SOCIAL MEDIA
Christmas in the Air
Available NOW!
Christmas in the Air
​
Bella Voce's soon-to-be-released CD celebrates the music of Christmas - our first all-holiday recording since 2008's "Christmas Joy" CD! In this all-new recording you will find a wide variety of music - from the rowsing and majestic Masters in This Hall to the sweetest Christmas lullabies; from ancient melodies to contemporary classics; from England's shores to church bells of Ukraine, you will find the holiday spirit in each glorious track!
​
TRACK LIST
​
1. Masters in This Hall arr. Mark Hayes
2. In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst/ arr. John Leavitt
3. The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy arr. Valerie Shields
4. How Far is it to Bethlehem? arr. David Willcocks
5. Carol of the Bells Mykola Leontovich/ arr. Peter J. Wilhousky
6. Gesu Bambino Pietro A. Yon/ arr. Linda Spevacek
7. Glow Eric Whitacre/ adapted by Emily Crocker
8. I Saw Three Ships arr. Lloyd Larson
9. Betelehemu arr. Andy Beck
10. He Smiles Within His Cradle arr. David Willcocks
11. Personent Hodie arr. Craig Kingsbury
12. Salve Regina Javier Busto
13. The Lamb John Tavener/ arr. Barry Rose
14. Ave Maria David Reznick
15. Shepherd’s Pipe Carol John Rutter
Hear a preview: How Far is it to Bethlehem?
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording
Executive Producer: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Cover Design: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O’Leary
Recorded at College Steet Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont and
McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.
Learn more about Bella Voce Women’s Chorus at www.BellaVoceVT.org
© 2022 Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont
Down by the Riverside - 2020
Available for purchase now!
$15 each
+ $3 postage and handling
Down by the Riverside
​
Bella Voce celebrates the strength of the human spirit in this recording which encompasses a significant breadth of musical genres ranging from spirituals and folk songs to arrangements of early American tunes, madrigals, and classical repertoire.
The opening track, Brant Adams’ vivacious arrangement of Down by the Riverside for treble voices, was commissioned by Bella Voce for our 15th Anniversary celebration. In this arrangement Adams incorporates a delightful array of musical styles and weaves together the title tune with the beloved folk hymn, I’ve Got Peace Like a River.
This recording also features stirring arrangements of favorite spirituals including Swing Low, Sweet Chariot arranged by Stacey Gibbs and Moses Hogan’s exuberant My Soul’s Been Anchored adapted for treble voices by Rollo Dillworth. The majestic traditional song Auld Lang Syne, arranged by Canadian composer Mark Sirett, weaves portions of the traditional Scottish text along with English to stir fond memories of special people and places. Bella Voce has wonderful memories of singing this piece with a Scottish choir that we shared a concert with during our 2018 Scotland tour.
We also highlight the music of two Vermont composers – Gwyneth Walker and Moira Smiley. Gwyneth is an award-winning composer whose catalogue of works includes over 350 commissioned works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, chorus, and solo voice. Her Tree of Peace and Let the Life I’ve Lived Speak for Me reflect the values she is passionate about in her music and her life. Moira’s delightful arrangements of Huddie Ledbetter’s Bring Me Little Water, Silvy called for the singers to include body percussion which we enjoyed incorporating into our performances! We also had fun including a little whistling and scat singing for her arrangement of Woodie Guthrie’s Mail Myself to You.
Another first for Bella Voce was playing tuned water glasses for Eriks Esenvalds setting of Sara Teasdale’s evocative poem Stars. The singers thought it was fascinating to create those hauntingly lovely chords with the water glasses as they sang!
Rounding out the recording is J. David Moore’s delightful arrangement of Will the Circle be Unbroken and his endearing Music in My Mother’s House along with Alice Parker’s vibrant arrangement of Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal and Fair Phyllis, a frolicsome madrigal by the English Renaissance composer John Framer adapted by Emily John.
TRACK LIST
​
1. Down by the Riverside arr. Brant Adams
2. Will the Circle Be Unbroken arr. J. David Moore
3. Sing Creation’s Music On Stephen Paulus
4. Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal arr. Alice Parker
5. Fair Phyllis John Farmer, arr. Emily John
6. Swing Low Sweet Chariot arr. Stacey V. Gibbs
7. Voice on the Wind Sarah Quartel
8. Bring Me Little Water Silvy Huddie W. Ledbetter, arr. Moira Smiley
9. Auld Lang Syne arr. Mark Sirett
10. Set Me as a Seal Rene Clausen
11. My Soul’s Been Anchored arr. Moses Hogan, adapt. Rollo Dilworth
12. Lullaby Daniel Elder
13. Stars Êriks Ešenvalds
14. Let the Life I’ve Lived Speak for Me Gwyneth Walker
15. Music in My Mother’s House arr. J. David Moore
16. Mail Myself to You Woodie Guthrie, arr. Moira Smiley
17. Tree of Peace Gwyneth Walker
18. Bright Mansions arr. K. Lee Scott
​
Hear a sample: Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording
Executive Producer: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Cover Design: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O’Leary
Recorded at McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont and First Baptist Church, Burlington, Vermont
© 2020 Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont
​
Heart Songs: Music of the World (2017)
Heart Songs - Music of the World! includes a wide breadth of musical selections originating from Argentina, Canada, England, France, Israel, Kenya, Romania and the United States. This 19 track CD features songs by Gabriel Faure, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Eleanor Daley and Mark Sirett. The lyrics are drawn from a variety of sources ranging from a Canadian First Nation poet to revered authors and timeless Latin texts.
Haunting melodies that linger in the ear along with rich harmonies and driving rhythms that stir the spirit are the essential musical elements that reflect the heart of every culture. "Heart Songs" features a diverse collection of vibrant vocal dance songs, tender lullabies, and songs of praise from countries across the globe offering a glimpse into the thoughts, hopes, dreams and values of people expressed through their songs.
TRACK LIST
​
1. Bashana Haba’ah Nurit Hirsh/arr. Nick Page
2. The Seal Lullaby Eric Whitacre
3. I’m Gonna Sing arr. Lela Anderson
4. Les Étoiles Mark Sirett
5. These Green Mountains D. Martin and R. Buglass Gluck/arr. Dawn Willis
6. My Heart Soars Mark Sirett
7. Ave Verum Gabriel Fauré
8. Chindia Alexandru Pascanu
9. Lullaby Ralph Vaughan Williams
10. And Miriam Sang (Shiru L’Adonai) Zebulon M. Highben
11. Dirait-On Morten Lauridsen
12. Ave Maria Eleanor Daley
13. Wana Baraka arr. Shawn L. Kirchner
14. Esto Les Digo Kinley Lange
15. Watane Mark Sirett
16. Weep No More David N. Childs
17. Jabula Jesu arr. Stephen Hatfield
18. Tantum Ergo Corin Overland
19. El Cielo Canta Alegria! Pablo Sosa/arr. Roger Bergs
Listen on Spotify
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording in Williston, VT
Executive Producer: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Cover Design: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O’Leary, Sylvia Robison
Recorded in May 2015 at College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, VT
and in May 2016 at First Baptist Church, Burlington, VT
This project was made possible with support from the Argosy Foundation.
© 2017 Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont
​
This recording is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and mentor Robert De Cormier – composer, arranger, conductor and all-around wonderful person. We will treasure all the meaningful musical experiences we shared with him.
Read a review of this CD in Seven Days VT:
Songs of Hope & Freedom (2014)
​Songs of Hope and Freedom: The Choral Music of Robert De Cormier for Women's Voices. In the summer of 2012 Bella Voce was asked by an anonymous donor to record our highly successful performance of Robert De Cormier’s cantata They Called Her Moses. Even though it seemed like a daunting project at first - both time and money-wise, we jumped at the chance to bring together all the pieces that Robert has written and re-arranged for Bella Voce. Money was quickly raised by folks who believed this was a great idea too and we were off and running!
Read the following beautiful testimonial from Noel Paul Stookey of the popular folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Robert De Cormier was their Music Director for several years.
"Whether sprung from sorrow or joy, songs of conscience are cries of the soul. This most recent choral presentation of DeCormier writings and arrangements, addressing the significant social impact of Harriet Tubman's life, is an exceptional example of passion - inexpressible by words alone - translated movingly into shared melody. Thank you Robert for this, your living gift; and for decades of sensitivity and profound musical insight. Your creativity and counsel continually remind us that music is an inspired celebration; bringing both audience and performer to a meeting place of discovery and wonder. Peter, Mary and I are forever in awe of your talent and deeply honored to share your commitment to the issues of justice and equity in the world."
​
- Noel Paul Stookey - Peter, Paul and Mary"
Noel Paul Stuckey performing with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert De Cormier in 2010..
TRACK LIST
​
1. They Called Her Moses
2. Journey (Part 1)
3. To da Darlin' Day
4. Journey (Part 2)
5. I Been in the Storm So Long
6. Finale
7. Walk Together Children
8. Hold On
9. By n' By
10. Let Me Fly
11. Sing Everyone, Sing Me
12. Away in a Manger
13. Dormi, Dormi O Bel Bambin
14. Why Can't We Have Christmas the Whole Year Around
Listen on Spotify
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording - Williston, Vermont
Editing Preparation: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O'Leary, Sylvia Robison
Recorded in May, July and December, 2013 at First Baptist Church, Burlington, Vermont; Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, Vermont.
© 2014 Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont
Tapestry of Song (2014)
Tapestry of Song, Bella Voce’s 10th Anniversary CD, features the Bella Voce Chorus, Bella Voce's smaller ensemble, Cantiamo and our special guest ensemble The Inora Brass Quintet. This compilation CD offers 19 tracks of wonderful music by world-renowned composers and arrangers such as Ola Gjeilo, Eleanor Daley, John Rutter and Jonathan Willcocks as well as works by Heinrich Schütz, Zoltán Kodály. It is a mixture of many pieces that we have recently performed: Folk Songs, Classical and Contemporary. Many of the tracks are suitable for enjoying during the Christmas season as well.
​
TRACK LIST
​
1. Jubilate Deo Michael Braz
2. Night David A. Sasso
3. Cantate Domino Heinrich Schütz
4. Ubi Caritas Ola Gjeilo
5. Ritmo Dan Davison
6. Rise Up, My Love Eleanor Daley
7. Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal arr. Mark Hayes
8. Danny Boy arr. Dede Duson
9. The Ash Grove arr. Jonathan Willcocks
10. Kyrie Eleison Jim Leininger
11. Ave, Regina Coelorum Larysa Kuzmenko
12. O Nata Lux Eleanor Daley
13. In Dulci Jubilo arr. John Rutter
14. Sweet Little Jesus Boy arr. Michael Neaum
15. There is No Rose Eleanor Daley
16. A Christmas Carol arr. Zoltán Kodály
17. Cantemus! Lajos Bárdos
18. Ave Maria Henrique Oswald
19. Gloria Larysa Kuzmenko
Listen to a sample:
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording - Williston, Vermont
Editing Preparation: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O'Leary, Sylvia Robison
Recorded in May, July and December, 2013 and May, 2014 at First Baptist Church, Burlington, Vermont; Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, Vermont.
​
© 2014 Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont
Glorious Seasons (2012)
TRACK LIST
1. Alleluia Charles Callahan
2. "Spring" from Two Eastern Pictures Gustav Holst
3. "Summer" from Two Eastern Pictures Gustav Holst
4. The Rose of Sharon Thomas Juneau
5. Indian Summer Daniel J. Hall
6. Cantate Domino Sandra Milliken
7. Os Justi Eleanor Daley
8. El Romantón Francisco Muro, arr. Miguel Astor
9. Sing Me to Heaven Daniel E. Gawthrop
10. Veniki arr. Milan Uherek
11. Dona Nobis Pacem Sandra Milliken
12. Hodie Christus Natus Est Sandra Milliken
13. Dormi Jesu Sandra Milliken
14. I Saw Three Ships arr. Tom T. Shelton
15. Still, Still, Still arr. Ken Berg
16. Nativity Carol John Rutter
17. Gloria Randol Bass
18. Christmas Flourish Randol Bass
Produced and Engineered by Peter Engisch, Ad Astra Recording - Williston, Vermont
Editing Preparation: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Booklet Editing: Nan O'Leary
Recorded at First Baptist Church, Burlington; First Congregational Church of Essex Junction; and St. Joseph's Co-Cathedral, Burlington, 2011-2012. Indian Summer was recorded at a live performance at First Baptist, Burlington in May 2009.
© 2012 Bella Voce Women's Choir of Vermont
Glorious Seasons treats the listener to an eclectic collection of everything from holiday classics to and contemporary non-secular masterpieces. This CD has selections from every season including Spring and Summer from Gustav Holst's Two Eastern Pictures with harp; Daniel Hall's haunting Indian Summer with piano and oboe; and a variety of Christmas pieces including Randol Alan Bass' Christmas Flourish and Gloria for women's voices, brass quintet, organ, and percussion. Glorious Seasons also contains several unaccompanied pieces by Australian composer, Sandra Milliken. You will enjoy this CD!
Listen to samples and purchase online at:
Christmas Joy (2008)
A selection of 20 carols and other works for the season
The CD features classic selections for women’s voices which range from Johannes Brahms’ Ave Maria and Benjamin Britten’s This Little Babe (from A Ceremony of Carols) to arrangements of carols and spirituals that hold a revered place in the rich tapestry of choral music. Bella Voce is especially proud to include on this recording Mary Had A Baby: a new arrangement of Christmas spirituals for women’s voices, brass, harp, woodwinds and percussion by Vermont composer and arranger, Robert De Cormier.
TRACK LIST
1. The Sussex Carol arr. Corin T. Overland
2. Masters in this Hall arr. Valerie Shields
3. Wexford Carol arr. Dawn O. Willis
4. O My Dear Heart Eleanor Daley
5. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day arr. John Rutter
6. A La Nanita Nana arr. Michael Braz
7. Mary Had a Baby arr. Robert De Cormier
8. Jehovah Hallelujah arr. Robert De Cormier
9. Glory and Honor to the Newborn King arr. Robert De Cormier
10. Christmas Intrada David Conte
11. What Sweeter Music Eleanor Daley
12. La Virgen Lava Pañales arr. Robert De Cormier
14. The Moon of Wintertime arr. George L. Mabry
15. This Little Babe Benjamin Britten
16. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head arr. Gwyneth Walker
17. I Wonder as I Wander arr. Richard Osborne
18. A la Ru, A la Me arr. Bradley Ellingboe
19. Angels Did Sing Steven Rickards
20. Ave Maria Johannes Brahms
21. Magnificat Z. Randall Stroope
Listen to samples and purchase online at:
Produced and engineered by John McClure
Audio Assistant: Susan Presson
Editing Preparation: Dawn Willis
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Editing: Nan O’Leary
Mechanical Licensing Coordinator: Rose Bacon
Recorded at the Music Building Recital Hall, University of Vermont, 2007-2008.
​
©2008 Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont
Now Let Us Sing
A selection of songs composed and arranged by Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker, including powerful arrangement of How Can I Keep From Singing?, Crossing the Bar, and I Thank You God, with text adapted from the E.E. Cummings poem "i thank you God for most this amazing day."
TRACK LIST
1. How Can I Keep From Singing?
2. Gifts From The Sea
3. Let Evening Come
Six Songs for Women’s Voices
4. Women Should be Pedestals
5. Mornings Innocent
6. The Name is Changeless
7. Love is a Rain of Diamonds
8. In Autumn
9. I Will Be Earth
10. I Thank You God
The Spirit of Women
11. So Many Angels
12. Walk That Valley
13. Never Sit Down
14. Crossing the Bar
15. Hebrides Lullaby
16. Peace I Ask of Thee, O River
17. Now Let Us Sing!
Purchase online:
​
Produced and Engineered by John McClure
Audio Assistant: Susan Presson
Design and Layout: Vikki Day
Editing: Nan O’Leary
Notes: Dawn Willis
Recorded at the Music Building Recital Hall, University of Vermont, 2007
​
​