Albany Records is proud to announce the release of "The Sacred Voice: Heinrich Christensen Conducts Sacred Vocal Works by Graham Gordon Ramsay."  Performed by musicians drawn from the greater Boston area, this CD features soloists Yulia Van Doren, soprano; Kristi Vrooman, soprano; Monica Hatch, soprano; Mary Gerbi, alto; Zachary Wilder, tenor; Steven Soph, tenor; Marc DeMille, bass; David Kravitz, bass; and Lori Everson, violin--all under the direction of noted conductor/organist Heinrich Christensen, Music Director of King's Chapel in Boston.

 

Traditionaly, composers have set biblical texts to music as an expression of praise, to make the text more lucid and accessible, or to underscore a particular element within a liturgy.  In this collection of sacred vocal music, Ramsay aims to rethink a variety of familiar sacred texts by pushing the musical boundaries and challenging both the audience and the perfomers to experience these texts in a new way.  At the same time, he invites them to embark on a journey through musical territory that may be unfamiliary, but is stimulating and welcoming.  It is within this framework that he has created sacred vocal works that are both provocative and engaging.

 

Graham Gordon Ramsay is a much sought-after composer of choral and instrumental works.  His music has been performed by a wide range of perfomers, particularly church congregations throughout the United States and Europe.   Known for his modern yet tuneful style, Mr. Ramsay writes predominantly for solo voice, chorus, solo instruments, and chamber ensemble.  In recent years, he has received commissions for liturgical works from the choirs of King's Chapel in Boston, S. Stephen's Church in Providence, and St.Thomas More Church in New York City, among others.  His music has been performed in a variety of unique settings ranging from the Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark to the Basillica of San Simpliciano in Milan.  In 2003, Mr. Ramsay won first prize in the Roger Wagner Contemporary Choral Composition Competition.

 

The Sacred Voice (TROY1304) is available online at www.albany.records.com, at fine record stores or from Albany Music Distributors, 915 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, and will be available shortly for digital download from from most popular online retailers incluidng iTunes and Amazon.com.

 

To find out more about Graham Gordon Ramsay's work, please visit www.ggrcomposer.com.