The concert caught fire with American composer Z. Randall Stroope's "Lamentationes de Jeremias," a searing lament with forceful, crashing chords. Greenville News

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The concert concluded with “In Paradisum” by Z. Randall Stroope, which is dedicated to…..It is a touching composition in a colorful pantonal language with rich dynamic contrasts, including swelling crescendos and gently reflective pianissimo passages. [Review of The Manhattan Choral Ensemble] Sequenza 21/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Canterbury Choral Society] The evening's highlight was a three-movement work by Z. Randall Stroope titled, "Hodie." This attractive work employed the chorus, children's chorus, organ, brass and percussion. Stroope's skill as a composer was well demonstrated in this lively work that incorporated brass fanfares, passages of mixed meter and powerfully resonant climaxes. The Oklahoman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you've heard this choir [Bel Canto under direction of Z. Randall Stroope] before, you know what to expect here - lustrous ensemble sound, crisp, clear, clean articulations, irresistible rhythmic energy, keen intonation, and impressive command of some very challenging music. Classics Today

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Z. Randall Stroope’s We Beheld Once Again the Stars concluded the evening, a setting of text from Dante’s Purgatory for heaven. [This] fared particularly well at this concert in Boston’s Hayden Planetarium. The Boston Musical Intelligencer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~