New Dale Warland CD

A Cappella News points us to an interview with Dale Warland about his new CD "Lux Aurumque:"

In the hands of choral conductor Dale Warland, a dissonant chord is luscious and very moving.

"How you approach and leave dissonance is very important," Warland explains. "When you get into a tight dissonance, it's terribly important that those notes are right on the money. You can't have very much vibrato, or at least excessive vibrato, or you will not hear the true chord that the composer wanted at that particular moment. So vibrato control, balance of those voices, intonation--those are the very important elements, and they became expectations with the Dale Warland Singers."

Dale Warland led his own a cappella ensemble for more than 30 years. Since he disbanded the group in 2004 he's been composing and guest conducting. But Warland admits he's felt a sense of loss.

"I do miss having my own instrument, where you don't have to explain everything and you can get right to the essence without wasting any time," he says.

The true essence of this ensemble is captured on a recording that's just now being released, "Lux Aurumque." Much of the recording was planned several years before the group disbanded. The music came out of its concert series, "Cathedral Classics." Warland chose these pieces because he says these composers really knew how to write for the voice; they knew how to develop a true choral sound.

More here.

Interview with Minnesota Public radio here.