Choral Tradition

This morning, Gregorian chant and music of the Catholic Church, courtesy of the "Monks of the Desert" from rural New Mexico.

Today, a charming "musical interlude" by Handel, "The Choice of Hercules."

For Easter Sunday you'll hear several sections of the cantata "Stabat Mater" by Dvorak.

This week, more excerpts from the 8-CD set "Romantic Choral Music" featuring conductor Helmuth Rilling, with portions of Mendelssohn's setting of Psalm 42, and excerpts from Franck's "Les Beatitudes."

This morning, music by Schubert and Brahms: Schubert's Mass in A-flat, and Brahms' funeral lament "Nänie."

This morning, music from the 16th and the 18th centuries: Alessandro Striggio's "Mass for 40 and 60 Voices," and Handel's "Chandos Anthem" No.9.

Today, excerpts from the "War Requiem" by Benjamin Britten, from the historic world premiere recording featuring Britten conducting his own hand-chosen soloists: soprano Galina Vishnevskaya, tenor Peter Pears, and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.

Featured today: the Mozart Requiem (in the familiar Sussmayr completion), conducted by Claudio Abbado.

Field recordings of tribal African music combine with Western voices and instruments in David Fanshawe's "African Sanctus."

For New Year's Day, we'll listen to several Bach cantatas composed for January 1st.

This week, the Missa Solemnis in D minor by Cherubini.