Firesign Vocal Quartet releases their second CD with an eclectic set of holiday repertoire which includes Renaissance polyphony by Palestrina, Victoria, and Praetorius; 20th-century motets by Rubbra, Poulenc, and Tavener; and fresh arrangements of classic Christmas carols by Bradley Ellingboe, Alice Parker, and Laurie Betts Hughes. A special highlight of the CD is the newly composed motet Veni Redemptor by Donna Wickham, and a new arrangement of Stille Nacht by Ben Riggs, both members of Firesign Vocal Quartet. Firesign Vocal Quartet is a unique new ensemble based in Denver. All four musicians are current or former members of St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, where they met and began forming a professional and artistic bond. Although each are consummate vocalists, the members of Firesign primarily identify themselves in other musical areas: soprano JoAnn Gudvangen-Brown is a pianist at University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music and choir director at University Park UMC; alto Donna Wickham is the director of the Vocal Jazz program at University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music; tenor Ben Riggs is the artistic director and conductor of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus in Minneapolis; and bass Terry Schlenker is a composer who makes his living as a human embryologist. "Firesign's first release has everything going for it - the right music, the perfect blend of four voices, and topnotch musical interpretation. I'm looking forward to their next recording to feature on Sacred Classics." — David Rutherford, host of Sacred Classics (CO Public Radio), reviewing William Byrd & Terry Schlenker: Masses for Four Voices.