The Road Home

Santa Fe Desert Chorale takes us on a beautiful journey through America’s deep choral heritage with richly expressive, blended singing. Simple Shaker songs from the mid-19th century are performed in both their original, pure forms—introducing some terrific solo voices—and in sumptuous arrangements by Shawn Kirchner, whose warm-hearted “Angel Band” takes full advantage of the choir’s wide-ranging sonorities. Jake Runestead’s “Reflections”, commissioned by Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Morten Lauridsen’s “Mid-Winter Songs” represent the best of contemporary American choral music while the final three works, including Stephen Paulus’ “The Road Home”, remind us of the folk-song roots of jazz, gospel and bluegrass.