CD & Event Reviews

CD Review: Canadian Safari (Chorus, 1998)

Take a cross-country summer vacation in your living room and leave the "driving" to your CD player with this new recording from Chor Leoni. Many of you will remember the Nova Scotia tour of this men's choir just over a year ago. The songs they performed in concert were laid down on tape after they returned to Vancouver.

The songs visit all regions of the country although they seem to spend quite a bit of time in Nova Scotia as nine of the twenty pieces have some connection to Canada's Ocean Playground. Even both of the accompanists were born in Nova Scotia. But they do take time to visit the other areas of the country, with songs like "The Water is Wide," "She's Like the Swallow," "Four Strong Winds," "Vive l'amour," and that Vancouver classic, "The Grand Hotel."

The men sing well throughout the entire recording with great balance, phrasing and intonation. Loomer sets the mood for each piece and does a particularly fine job on "Ave Maris Stella," "The Water is Wide," "Wood River" and "Make and Break Harbour." It is a romantic CD with many wistful moments. The choir obviously loves this music and, according to the liner notes, these pieces were recorded "for you in the spirit of strengthening the musical bonds that tie us together and so firmly say 'Canada'."

These many fine examples of Canadian folk music are wrapped in a great package with patriotic folk art on the cover, all of the texts, and friendly, informative notes. It is a recording that suits many moods and situations, from a rainy afternoon at home to a fun-filled summer road trip - either way it is a great way to experience Canada.

Dan Chase
Chorus, the newsletter of the Nova Scotia Choral Federation
Summer 1998

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Canadian Safari
Take a cross-country summer vacation in your living room and leave the "driving" to your CD player with this new recording from Chor Leoni. It is a recording that suits many moods and situations, from a rainy afternoon at home to a fun-filled summer road trip - either way it is a great way to experience Canada. (more...)

Posted by Dan Chase on July 1, 1998 at 3:02 PM
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