VOENA is a children's choir unique to the United States: children as young as six and as old as 18, multicultural in their backgrounds, living and growing up in America, blending their most natural birth given voices." This is how Annabelle Cruz, Director, describes the choir she has brought together with the hope that they become not just a choir but a family...a VOENA family. The 56-strong mixed choir bring us 26 joyous songs, beginning with their own song, "Voena Story," the marvelous "Prayer of the Children," an original with lively percussion by the Director, "Holy Spirit, Come" (she also wrote the excellent "Scat Play," "Clap Your Hands," and "One Light, One Voice," as well as arranging and writing lyrics for other tunes) and continuing with folk songs and spirituals from the Bantu African, Gaelic, Russian, Filipino, Korean, Ladino, 16th century Spanish, Eastern European Jewish, South African, African American, Hebrew, Japanese, 17th Century German, Guam and Old English traditions. Listening to this fun, spirited stuff gives you hope and inspiration--just what the doctor ordered these days! Some light percussion. Recommended. |
