The anthems and motets represented in this exceptional LP are a cross section of some of the great choral compositions of all time, ranging from the seventeenth century to today’s contributions to music literature. The magnificent opening anthem, for instance, God’s Son Has Made Me Free, is based on a melody by Edvard Grieg and masterfully weaved together by Oscar R. Overby. Designed for Easter Sunday morning, the text simply and meaningfully describes the basic message of the Lenten Season. Another arrangement by Overby is the familiar hymn-anthem, My God, How Wonderful, popularly known as Dundee and named as such probably due to its first appearance in the Scotch Psalter as early as 1615. One of America’s earliest recognized composers, William Billings, is represented here by his Easter anthem, The Lord Is Ris’n Indeed. While the exact date as to when Billings composed this selection is not known, it was probably penned shortly after 1786. Following this chorus are two contrasting anthems expertly rendered for us by the Merrill Staton Choir. The first is Schuetky’s classic, Send Forth Thy Spirit, followed by The Eyes Of All Wait Upon Thee by the brilliant contemporary writer, Jean Berger. Side one closes with Exsultate Deo by the seventeenth century composer, Alessandro Scarlatti. The Entrance Scene to Gustav Schreck’s Advent Motet appropriately opens side two. It is followed by the Nunc Dimittis (Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart In Peace) by the Russian composer, Alexander Gretchaninoff (1864-1956). No program of this kind can be called complete without including Johann Sebastian Bach and here Merrill Staton has selected the beautiful chorale from the St. John Passion, Lord Jesus, Thy Dear Angel Send. Bach’s contemporary, Karl Heinrich Graun (1703-1759), was so popular in his age that some of his works received more recognition than some of Bach’s masterpieces. We have a sampling of Graun’s genius in his inspiring motet, Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs. Another great Russian composer is Dimitri Bortniansky (1751-1825). Although a century separates their creative efforts, both Bortniansky and Gretchaninoff have had a profound influence on Russian Music Liturgy. Bortniansky’s Cherubim Song (No. 7), is one of the most popular and familiar of all his works. The closing selection of Praise To The Lord is a masterful arrangement of F Melius Christiansen. This stirring anthem is based on an old German chorale of around 1668 and, frankly speaking, we couldn’t think of a more inspiring anthem to sum up the magnificent tonal creations of Merrill Staton and his Choir.