Choral music suggestions

Choral music covers a lot of ground, but one of my favorites was Edward Elgar's "Coronation Ode", originally released on LP by EMI Records. I don't know if it was re-issued on CD, but if so, and you like Elgar's work, it's a superb recording.

I have a CD on Teldec of Brahms Secular Choruses, "Lieder und Romanzen" 4509-92058-2. The first time I played it my wife was in another other room and she told me it sounded like angels singing. I have numerous recordings on the Teldec label and they are generally very good.

Try one of the several good renditions of Rachmaninoff's "Vespers", beautiful and haunting. My favorite is on Telarc with the Robert Shaw Chorale.

Here is a mixed selection of choral music recordings that I consider among the best in my collection. All are currently available on CD from Amazon...

Allegri, Miserere - Tallis Scholars - Gimell 339
(and any other Tallis Scholars recording you might choose)

Laudate! - Proprius 9100

Martin, Mass for Double Chorus; Pizzetti, Messa di Requiem for chorus - Proprius 9965

Monteverdi, Jefta - Proprius 9033

Rutter, Gloria - Collegium 100

Handel, Messiah (McGegan) - Harmonia Mundi 907050

Poulenc, Gloria (Pretre) - EMI Classics 749851

Orff, Carmina Burana (de Burgos/EMI or Jochum/DGG)

Mysteria: Gregorian Chants, Chanticleer - Elektra/Asylum 99203

Enjoy!

As a fellow Atma-Sphere preamp/amp user, I agree with almost all of Rushton's suggestions. I do prefer the Telarc "Carmina" tho'.

Also try "Trav'ling Home" Joel Cohen/Boston Camerata on Erato
"Requiem" (Ockeghem) The Clerkes Group on ASV
"A Land of Pure Delight" (Billings) His Majestie's
Clerkes/Paul Hillier on harmonia mundi
"Ikos" Choir of King's College, Cambridge on EMI
"There Is Sweet Music" Cambridge Singers/Rutter on
Collegium

I envy you hearing these for the first time.

Find a good book of suggestions, like BBC Music Magazine "Top 1000 CDs Guide". Lots of good suggestions here. Robert Shaw has done some nice stuff, like Brahms Ein Deutsches Requim. RIAS-Kammerchor does good work. Also consider John Ritter's Faure.