• Radiance - Choral Music by Judith Lang Zaimont (CD4015)

A glorious new recording of choral music by one of America's finest composers, Judith Lang Zaimont. Three works from the 1970s - The Chase (with the composer's own poetic text), Sunny Airs and Sober (set to poetry by Shakespeare, Shelley and Robert Herrick) and the dramatic and moving Excerpts from Sacred Service for the Sabbath Evening (text from traditional Jewish liturgy) are presented along with a newer work from 1997 Meditations at the Time of New Year in a radiant program of luminous performances by the renowned Choral Music Society of Southern California, conducted by Nick Strimple.

Featured performers include alto Kimball Wheeler, baritone Joel Pressman and pianist/organist Mark Hilt. This joins Ms. Zaimont's other 4Tay disk, Summer Melodies (CD4001).

"This new release is devoted to (Judith Lang Zaimont's) sacred and secular choral music, mainly from the 1970's and is written in an immediately accessible melodic style. Sunnay Airs and Sober...The five texts are supplied by Shakespeare, Shelley, and Gay/Herrick, with the music graphically picturing the words, and tempos nicely juxtaposed to create a well-balanced cycle of works.

The Choral Society of Southern California is obviously a very fine choir, with a good and just balance of male and female voices.
Zaimont's scores are rooted in the tonal music of the Romantic era...(these works) will delight those who believe that music should be readily accessible to performers and listeners. The recording quality is good, placing soloists, choir and accompaniment in a natural perspective."

Available at ClassicalCDs.net or from 4Tay Inc. - 516-586-3433