"Making Seasons Bright!" is a sumptuous, joyous 2-disc collection from the 500 singers of the St. Louis Children's Choirs, conducted by Artistic Director Barbara Berner. From the advanced touring Concert Choir and Choristers to the beginning Children's Choir; including the intermediate Chorales, Music Makers, Young Men's Ensemble and Chamber Singers, each of these choirs has its own wonderful sound and personality. There are 44 songs here, many of them familiar standards like "Go Where I Send Thee, "Angels We Have Heard On High," "The Holly and The Ivy," "Silent Night, " "Carol of the Bells" and "Riu, Riu, Chiu," and some tunes we are enjoying for the first time, such as Noel Goemanne's "The Carol of the Dance," Allan Naplan's "Hine Ma Tov," "Douglas Mountain," "S'vivon," Hal Leonard's "Reindeer Jive," Michael Isaacson's "Light the Legend" and several others. It's nice to hear several Hanukkah tunes instead of one or maybe two. All the songs are at least lightly accompanied. "Making Seasons Bright" is a rich collection of holiday music from many different traditions, sung by choirs of beautifully-trained children-what could be better? |
