French composer, Jean-Louis Florentz (1947-2004) was a prolific student of Olivier Messiaen. Asmara, composed in 1992, is an exciting addition to the choral repertoire.

Florentz's music is described as having a strong, evocative power which keeps the clarity of the French style. Asmara, named after the capital of Eritrea, was commissioned by the Culture Minister and is composed for a mixed voice choir. The text is written in the native Ethiopian and a helpful pronunciation glossary is provided, preceding the score. For all advanced choirs seeking to vary their repertoire, Florentz's Asmara makes for an exciting performance.