The mission of Kinzers, PA's 33-strong, mixed-voice Oasis Chorale is "to call its singers and its audiences to thoughtful worship of the true God through artistic Choral music sung skillfully." The five-part, 16-song collection "Reflections, Portraits from the Life of Christ" fulfills that mission beautifully, with well-chosen, varied selections such as the Plainsong "Jesus, I Adore Thee" coupled with the traditional hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful," Eric Whitacre's lovely "Lux Aurumque," Jester Hairston's "Mary's Little Boy Chile" and June Collin's "The Quiet Heart" in the first part, "The Beginning Scenes of the Advent." Favorites in part II, Ministry, are Rosephanye Powell's "The Word was God," Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Our Father in Heaven" and the German Chorale "Lamb of God;" and on part III, Passion, Karl Graun's "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs" and Hans Leo Hassler's "Passion Chorale." Part IV features Lloyd Kauffman's "Lift Your Glad Voices" and Vulpius' "Jesus Our Lord Is Risen Today;" and Part V, Robert Shaw's "Set Down, Servant," Andreas Hammerschmidt's "Lift Up Your Heads," and F. Melius Christiansen's "Beautiful Savior." "Reflections" is gorgeous, moving and inspiring! |
