Sacred Classics: Best of 2013 (Part One)

(Photo: David Rutherford)

• Seraphic Fire, a group only 10 years old and one of the finest vocal ensembles specializing in early music, released three albums in 2013. We’ll hear from their self-titled album, "Seraphic Fire."
• Charles Bruffy continues to develop the Kansas City Chorale. Their album "Life and Breath: Choral Works by Rene Clausen" makes the list of the best of 2013
• There were two different ensembles using music to raise money for their monasteries, one of which is truly excellent. The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles released their first album, "Advent at Ephesus," this past year. We’ll hear a couple selections.
• Other top recordings include The King’s Singers, Conspirare, The Grant Park Chorus, Etherea Vocal Ensemble, and the Lincoln Cathedral Choir.

It’s been a rich year in sacred choral music, and with the passing of John Tavener, I expect there will be a good amount of tribute recordings in the coming year. We’ll see about that next January, but this January is proving to be a tribute to a terrific variety of music both old and new. I hope you can tune in.

Here's a featurette on the special collaboration between composer Rene Clausen and the Kansas City Chorale:

Sacred Classics airs 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Sunday on CPR Classical. Listen online at cprclassical.org.