For the most part the arrangements are straightforward. My one regret is that the second verse of Tantum Ergo is a bit over arranged to the point where the melody is lost. I would have preferred if they had recorded Tantum Ergo with the first verse a capella (as they did) with an organ coming in for the second verse all the while swelling towards a resounding crescendo. That's the way it's done at the Benediction service I go to and that's the way I prefer it.

But don't let that stop you from buying it. The Regina Caeli Laetare is especially well done as is the Ecce Sacerdos Magnus, the latter bringing to mind images of the next papal Coronation (and yes, let's pray that it is a Coronation this time: triple tiara, crozier, etc.)

114 of 125 found the following review helpful:


Aaaaaah... that's better! ;-)  Oct 01, 2002 By Teresa Alantua, 16
Not that they didn't perhaps have good intentions, but I often feel as though those '60's generation Catholics quietly disposed of the rich and all-embracing ("catholic"!) Faith that was to be my birthright, and, beaming, set a big ol' mess of steaming pottage in front of me instead. They told me how lucky I was not to have grown up being forced to listen to Latin, be taught by real live nuns, or shock my poor tender eyes on statues or ornate high altars. Instead, I would have the privelige of attending guitar-and-maraca Masses, where the priest warbled the words of consecration in a sort of blues tune, and-... Ai! Is this really about the God "who gives joy to my youth"? Then why did they, ahem, cut that line? Trying to reconcile all this relentlessly chirpy weirdness with the Holy And Awesome Sacrifice that IS going on - it always deals me Kafka-esque trauma and a headache.

My fellow reviewer from Connecticut, you are so lucky... I can attend the Old Latin Mass only once a month. When I get out of college, I want to move somewhere where I can go every day and live a NORMAL Catholic life! Man, I must be the weirdest teenager in the Valley... ::sighs:: Eek! It's hard not to start using this thing as a message board...

Anyway, keep the Music alive in your hearts with this CD until we can bring it back to the sanctuaries! The day will come... ::smiles tearfully::

Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

23 of 23 found the following review helpful:


Ne Plus Ultra  Jun 14, 2003 By Rex "Rex"
I would rate this CD as ne plus ultra for the amount of divinity that is latent within each of those great, precious, Latin hymns, which should have been my "birth-right," as the other reviewer had wonderfully put it. To give you an idea, I am an immigrant with no cultural ties to the Western world or Latin. It is truly "greek and latin" to me. Thank God, I now have better exposure to some Latin.

This CD is given 5 stars by me, because, not only the music is mellifluous, but the richness of Latin is apodictic, once you hear the euphonious rendition of the hymns by the singers. John Eskola's Panis Angelicus is so good, that I couldn't stop playing it again and again. This wonderful hymn, written by St. Thomas Aquinas would move anybody. And to speak the truth, every time I listen to Ave Maria version of Franz Schubert, wonderfully rendered in the form of a soprano by Lorelei McDermott, an ethereal serenity engulfs.

Almost all the songs in this CD are great and Jubilae Deo of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was just splendiferous.

I wish more Classics like these are included in normal worship.

Regardless of one's taste, this CD has songs and music for everybody.
And, one last thing: After listening to these melodic hymns, I have listened to numerous other singers' versions of Panis Angelicus and Ave Maria, but none has surpassed my expectations as I have on this one. Kudos John Eskola and Lorelei McDermott. Kudos to all the Cathedral Singers and Richard Proulx, the Conductor, of this CD. Great stuff.

16 of 16 found the following review helpful:


A faithul and credible rendition. Bravo!  Apr 13, 2005 By Glengary
In my youth I had the pleasure of singing in a Catholic Boychoir that was was professional enough to sing in Carnagie Hall and under Leonard Bernstein in Lincolm Center in N.Y.C.

We had years of practice and instruction in gregorian chant as well as traditional Catholic sacred music and this religious musical experience even surpassed my music expereiences during the 4 years in a Catholic seminary. In short, I feel qualifed to render an opinion on this CD. It's first rate in its arrangements, content and in the utilization of a boychoir.

Highly recomended.

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