Zephyr Productions has released this fine recording of the music of David Ashley White, and Selah is proud to have a number of our publications included on the recording. Robert Brewer conducts the Choir of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, a choir with amazing choral tone and control. The CD includes 27 tracks, including hymn tunes found in White's hymn collection, "Sing My Soul: The Hymns of David Ashley White," canticles, and several anthems published by Selah, including a stunning rendition of his "Alleluia" and his best selling arrangement of "Amazing Grace." It's worth owning for the remarkable musicianship of St. Paul's choir as well as the artful compositions of Dr. White, some published by other companies and some which you might not know. We highly recommend this recording.

See below for reviews

Echoes of the American Cathedral
Music of David Ashley White
The Choir of Saint Paul's United Methodist Church, Houston
Robert Brewer, director and organist
Frances Anderson, co-director

Music by David Ashley White
Length 75:22
Price $16.50 (U.S.) Released 7/99
Catalog no. 520-401
A Digital Master Recording produced in co-operation with KUHF-FM Radio, Houston, Texas. Producer: John Gladney Proffitt

Tracks
1-Alleluia
2-When in Our Music, God Is Glorified (Hinshaw)
Three Anthems for the Transfiguration
3-O Light of Light
4-The Lord Is King (Randall M. Egan)
5-This Glimpse of Glory (Augsburg)
Four Hymns
6-Come, Pure Hearts-MARGARET
7-Without the Fire, There Is No Burning-CONWAY
8-As Panting Deer-WARD
9-Now the Silence, Now the Peace-SIMMS
Evening Service (Saint Peter's, Amarillo)
10-Magnificat I
11-Nunc dimittis I
12-Now Evening Comes to Close the Day-KEISER
Evening Service (Saint Paul's, Houston)
13-Magnificat II
14-Nunc dimittis II
Three Hymns
15-Sing, My Soul, His Wondrous Love-JOSEPHINE
16-Grey Ashes-McGEHEE
17-Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven-BURNS
Anthems Based on Early American Hymns
18-I Will Arise (Augsburg Fortress)
19-Star in the East
20-Amazing Grace
Three Variants of Palmer Church
21-Drop, Drop Slow Tears-PALMER CHURCH
22-Reflections on a Tune
23-Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord
Three Anthems
24-The Call
25-Behold, He Came
26-Behold Now, Bless the Lord
27-Cantate Domino (Paraclete Press)

Reviews
"If you are not familiar with the music of David Ashley White, this recording is a good place to begin. It is a fine paradigm of the best in modern church music." --The American Organist, September 2004

"These two efficient directors present their well-drilled choir in 27 of the works of David Ashley White, professor of composition at the University of Houston (Texas). These works range from simple settings of hymn texts to festival anthems and include two versions of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, one with organ and one unaccompanied. Pitch, diction, and rhythmic control are excellent. The composer is fortunate to have a close connection with this outstanding choir. The scores? Conservative, melodic, alive, notable for text declamation. This is a resource record for the choir director in pursuit of new music. The booklet does not include all the information one would like (who plays all those wind instruments?), but it has all texts and all publishers. So you get what you need here to pick up some new pieces for your choir." --The American Organist, May 2000

"David Ashley White is one of our most important living composers of sacred music; this disc presents a broad selection of his output of hymns, anthems, and motets. The 27 tracks present an amazing variety of styles, making it difficult to single out individual numbers for comment. The stirring setting of "When in our music God is glorified" is a worthy alternative when one wishes to substitute for ENGELBERG, as are the alternative settings of the texts "The Call" (for Vaughan Williams), "Praise, my soul, the King of heaven" (for LAUDA ANIMA), and "Sing, my soul, his wondrous love" (for Ned Rorem). "O Light of Light" is not easy, but it is a stunning piece. The "Magnificat" and "Nunc dimittis" commissioned by St. Paul's, Houston, is an especially impressive pair of canticles. The choir clearly knows and loves all of these pieces. The recording, produced in cooperation with KUHF-FM Radio, Houston, has a spacious sound, a bit distant, but full and satisfying." --AAM Journal, March 2001