Born in 1977 in Latvia, Eriks Esenvalds is an original and sought-after voice of the Baltic music tradition. Commissioners have included the Latvian Radio Choir and State Choir "Latvija", the Britten Sinfonia, Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Temple University (USA), the Boston Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. His work is recorded on a number of CDs. Eriks Esenvalds is a former Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

Songlist: Northern Lights, Stars, Ubi Caritas Et Amor, Benedictus Es, O Salutaris Hostia, Spring, The Sweet Spring, Who Can Sail Without The Wind, Gaujas Meita Rotataja

This collection of Lauridensen's aural artisanship contains hits such as "O Nata Lux," a serene a cappella motet celebrating the Redeemer, "Ubi Caritas Et Amor," a motet composed "in celebration and gratitude for the glorious and enduring service to God," as well as a setting of "Ave Maria" specially composed as a seventieth birthday gift to Maestro Salamunovich.

Songlist: O Nata Lux, Ave Maria, Ubi Caritas et Amor, Soneto de la Noche

Morten Lauridsen has become one of America's most widely performed composers. His "O Magnum Mysterium" has been performed thousands of times since the 1994 premiere by Maestro Paul Salamunovich and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. With "Dirait-on" these two works are the all time best selling choral octavos distributed by Theodore Presser, in business since 1783! Northwest Journey features world premiere recordings of art songs, choral works and chamber music featuring superb musicians and vocalists. This musical offering spans the range of Morten's work. "Where Have the Actors Gone" gives one the sense of an allegorical ending to a relationship which might be found in a stage setting of musical theatre. From his beloved choral set, "The Songs of the Roses," comes a new arrangement of "Dirait-on" written for vocal duet. There is the unaccompanied motet, "Ubi Caritas et Amour." "A Winter Come" deftly takes the imagery of Howard Moss's verse and presents it in a marvelous variety of moods using amazing piano composition to accompany the soprano voice. Garcia Lorca's poetry is presented in the musical setting of the "Cuatro Canciones," each song based on a wider interval than the previous. And then we arrive at the finale, a new arrangement of the beautiful "O Magnum Mysterium" which presents the power of the original choral version carefully preserved in this premiere recording for solo voice. Wonderful!

Songlist: Where Have the Actors Gone, Dirait-On, Ubi Caritas et Amor, A Winter Come, Variaions, Madrigali, Cuatro Canciones, O Magnum Mysterium

Stephen Layton directs his 21-mixed-voice Polyphony, which he founded in 1986 at King's College, Cambridge, in some of Morten Lauridsen's most beloved works, accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia. The 5 movements of title tune are first, and is as lovely (accompanied, of course) as we have ever heard it. "Madrigali: Six Fire Songs on Italian Renaissance Poems" follow, exuberant, spirited a cappella pieces. The recording concludes with Lauridsen's beautiful a cappella "Ave Maria," haunting, chantlike "Ubi caritas et amor" and the classic "O magnum mysterium." Lauridsen is pictured in the extensive liner notes giving his personal direction to the making of this very fine CD. The best of Lauridsen from talented Polyphony, directed by Layton, and with a wonderful Pre-Raphaelite painting of an angel on the cover-who could ask for more?

Songlist: Lux Aeterna, Madrigali: Six "Fire Songs", Ave Maria, Ubi Caritas et Amor, O Magnum Mysterium

A 22 song "best of" collection from this top-notch children's choir spanning the years since their formation in 1989 by artistic director Kris Mason. Approximately 200 choristers ages 7 - 20 benefit from the program's vocal and choral training offered in four progressive choirs. The wide repertoire of the chorus is well represented with selections of classical, historic, sacred, folk and world pieces.

Songlist: Ecco Mormorar L'onda, Dome Epais, Path To The Moon, Can You Hear Me, Marienwurmchen, Ubi Caritas Et Amor, Caelos Ascendit Hodie, Niska Banja, Shake The Papaya Down, Metsa Telegramm, Achat Shoalti, Ezekiel Saw De Wheel, Soldier Soldier Won't You Marry Me, Shady Grove, Loch Lomond, No Time

A program of classic choral works from the 16th to the 20th century, from Byrd to Tavener, this recording also includes new settings of familiar texts, such as "This little light of mine" and "God so loved the World." Boston's Trinity Choir is a critically acclaimed ensemble that has been hailed as "one of North America's treasures".

Songlist: Ubi Caritas et Amor, The Key, Salmo 150, God so loved the world, This little light of mine, Komm, heil'ger Geist, Mi'kmaq Honour Song, Ave verum corpus, I love the Lord, Litanei, The Beatitudes, Souls of the Righteous, Ave verum corpus, O brother man, As one who has slept, When David Heard, From the End of the Earth