St. Marys Children's Choir & Festival Youth Singers was founded in St. Marys, Ontario in 1981 and since then, over 700 young people have participated in its training programs, winning many first places in Canadian Music Festivals Competitions. "Winter Walk" refers to a lovely evening stroll in "Stonetown," along the Thames River, Trout Creek and Little Falls, leading up to a Christmas display of lights in St. Marys' "The Flats." 23 lightly accompanied Christmas songs. Particularly nice (and new to our ears) to hear are songs written by Canadian composers: "What is this Lovely Fragrance" and "In Bethlehem Tonight" by Norman Nurmi," "Watts' Cradle Song" by Ruth Watson Henderson," "Tyrley, Tyrlow" and "I Heard the Bells" by Mark Sirett, and Eleanor Daley's "Rejoice and Sing this Christmas Morn." We also particularly liked the title tune, "Take a Winter Walk with Me" by Mary Donnelly, but there are many wonderful and rarely-heard tunes in this magical collection--that's a sure bet to put you in a Holiday mood, like an evening winter walk in Stonetown. |
