Recordings

O Rising Dawn | From Captivity to the Holy City | Let Us Sing Sweet Songs

Let Us Sing Sweet Songs - purchase online!

World-premiere recording of music for choir, piano, organ, brass, harp, oboe and percussion by Bern Herbolsheimer

Loren W. Pontén, conductor
Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble
Joseph Adam, organ & piano

Janet Putnam, oboe
Naomi Kato, harp
Rob Tucker, percussion
Bern Herbolsheimer, piano

St. James Cathedral Soloists
Lisa Cardwell Pontén, soprano
Kathryn Weld, mezzo-soprano
Howard Fankhauser, tenor

St. James Cathedral Brass
Vince Green, trumpet
David Hensler, trumpet
Stan Jeffs, trombone
Ed Phillips, tuba

	Ave Regina (2001)
		Maria Mannisto, soprano
	“Gloria” from St. James Mass for Peace (1982)
	Joseph Adam, organ
	Vince Green &David Hensler, trumpet
	Stan Jeffs, trombone; Ed Phillips,tuba
	Rob Tucker, percussion
	“Let us sing sweet songs” from St. James Mass for Peace (1982)
	Howard Fankhauser, tenor
	Lisa Cardwell Pontén, soprano
	Joseph Adam, organ
	Janet Putnam, oboe
	Rob Tucker, percussion
Thanksgiving Day, 1861: One Vacant Chair (2003)
		Kathryn Weld, mezzo-soprano
	“We Praise Thee O God” from Te Deum (1981)
	Joseph Adam & Bern Herbolsheimer, piano
	Rob Tucker, percussion
	Blessed (1992)
	Joseph Adam, piano
Seven Last Words (2002)
		Father, forgive them
		Amen dico tibi
		Lisa Cardwell Pontén, soprano
		Mulier, ecce filius tuus
		Eli, lama sabatani?
		Sitio
		Dan Wilson, tenor
		Consummatum est
		Father, into thy hands
	O come, O come (1999)
	Lisa Cardwell Pontén, soprano
	Naomi Kato, harp
	Silly Shepherds (1999)
	Naomi Kato, harp
	Stille Nacht (2000)

"The Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble—from Seattle’s St James Cathedral—are quite a discovery...They manage everything from earthy choral roars to icy, transparent purity. Needlepoint intonation and unearthly ensemble top the high heap of the choral strengths. Soloists and instrumentalists alike perform flawlessly. We get excellent sound from the heavenly acoustics of St James, plus lucid notes and full texts. Go ahead—treat your ears and souls to some new and refreshing choral magic. Much of it will rivet your attention like the sudden vision of Mt Rainier floating over Seattle’s urban seascapes on a rare clear day."—Lindsay Koob, American Record Guide, January/February 2005

Our latest CD showcases the remarkable choral writing of award-winning and internationally recognized Northwest composer Bern Herbolsheimer. Recorded at St. James Cathedral, this CD features works for a cappella choir and for choir with soloists, organ, percussion, brass, harp, piano and oboe. The repertoire includes Christmas music and settings of major sacred texts, ranging from the Te Deum to Blessed (the Beatitudes) and the Seven Last Words.

From Captivity to the Holy City - purchase online!
music for Lent & Easter

Loren W. Pontén, conductor
Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble
Joseph Adam, organ
 

ALBRIGHT		Chichester Mass
MUEHLEISEN		De Profundis
PARRY		Long since in Egypt's plenteous land
		Never weather-beaten saile
GIBBONS		Drop, drop slow tears
BARTOLUCCI		Crux fidelis
SZYMANOWSKI		Fac me tecum
IVES		67th Psalm
RENER		Veni, creator spiritus
BAINTON		And I saw a new heaven
STANFORD		Coelos ascendit hodie
FINZI		God is gone up!
PARKER		Hark, I hear the harps eternal.

Praise for From Captivity to the Holy City:

O Rising Dawn - purchase online!

music for Advent & Christmas

Loren W. Pontén, conductor
Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble
Joseph Adam, organ

Peter Wishart (1921-1984)		Veni, veni Emmanuel
Hugo Distler (1908-1942)		“Lo, how a rose e’er blooming” and "This Flower whose fragrance tender” from Christmas Story
Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)		Veni, veni Emmanuel
Egil Hovland (b.1924)		The Glory of the Father
C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918)		“My Soul, there Is a Countrie” from Songs of Farewell
chant / John Muehleisen (b.1955)		The Great "O" Antiphons
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)		Magnificat, Op. 36
Lajos Bárdos (b.1899)		Dormi, fili care
John Tavener (b.1944)		The Lamb
Herbert Howells (1892-1983)		Sing Lullaby
arr. Bern Herbolsheimer (b. 1948)		Once in Royal David’s City
Charles Ives (1874-1954)		A Christmas Carol
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)		“Theme - ‘A Boy was Born’” from A Boy was Born
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)		All this Night
arr. Alan Ridout (b. 1934-96)		Silent Night

Praise for O Rising Dawn:

"The excellent Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, whose recordings on the Loft label demonstrate their smooth blend and musicianship under the direction of Loren Pontén."―Seattle Times, December 9, 1999

"Recorded in St. James Cathedral, this excellent holiday disc includes artful, high quality arrangements and originals by Distler, Kodály, Howells, Ives, Britten, Finzi and several others, with Loren Pontén leading the very fine and musical chorus Opus 7. Of particular interest here is John Muehleisen's "The Great 'O' Antiphons," imaginatively harmonized and beautifully realized in these performances."―Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times, December 12, 1999

Recorded in the stunning acoustic of Seattle's St. James Cathedral, our first CD features Gerald Finzi's "Magnificat" with Cathedral Organist Joseph Adam, music by Howells, Tavener, Herbolsheimer and the world premiere recording of John Muehleisen's "Great 'O' Antiphons."

Opus 7 has commissioned several works from award-winning Northwest composer John Muehleisen. The 'O' antiphons, seven medieval chants for Advent, are paired with Muehleisen's compelling settings in English -- written specifically for St. James Cathedral's remarkable acoustic.

CDs can be purchased online, at any Opus 7 concert, at the St. James Cathedral Bookstore (206-382-4500) or ordered by phone (206.782.2899) or mail from Opus 7 for $18.00 (includes tax and shipping).

For direct orders, please make check out to "Opus 7" and mail to:

Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble
19429 77th Pl NE
Kenmore, WA 98028

(please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery)

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