On this recording the choir reflect some of their wide ranging sacred and secular repertoire. Llanfair/Praise the Lord His mercies show, Morte Criste/When I survey the wondrous cross, Gwahoddiad/I hear Thy welcome voice, Groeswen/All my hope in God is founded are just some of the stirring Welsh hymns that have become established and popularised through male voice choir arrangements.

The English In a Monastery Garden is a semi-sacred piece dating from the early 1900's. Love could I only tell thee, from the 1930's begins a trilogy of love songs which includes the very personal All you were and all you are (words and music by Alan Simmons in 1996 on the untimely and premature death of his wife) and Stephen Adams' Nirvana (in Buddhism and Hinduism "that perfect bliss attained when individuality is extinguished"), also from the 1930's.

Almost inevitably a love story is at the heart of the 1928 operetta "The New Moon" of which Stout-Hearted Men is one of the best known tunes - included here to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of its Hungarian born, but American based composer Sigmund Romberg, 1887-1951. The well known American Irish song McNamara's Band was splendidly set for the choir many years ago by its then conductor Albert McClenahan, and the stimulating Rhythm of Life, also American, is from the late 1900's. Three negro spirituals Give me that old time religion, the contrasting Angels watching over me, then When the Saints go marching in, herald some of the choir's favourite sacred music.

Gabriel Faure wrote the prayerful Jean Racine's Canticle for a competition when a student; it won. Unfortunately Northern Ireland is still one place where it is appropriate to sing Let there be peace on Earth, with its emphatic "and let it begin with me". The familiar words of the hymn Abide with me are presented here in an extended anthem setting. Cliff Barrows' May God's Blessing with which the choir parts company with many Sunday evening congregations, is a musical reminder of the Billy Graham evangelical crusades which enjoyed wide following in the second half of the 1900's.

The choir owes a lot to Piano Accompanist and Assistant Conductor Rosemary Basher, and is also delighted to be joined for some of the tracks by George Hewitt, Organist in Glengormley Presbyterian church, where this recording was made.

The CD is available for purchase. (price £10.00 + P&P). Please state where the CD is to be sent to on all correspondence so we can calculate Postage & Packaging.