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JANUARY 2006 NEW RELEASE

CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON PERFORMS MUSIC BY
ARIEL RAMIREZ

ARIEL RAMIREZ (b. 1921): Navidad Nuestra (1964); Misa Criolla (1964) Missa Luba (1958; arr. Guido Haazen) Choral Arts Society of Washington, Joseph Holt, etc. 8557542 (UPC 747313254224) Release date: January 17th, 2006

Naxos presents this new recording of Ariel Ramirez’ beloved masterpiece Misa Criolla, performed by The Choral Arts Society of Washington.  Ramirez, widely acclaimed for his unique synthesis of popular and liturgical styles, based his Misa Criolla on South American folk music.

Missa Luba, which adapts traditional Congolese melodies and rhythms to the Latin texts of the Mass, has been described by its creator, Father Guido Haazen, as a ‘collective improvisation’.  It includes a prominent and exciting part for African percussion instruments.

Now celebrating its fortieth season,The Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the leadership of its founder and artistic director Norman Scribner, consists of 200 professional-caliber volunteer singers and is one of the major symphonic choruses in the United States.  Since 1971, the Choral Arts Society has presented its own season subscription series at the Concert Hall, performing standard repertoire plus numerous world premieres and new works commissioned by the Society.