Founded in 1989 by artistic director Kris Mason, the Seattle Children's Chorus brings us the choral sounds of 200 boys and girls, in four levels of choirs, raised in song. "Seasons of Song" is a wonderful holiday collection of 22 songs from the SCC's most beautiful live performances, many of them lightly piano and flute accompanied. The voices of the beginning younger children (Brio) shine on tunes such as "All That Is Good," "Une Poule Blanche" and Colligan's "Now I Walk In Beauty." The intermediate chorus, Intermezzo, shows their stuff on Nalan's "Al Shlosha D'Varim," Chilcott's "Sing You Now" and "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella;" and the advanced groups, Arioso and Camerata, easily handle more difficult, eclectic pieces like Pfautsch's "Consecrate the Place and Day," "Kyrie-Sanctus Benedictus from Mass No. 6" by Orban, the joyous a cappella "Sithi Jabula" by Nyberg, Nordqvist's "Wonderful Peace," Fissinger's "Make We Joy," Whitacre's "Lux Arumque" and Bach's "Prepare to Receive Him." These pieces are intermixed with more standard carols like "Ding Dong! Merrily on High," "Deck The Halls" and "The Little Drummer Boy" like treats in a holiday basket. "Seasons of Song" is a beautiful gift of sweet voices! |
