In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Opus 7

Director: Loren W. Ponten

Opus 7

Mixed Choral Ensemble from Kenmore, WA, United States.

Since its inception, Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble has established a reputation for continually featuring a diverse range of new and rarely performed works, along with time-honored classics of choral literature. Formed in 1992 as a professional choral group by founding director Loren Ponten, Opus 7 specializes in 19th- through 21st-century a cappella choral music. As a resident ensemble of St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Washington since 1994, Opus 7 is firmly dedicated to performing the works of local and regional composers, regularly commissioning new choral compositions. In addition, since 2000 Opus 7 has fostered new talent in the field of choral music through their unique Student Choral Composition Awards Program.

Throughout its 15 years, Opus 7 has increasingly grown in stature through its internationally acclaimed CDs and in the past several years has been recognized as one of the nation's finest and most innovative choral ensembles. Opus 7's contribution to the expansion of the international choral repertoire and its tireless dedication to the commissioning and performance of new works has been recognized nationally by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and Chorus America. In June of 2006, Opus 7 received the prestigious Award for Adventurous Programming for the third consecutive time, having also won in 2002 and 2004. Opus 7 is honored to be the first in the history of this award to have won three consecutive awards.

Amongst other distinctions, Opus 7 has been privileged to host esteemed American choral conductor Dale Warland in 2001 as guest conductor for the opening concert of its 10th-Anniversary Season and again in May of 2005 for their "Cathedral Classics" concert. They have also hosted New Zealand's finest choral conductor Karen Grylls, Philharmonia Northwest's Roupen Shakarian, and Seattle choral legend Dr. Robert Scandrett. They have been a guest performing ensemble for the American Choral Directors Association and was featured at the American Guild of Organists National Conference in Seattle in 2000, performing with American choral legend Alice Parker.

Discography

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Opus 7 : Herbolsheimer: Let Us Sing

Review: A major collection of never-before-recorded music by Northwest composer Bern Herbolsheimer, performed in the beautiful acoustical setting of St. James Cathedral in Seattle. These lyrical works are interpreted with reverence and clarity by Opus 7 vocal ensemble under the direction of Loren Ponten. Opus 7 specializes in the performance of modern and contemporary works, and their previous recordings have received national praise.

Songlist: Ave Regina, "Gloria" from St. James Mass for Peace, Let Us Sing Sweet Songs, Thanksgiving Day, 1861: One Vacant Chair, We Praise Thee O God, Blessed, Seven Last Words, Father, forgive them, Amen dico tibi, Mulier, ecce filius tuus, Eli, lama sabatani?, Sitio, Consummatum est, Father, into thy hands, O come, O come, Silly Shepherds, Stille Nacht

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Opus 7 : From Captivity to the Holy City

Review: The disc, with selections drawn from texts for the Lenten and Easter seasons, describes the human experience as it moves from darkness to light, from enslavement to liberation, and from suffering to joy.Ê Included are works by Parry, Ives, Stanford, and Opus 7's composer-in-residence, John Muehleisen.

Songlist: Chichester Mass, De profundis, Long Since in Egypt's pleneous land, Drop. drop slow tears, Crux fidelis, Fac me tecum, 67 Psalm, Veni, cretor spiritus, And I saw a new heaven, Coelos ascendit bodie, God is gone up, Hark, I hear the harps eternal, Never weather-beaten saile

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