Review and More

Our Review

Based in Vancouver, the Elektra Women's Choir is an excellent ensemble of more than 50 female voices presenting largely obscure holiday fare (nine by Canadian composers) on Child of Grace. For the classical music buff--especially those who adore choral music with an a cappella bent, this disc presents sweet bliss.

The album opens angelically with the 15th century Adam Lay Ybounden, the ethereal song beginning and closing with the women in unison, truly sounding like the swell of one resonant voice. The a cappella harmonies are captivating; what a lovely way to begin my day on Thanksgiving week. In addition to the exquisite a cappella cuts, perhaps three-quarters of the selections include fine accompaniment by a piano or small ensemble (harp, cello, flute, percussion). I'm a big fan of Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, and the EWC's version reflects great percussive fluorishes and rhythmic shifts. I similarly savored the glories of The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy. Derek Holman's fascinating Sir Christëmas occupies nearly 23 minutes; the Now have good day! final segment is especially cheery.

Child of Grace is extremely well executed (I tip my hat to co-directors Diane Loomer & Morna Edmundson), and the marvelous music ranges from the warmly familiar to the much more challenging. If classical choral music, especially the bright refrain of women's voices, rings your bell, prepare yourself for a carillon!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

More

From the liner notes:

Elektra Women's Choir

Diane Loomer, C.M., and Morna Edmundson, Co-Directors

Eric Hominic and Stephen Smith, piano
Marliss MacAuley, flute
Cyrena Huang, cello
Rita Costanzi, harp
Sal Ferreras, percussion

Sopranos:
Maggie Aulando, Elizabeth Brodovitch, Nadine Bugden, Grace Chiu, Anna Collins, Brigid Coult, Miriam Davidson, Grace Fatkin, Grace Groot, Catherine Haebler, Alicia Hansen, Kim Hardy, Jill Hamm, Holly Kennedy, Edith Law, Margo Le Vae, Catherine Lee, Katie Longworth, Christy Mahlberg, Karen Mang, Rebecca Nikolaisen, Susan Ohannesian, Sandra Phillips, Carolyn Shandler, Katy Skinner, Karenann Soon, Carla Stolte, Angelina Van Dyck, Melinda Van Hove, Moyra Van Nus

Altos:
Heidi Allen, Maggie Burr, Melania Cannon, Maureen Ciarniello, Rosalyn Clark, Magali Coustalin, Karen Dionne, Mary Lou Donkersloot, Kelly Dore, Erin Easingwood, Susan Edwards, Audrey Fricker, Grace Gauthier, Arlene Higgs, Nancy Kim Lee, Sheila Little, Diane McConnell, Bonnie McCoy, Jennifer McGraw, Miranda Mills-Snyder, Melinda Munro, Corinne Norbraten, Denise O'Brien, Deirdre Rogers, Bernice Slemko, Rosemary Speakman, Faith Veikle


From the Website:

About the Elektra Women's Choir:

The mission of Elektra Women's Choir is to inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and the creation, exploration, and celebration of women's repertoire. Under the collaboration of two world-class conductors, Elektra inspires a strong following through consistent excellence in performance and a rich palette of sound. This forty-voice choir was founded by co-conductors Morna Edmundson and Diane Loomer in 1987 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Elektra frequently commissions new works and is known for its adventurous and challenging programming.

In Canada's CBC national choral competitions Elektra has won first prize for women's choirs five times, and other prizes for performance of contemporary music. In 2003, Elektra made its second distinguished appearance at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, giving stunning performances in New York at Carnegie Hall, Riverside Church and Lincoln Center. In 2000, it performed in Edmonton at Podium, the convention of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors, and also at the conference of the International Society for Music Education. In 1996, Elektra represented Canada at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia.

About the album:

Christmas music from the 15th century to today, including nine outstanding pieces by some of Canada's best living composers. The program features a haunting setting by Knut Nystedt of Mary's Song, a poem by Luci Shaw; beautiful a cappella singing in Adam Lay Ybounden; two arrangements of I Sing of A Maiden; and dramatic arrangements of traditional Christmas favourites like The Virgin Mary, The Huron Carol, and I Saw Three Ships. With special guests Rita Costanzi, harp; Sal Ferreras, percussion; Eric Hominick, piano; Cyrena Huang, cello; Marliss MacAulaey, flute; and Stephen Smith, piano.

Elektra Women's Choir

Child of Grace

Order from Amazon

Track List