No sooner had I mentioned in a review (Seattle Pro Musica's A German Christmas, type Q9394 in Search Reviews) that Hugo Distler's motet variations on Es ist ein Ros entsprungen were "inexplicably underperformed", here comes another performance--also an excellent one, joined to an outstanding program that features top-notch ensemble singing and uniformly fine engineering (unlike the Seattle disc). This terrific Denver-based choir, founded in 1994, has accomplished in ensemble blend and balance, and in the finer details of tone and uniformity of expression, what many choirs spend many more years perfecting (this recording was made in 1998, only four years into the group's existence!).

While the Es ist ein Ros pieces are reason enough to hear the recording (Praetorius' familiar harmonization is sung as a lead-in to the Distler), we're also treated to (dare I say it?) rarely-heard works by C. Armstrong Gibbs (Cradle Song), Alfred Whitehead (This endris night), and the 15th-century Gaspar van Weerbeke (Virgo Maria), along with a world-premiere setting of There is no rose by David Cutforth, who wrote the work for St. Martin's Chamber Choir in 1996. It's tuneful and unapologetically tonal, with nicely shaped, often overlapping melismatic lines that effectively capture the text's gentleness and beauty.

A group of Ave Marias ends the program, highlighted by Robert Parsons' Renaissance masterpiece (so beautifully sung here!) and David Conte's little gem from 1992, concluding with Franz Biebl's version, which you're sure to enjoy if you've managed in the past six or seven years to avoid becoming sick of this now-ubiquitous piece, with its cloyingly schmaltzy, repetitive idea. You won't hear it sung better--and who said a little Schlagsahne ever hurt anyone? More important is the fact that the St. Martin's Chamber Choir is one of the finest American ensembles you'll hear on recordings, and it couldn't represent itself more advantageously than in this repertoire. Christmas and choral music fans--this is one not to miss. [10/24/2005]

--David Vernier