Sacred Songs of Mary - Catholic CD Review

From the CD: "Devotion to Mary through the ages has inspired an outpouring of music in her honor. This compilation is a unique bouquet of sublime pieces from the 12th century to the present, most of them not found in other Marian collections, exquistely performed by some of the world's best artists."

This CD is an incredible project that features some of the most beautiful songs every performed for our Blessed Mother. The music is from the classical and world music genres, and features a variety of artists and groups.

Among my favorites, Schubert's "Ave Maria" peformed by Sweden's Elisabeth Andreassen and the late Jan Werner Danielsen; world music singer Ashana and her original composition of the "Ave Maria"; The King's Consort recording of Claudio Monteverdi's "Ave Maris Stella", and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Wind Orchestra's performance of Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque". While these are my favorites, all of the songs on this CD are true masterpieces, as they should be to honor Mary.

1. "O Maria, Stella Maris", performed by Trio Mediaeval
2. "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert, performed by Elisabeth Andreassen & Jan Werner Danielsen
3. "Viridissima" by Hildegard Von Bingen, performed by Jocelyn Montgomery
4. "Et Lidet Barn Saa Lystelig" by Anonymous, performed by Anne-Lise Berntsen & Nils-Henrik Asheim
5. "Magnificat" (excerpt) by J. S. Bach, performed by Miah Persson, Yukari Nonishita, Akira Tachikawa, and Bach Collegium Japan.
6. "Cavatina: Se D'un Dio Fui Fatta Madre" by G. F. Handel, performed by Anne Sofie von Otter & Musica Antiqua Koln
7. "Ave Maris Stella" by Claudio Monteverdi, performed by The King's Consort
8. "Pavan: The Cradle" by Anthony Holborne, performed by The Rose Consort of Viols
9. "Ave Maria" by Ashana, performed by Ashana
10. "Regina Coeli" by Nicolas Gombert, performed by Huelgas Ensemble
11. "Nesciens Mater" by Jean Mouton, performed by the Monteverdi Choir
12. "Lux Arumque" by Eric Whitacre, performed by UNLV Wind Orchestra
13. "Ave Maria" by Charles Gounod, performed by Anne-Maria O'Farrell & Aisling Drury Byrnie

LINKS for this review:
Valley Entertainment website