Michael Joncas is a Roman Catholic priest who teaches theology at the University of Saint Thomas in Minneapolis, but he is widely known as a composer of music for liturgical use, most notably for his song "On eagles' wings." This CD brings together 11 of his pieces, including anthems, psalm settings, and hymns.
Joncas' music is geared for practical liturgical use, so it is of necessity simple and easily singable. The danger of writing for amateur voices is falling into predictability and conventionality, and it's a pitfall
Joncas isn't able to avoid. The music is consistently pleasant, lyrical, and graceful, but the sameness of its moods and its repetitiveness make it easy for tedium to set in; the pieces would fare better in their functional liturgical capacity than as independent compositions judged on their own merits. The CD would be of most interest to listeners who share the composer's religious convictions and could use it as a devotional aid, but it probably holds little interest for the general listener. The soloists and small chorus sing at the level of a good parish choir, with earnestness and light, pleasant but untrained voices. A chamber orchestra or chamber ensemble accompanies the pieces. The sound quality is adequate.