Sounding Joy: Sacred Music from the Last Decades of the 20th Century (American Repertory Singers)

This is a fine sampling of the repertoire. All the arrangements are first-rate, and I was especially taken with Daron Aric Hagen's Little Prayers. The American Repertory Singers are excellent—sensitive and well-controlled—but without any of the prissiness that can afflict British choral singing. Leo Nestor's own music is included, and he seems as fine a composer as he is a choral conductor. -The American Record Guide, Nov/Dec '97

Nestor's ensemble displays remarkable intonation through vowel unification throughout...Sounding Joy. ...the album's namesake is stunning. Gwyneth Walker composed an updated version of the Justin Morgan nineteenth-century tune set to text from Psalm 95. The blend here is excellent, and the superb balance compliments the fugal nature of the piece. In Little Prayers, Daron Aric Hagen's technique is reminiscent of Persichetti or Stravinsky. As a group the five prayers are perhaps the least melodic pieces on the recording but are nonetheless beautiful and would compliment any sacred choral program. Nestor's use of dynamic contrast to illustrate Hagen's text painting is exquisite. A Sermon on Wisdom, by Daniel Pinkham, is treated reverently by the choir. I encourage all to examine the recording not only for the overall quality of sound but also for the excellent selections programmed. -Vernon E. Huff, Choral Journal, February '98