The final concert performance by the Dale Warland Singers took place on May 30, 2004, ending a 31 year tradition of choral excellence. The 40-voice choir (based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) was renowned for their clarity, precision and breadth of expressive capabilities. Dale Warland continues to guest conduct and lead clinics for singers around the world. Lux Aurumque ("golden light") is the last album the group made before their disbandment. The album pulls together a seemingly disparate range of composers and music, yet the total effect is one of absolute cohesion in expressing a musical statement.
As a child beginning piano study I remember discovering a copy of "Salvation is created" (Chesnokov, track 5) amongst my parents community chorus music. As I played through it I remember being struck by the incredible tonality and the surprising but imminently gratifying changes in tonal color. The chorus gives a wonderful rendition, taking me back many years, but further bringing to mind immediately the distinctive pathos of Russian choral music.
Herbert Howells suffered an unbelievable loss in the death of his young son Nicholas in 1935. In 1964 he composed "Take him, earth, for cherishing" for the funeral of President John F. Kennedy in the US. Reflective of his personal loss, and sensitive to the loss suffered by the American people, this anthem is a powerful tapestry of grief and faith, innately bound in sonorities stark and lush.
In addition to some standard choral writers (Gretchaninoff, Rachmaninoff), Lux Aurumque includes a couple of important contemporary composers in Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Beyond the capabilities of many average church choirs, the present recording makes their music worth listening to for the sake of hearing and studying excellent choral style. Blend, expressive range and communication of sentiment are hallmarks of the best choirs, and can be achieved in even simple song. Here the Dale Warland Singers accomplish it with incredibly difficult music (sometimes in 16 distinct vocal parts, compared to the standard 4).
The album was recorded in stages in 2001, 2002 and 2004 at the Chapel of Saint Thomas Aquinas at the University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul Minnesota. The room has just the right balance of acoustic zing to let the music ring in the space, while allowing for the singers' precision to be utterly plain. The album notes include the pieces' lyrics in the original languages and in translation where needed. Also included are publication information for each work. Gothic Recordings has produced an admirable recording for an estimable choral ensemble.
Hymns of praise, music for communion, for funerals, for Christmas and for Lent all combine to make this an album for any season, and any moment one might wish to plumb the depths of one's appreciation of the choral art. + + + +
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