Celebrate the diversity of musical styles and world cultures by programming these captivating settings of folk tunes from around the world! Included are pieces featuring the significant arrangers of today displaying their own creative versatility while immersing us in the musical idioms from countries as diverse as Uruguay, Newfoundland, Africa, and Japan, to name just a few.

Songlist: I'se the B'y, Banyan Tree, Zum Gali Gali, Chiu, Chiu, Chiu, Farewell, My Friend, De Colores, Danny Boy

"Party, Me Heartey" - Hoist the sail and join the pirate crew with this fun and novel pirate original song. Shiver me timbers, this will transfer your choir into singing pirates and it's sure to make a swashbucklin' showstopper! Perfect for costumes, movement and staging."I'se the B'y" -Young singers will love this spirited Newfoundland folk song that dances with a sea chanty text. There's energy from start to finish with a moving piano line that supports individual, unison, and part-singing. Great fun for your guys too!"Pirate for a Day" - Avast ye mateys! This rollicking original will be the hit of any concert. Perfect for men or treble choirs your students will have a blast with some easy 'pirate' choreography."Across the Western Ocean' - Originally arranged in 1948, Dougherty's sea chanties have been a staple of the solo repertiore. This choral edition brings this compelling repertoire to a new generation of singers. Well-crafted and expressive.

Songlist: I'se the B'y, The Drunken Sailor, Across the Western Ocean, Party, Me Heartey, Pirate for a Day

GCS was founded in 1991 with the help of the Guelph (Canada) Arts Council, to provide youth aged nine and up with an opportunity to experience a professional level of musicianship. There are now 3 divisions of choirs, all represented on this CD, Choir I, a treble choir of children ages 9 and up, Choir II, a more advanced choir of children ages 10 and up, and Guelph Youth Singers, an SATB choir founded in 1997 for girls ages 16 and up and boys with changed voices. Here are 21 songs with sacred music like Mendelssohn's "I Waited For the Lord" and "Lift Thine Eyes," Handel's "Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound" and Schubert's "The Lord is My Shepherd" co-existing nicely with W.H Anderson's title tune, Newfoundland folksong "Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle, the Japanese children's song "Hotaru Koi" and the African folksongs medley "African Celebration." Some light accompaniment. Guelph, and Canada, are beautifully represented by these talented choirs, and "Bird In The Nest" is a powerful, impressive CD!

Songlist: The Bird in the Nest, Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle, Land of the Silver Birch, Frobisher Bay, Wood River, Vagabond Song, I'se the B'y, Fare Thee Well, Love, Bist Du Bei Mir, I waited for the Lord, Lift Thine Eyes, Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound, Kyrie, Nigra Sum, The Lord is My Shepherd, Noel des Enfants, One Fine Hour, Noel Ayisyen, Il Est Bel et Bon, Hotaru Koi, African Celebration

The 90 singers of St. Mary's Children's Choir & Festival Singers are divided into 3 groups conducted by Eileen Baldwin, Brio and Presto, both treble voice choirs, and the Festival Youth Singers, a chamber choir for mixed voices; they are four-time winners of the national Association of Canadian Choral Festivals Competition and have won many more awards. "Heart of Courage" is an inspirational collection of 21 religious, classical and folk tunes, all accompanied by either piano or organ. Favorite religious cuts are John Rutter's "I Will Sing With the Spirit," Handel's "Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound," Eleanor Daly's "The Birds," Mozart's "Alleluia," Mendelsson-Bartholdy's "Ye Sons of Israel," Mark Sirett's "Praise to God," Simon Lole's "The Father's Love" and John Butler's "Psalm 150." Favorite folk songs are Martin Shaw's "The Song of the Music Makers," the rousing "John Barleycorn," the Scottish folk song "Ae Fond Kiss," the Newfoundland folk song "I'se The B'y" and three "Reflections of a Lad at Sea," "The Captain's Mate," "Thoughts of Home" and "The Ghost Ship." Another great collection by one of Canada's favorite, most professional children's groups.

Songlist: The Song of the Music Makers, I Will Sing With The Spirit, Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound, Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley/Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, The Birds, I Vow to Thee My Country, Alleluia, Ye Sons of Israel, John Barleycorn, Ae Fond Kiss, The Trout, Praise to God, I'se The B'y, The Father's Love, Psalm 150, Panis Angelicus, Reflections of a Lad at Sea, -The Captain's Mate, -Thoughts of Home, -The Ghost Ship, Flying Free, Blessing

"My Heart Soars," the title coming from a poem by Chief Dan George, is a celebration of Canada, from coast to coast. All 19 songs are from Canadian pens, and each speaks of a different time, of laughter, love, triumph and tragedy in Canadian history. The 58-voice Toronto Children's Chorus , directed by Jean Ashworth Bartle, has won awards and established a first-class reputation in its 18-year history. Accompanied by Ruth Henderson on piano, Richard Dorsey on oboe, Virginia Markson on flute, as well as selected members from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Extensive liner notes in English and French, with the words and history of the songs. Fascinating!

Songlist: I'se the B'y, The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle, Song for the Mira, Cape Breton Lullaby, Away From The Roll of the Sea, Four Songs of Early Canada, Moments in Time, Keewaydin, The Blue Eye of God, Pie Jesu, My Heart Soars, Cantante Comino