This recording, the first devoted entirely to the choral music of Ruth Watson Henderson, is long overdue. Her large output of music for choir is held in the highest esteem and performed extensively, both in Canada and internationally. She has been referred to, quite justifiably, as “a Canadian treasure.” The choral compositions – including choral arrangements - in her catalogue of works now number more than eighty. She is the recipient of several awards but perhaps the greatest honour paid to her is that choirs from all over the world sing her music and sing it often.

For this recording Ms. Watson Henderson chose thirteen titles. They range from the title track Sing all ye Joyful, the elfish and charming song overheard by Bilbo Baggins in the final pages of J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbitt, to the more contemplative religious texts and treatment found in Cantata domino, Come Holy Spirit, Magnificat, Psalm 150 and Sing ye praises to the Father, to the setting of E. Pauline Johnson’s famous 1903 poem The Song My Paddle Sings, to Make me a World, inspired by the words of African-American poet and statesman James Weldon Johnson and finally to Watson-Henderson’s insightful rendering of Two Love Songs - The Passionate Shepherd and The Nymph’s Reply.

Description courtesy of CBC Records www.cbcrecords.ca