A new CD titled “Gentle Stranger” was released in November by Laudamus of the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Chorus under the direction of Rev. Henry V. Gerike. Recorded in Concordia Seminary’s Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus over the last three years, the CD is the ninth recording released by the Seminary Chorus in the past 13 years.

One of the selections, “From Heaven Above,” was written and first performed in a prisoner of war camp in Russia near the end of World War II. In “Epiphany Gospel,” the choir chants the gospel of Matthew 2 to Luther’s Gospel chant. John Boda, who wrote “Before the Paling of the Stars” and “A Babe of Beauty,” was a member of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He passed away in 2002.

“Gentle Stranger” will lead the listener through the music of the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. The CD cover features artwork titled “The Nativity” by Sadao Watanabe. Watanabe was a pioneer of applying Japanese stenciling and woodblock printing techniques to expressly biblical themes. The Seminary owns 19 of his works.

The CD is available for $15 through the Concordia Seminary bookstore. To order the CD or other previous recordings of the Chorus, contact the Seminary bookstore at (314) 505-7315 or [email protected].