Customer Reviews

American Angels - Songs of Hope, Redemption, & Glory

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has to be my favorite Anonymous 4 album. True, it is not Hildegard von Bingen or Tavener, but this music has a beauty of its own. It is able to be both obtainable and transcendent. Talk about a paradox. It floods my heart with memories of my earthly home, while sending my soul in flight to my heavenly one.

I do not mean to put down others' opinions, but I really must object to two. First,whoever says that this music is all about the melody has obviously never heard the sound of a Primitive Church Song Meeting. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HARMONY! Many, many times the melody, which is in the men's tenor, is almost drowned out by the ladies' treble. Singing your part out is encouraged whether you have the melody or not, and since our ear naturally hears the higher part louder, it's not unusual to lose the melody. I actually find it SO much easier to hear the melodies on this album, than in an actual meeting.

Also, those claiming that this music is not Southern are mistaken. The style may have originated in 18th cent. New England, and many of the tunes were composed by New Englanders, but since the mid-nineteenth cent. and the "Better Music" movement, these songs have been almost exclusively confined to the rural South. The most prominent of the VERY few reasons the tradition survives to this day is that it has been zealously upheld by the Old Order and other small Calvinist-Baptist sects of the Southern hills. If it was not originally Southern, it has now become so. And this recording is no where near Dixie Chicks. With this you have a wonderous reverence, with DC a 'honky-tonkism'.

I would like to say that the other major reason I love this album is because it kind of makes this music legitimate. Too long have shape-note tunes been snobbed by modern musicians; I'm glad to see that some are captured once again by its charm.

Finally,I give Anonymous 4 a standing ovation for a wonderful and successful career, and I'm sorry to see it come to an end.

The critics of "American Angels" are correct in one sense: this disc is very atypical for an Anonymous 4 recording. But there is good reason for this: the songs are from an era hundreds of years later than their typical choices. So before you read any further, I should warn you that if you desire a selection of medieval or Renaissance vocal stylings, then this disc is not for you.

But after over a dozen Early Music recordings, the Anonymous 4 can be forgiven for attempting something new with their swan song disc (they have since disbanded), and they did: this recording consists entirely of American spiritual music from the 18th and 19th centuries. And the results are unspeakably beautiful. In my estimation, these are some of the most beautiful recordings of American religious music ever recorded. All Anonymous 4 recordings will produce vocal music of unparalleled technical brilliance, but on this disc, their always-sonorous voices grant these traditional American hymns a rare and beautiful elegance. Please, listen to the clips and decide for yourself: I am sure you will find "American Angels" to be an absolute revelation.

I know what some of you are thinking: but is this "classical music"? Well, I don't know. Perhaps this recording doesn't have a place next to your Dufay and Machaut CDs, but whatever you want to call it, I, for one, sure think it's beautiful.

Now everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I really disagree with that review that complained about too much harmony. Harmony is just a basic fundamental of music that makes it sound beautiful and gorgeous. So why is harmony so terrible? Anonymous 4 is very harmonious and knows how to enhance the music performance. They are not absent of melody. These tunes stood out to me. Besides, if a I wanted an exact replica of how these songs sounded 150 years ago, I could have gotten a CD of a performance of by a Baptist choir. But I chose this CD because from the time I first heard this ensemble perform these songs on public radio, I was enchanted. They perform songs that are very meaningful to me, such as "Sweet Hour of Prayer" a hymn that I have treasured in my church for ages. I was very inspired by such songs as "Holy Manna" and "Amazing Grace" because they make me imagine the spiritual pioneer experience. Other meaningful treasures are "Wayfaring Stranger" and "Angel Band". I really fell in love with "Invitation"(Hark! I hear the harps eternal). They sing so beautifully and clearly that they deliver such inspirational insights in each song. It's not too different from their medieval/Renaissance albums. They are portraying the same spiritual longings just as they did with chants and motets, only in a different place and time period. Anyone who complains about this CD needs to take time to not just listen, but feel the music. Feel the way that each singer speaks from the heart. Feel the way that each singer expresses the longing fo the writer. They sing these words and tunes so sincerely.

American Angels is yet another outstanding recording in the Anonymous 4 catalog. The record displays all the qualities that have made Anonymous 4 famous: heavenly voices, innovative arrangements, and superb production. These qualities are best heard on a deeply spiritual version of Angel Band.

Beyond the technical characteristics, this recording has two interesting subtexts that become apparent when viewed in the context of Anonymous 4's body of work. First, the recording of American music by a group that has made a career out of recording European music leaves the listener with the impression that these hymns are as important on a musical and historical level as all the other recordings Anonymous 4 have made. Thus, Anonymous 4 have elevated the importance of songs that may have been taken for granted up to now. Second, the members of Anonymous 4 are both metaphorically and musically "coming home" by choosing American music, instead of European music, for their last recording. This subtext adds a poignancy to the songs that otherwise would not have been present.

While it's sad that Anonymous 4 do not plan to record any more, they have left an impressive legacy to enjoy. Their recordings have shed light on previously obscure musical genres, thus reminding everyone of both the timelessness of song and the ability of the voice to convey spirituality. These same reminders are present in American Angels. If this truly is the last recording for this group, then it is a fitting conclusion to their career.

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is the last recording of these four women singing together, and it is breath-taking. There are a lot of sacred songs here that are familiar to hymn-singing church-goers, but they are arranged and sung in a crystal-clear and haunting rendition that transcends the stereotypes of hymn-singing. The Anonymous 4 will be much missed: for what we are all agreeing is the purity of their singing, but also for their arrangements which show such careful research and marvelous historical imagination. A magnificent swansong.

Are McGuffy's Readers classical literature? No. But they are solid, sturdy, suitable Americana-- with a certain value of their own. Likewise these Anglo American church hymns. Not Hildegard of Bingen, but sturdy, sweet, American, and beautiful in their simplicity. The Anonymous 4 perform these tunes with the respect they deserve. The wondrous vocals of the 4 shape these tunes in a way both reminiscent of singing sisters in the neighborhood church choir, and at the same time, even the sweetest, most heartfelt harmonizings of the country church in Anytown USA never sounded this good. An unusual choice for the Anonymous 4, but one executed with clarity, respect and the uncluttered and fresh-scrubbed aire of a whitewashed clapboard chapel. My favorite? Parting Hand.

As far as I know, eastern states folks can still catch a few last performances of the Anonymous 4 throughout the spring of 2004. Wish I could see them.

First of all I think this is a fabulous disc... very beautiful and enjoyable.

I have noticed that some reviewers think the singers have changed the songs for their own tastes and techniques, but I want to point out that just as language changes over time so does the way we sing. Many of the songs are sung in the manner they were first written and sound somewhat unfimiliar. This is why I think this cd is amazing. How often do we get to really hear and experience what history sounded like!

The following is a quote from Anonymous 4's website:

"Some of the tunes in American Angels may seem very familiar, but the settings in which we sing them may well be new to you. We sing many of the tunes in the arrangements in which they first appeared in the 18th- and 19th-century tunebooks. Our CD also features arrangements of several old hymns and gospel songs by group members Marsha, Johanna, and Jacqueline."

Like a historical music lesson! Enjoy, it's great music.

What a silly comparison!!! This music is so incredible, it brings tears to the eyes. I had the very great pleasure of seeing the Anonymous Four in concert in Denver last November, and the CD brings back vivid memories of that astonishing evening. This is far and away my very favorite CD. I've just ordered a couple more to give to friends that I especially like.

This is remarkable music in the style that has become so associated with this talented group which helped to make the Gregorian chant so revitalized among us.

This recording of American southern and gospel traditions adds to that outstanding stream from these four.

I enjoy each of these so different sounds to our ears. My only reservation of one star is that it all starts to sound so same, that I must admit that I cannot play it too often. Thus, four stars, but recommended for many to hear and enjoy. Maybe your listening ear and tastes will permit you to give five stars and listen more frequently than mine.

This album is just what we've come to expect from Anonymous 4 - beautiful harmonies and pleasing music. It is especially nice to hear some of the traditional Christian music that reminds us of our wonderful heritage, and how so many of our contemporary artists have missed the point of good composition. No one today writes lyrics like these, nor do they remember that good music is easy for congregations to sing. With Christian music, it is all about the congregation's ability to worship, not about the artist's desire to be "cute" or "unique" with his work. This album is a great combination of depth of words and thoughts and simplicity of melodies, presented with beautiful voices of Anonymous 4.