye Boat Song, White Waves on the Water, The Sea Witch, Honour the Earth as Your Mother, La Flor de la Miel, Noche de Lluvia, Ain't No GraveCan Hold My Body Down, Set Me As A Seal