The music on this two disc set is some of the greatest sacred and secular repertoire ever written for treble voices, selected to showcase the talents of the young members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. The first disc, "Heaven," contains sacred music both accompanied and a cappella. Two of our favorites are mini-masterworks, Benjamin Britten's lovely "Missa Brevis in D," for voices and organ, and Francis Poulenc's mysterious "Litanies a la vierge noire." Disc II, "Earth," focuses on secular music to capture human qualities such as sorrow, joy, humor and hope. The centerpieces of the disc are three new commissions by Gabriela Lena Frank, Augusta Read Thomas and Dwight Nakamura. Frank's beautiful settings of two Peruvian poems, Thomas' elegant use of E.E. Cummings' poetry and Nakamura's jazzy take on Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" are all very special. Conductor Susan McMane directs this renowned chorus in 24 beautiful tunes. A wonderfully packaged set with extensive liner notes would make a memorable, timeless holiday gift to your family and to others on your list! |
