Songs for Mary
A special project for Kantorei is the CD, Songs for Mary, a collection of choral and instrumental music to benefit the charitable organization, Sharing and Caring Hands.
The CD explores the Minnesota choral scene and six centuries of Marian literature, including recent and rarely-performed works. On the recording, Kantorei sings "Salve Regina" by the 20th-century French composer Alfred Desenclos. Artistic director Axel Theimer leads the a cappella setting of the medieval Marian antiphon. It was recorded especially for Songs for Mary at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Songs for Mary features a total of 15 Marian works performed by nationally-known Minnesota choirs including the Minnesota Chorale, the Dale Warland Singers and the National Lutheran Choir, plus vocal soloists and instrumentalists. Other selections include Mozart's "Regina coeli" (KV 276); and "Hail, O Virgin" from Rachmaninoff's Vespers. Settings of "Ave Maria" show the contrasting styles of composers from Bach and Gounod to Javier Busto. Seldom-heard works include Grieg's "Ave, maris stella;" Wayne Marshall's recent "Magnificat," and the medieval Spanish "Cuncti simus."
Proceeds from "Songs for Mary" benefit Sharing & Caring Hands, a Minnesota nonprofit that provides food, clothing, and shelter to those in need.
The 71-minute CD is available for $15 from all Twin Cities St. Patrick's Guild locations: 651.690.1506, 800.652.9767, or stpatricksguild.com
The CD's track listing is below.
- Salve Regina (Gustafsson) - St. John's University Men's Chorus
- Salve Regina (Desenclos) - Kantorei (MP3 clip)
- Salve Regina (Childs) - Minnesota Chorale
- Ave Maria (Busto) - Dale Warland Singers
- Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) - Perry Sommers & Anne Ransom
- Ave Maria (Schubert) - Johanna & James Dorn
- Ave Maria (Head) - Minnetonka Chamber Choir
- Ave Maria (Biebl) - Apollo Male Chorus
- Ave, maris stella (Grieg) - National Lutheran Choir
- Bogoroditse Devo (Rachmaninoff) - Magnum Chorum
- Antiphon for the Virgin (Davidson) - VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
- Cuncti simus (Medieval Spanish) - Minnesota Boychoir
- Sonata XV: The Coronation of Mary (Biber) - Lucinda Marvin, Julie Elhard, and James A. Dorn
- Magnificat (Marshall) - Bel Canto Voices
- Regina coeli (Mozart KV 276) - Festival Choir & Orchestra