Ave Maria. The Boys Of St. Paul's Choir School

The Boys of St. Paul’s Choir School have been featured on NPR, Good Morning America, and a PBS Special. The School, in Harvard Square, embraces the great cathedral school tradition and strives to develop the intellectual and musical talents of boys in grades 4 through 8 via a musical and academic curriculum. The recording benefits from the fine acoustics of St. Paul’s. The CD booklet contains the Latin and English text of each work. No track disappoints. Pergolesi’s Stabat mater dolorosa (tr. 3) is fittingly solemn. Palestrina’s Kyrie (tr. 8) has rich harmonies. Rachmaninoff’s Bororoditse Devo (tr. 13) was a favorite of the composer. Mendelssohn’s Da Nobis Pacem (tr. 7) is particularly beautiful, as is Dvorák’s minor key Tu Trinitatis Unitas (tr. 11). Handel’s Angels Ever Bright and Fair (tr. 10) matches its title, while Fauré’s In paradisum (tr. 15) evokes the solemn beauty of the Christian afterlife. Delibes’ O Salutaris Hostia (tr. 14) is quite lyrical, while Stanford’s A Song Of Wisdom (tr. 18) is stately.