This large (76 mixed voices) award-winning (ASCAP Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music) brings us a sumptuous collection of sacred Christmas music by composers from the 16th century (Praetorius, Philipp Nicolai, Heinrich Schutz), to the 19th century (Brahms, Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Franz Gruber's "Stille Nacht") to the 20th century (the seven movements of Hugo Distler's "Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte," Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria"). Biebl's "Ave Maria." A timeless piece like Praetorius' "In dulci jubilo," with its beautiful, ringing harmonies, soars and amazes as it did when first performed four hundred years ago! |
