Customer Reviews

The American Vocalist

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I am appreciative of any CD, such as this one, that brings the sounds of traditional hymns to modern ears. This CD includes familiar gospel with not so familiar hymns that whisper of a rich heritage nearly lost in the maze o modern choruses. Many of these modern songs lack the genuine passion found in the traditional songs found on this CD. I recommend this CD to those who are interested in cultural history as well as in beautiful hymn texts.

Once upon a time, hymn writers and singers were more interested in expressing a genuine faith and spreading the gospel than they were in making a fast buck off of Jesus. They wrote for God instead of for their target demographic. This outstanding album, which I've owned and listened to for about 15 years, reflects the sacred nature of that music as opposed to the profane meanderings of today's "Christian artists." The songs are simple, relying upon the beauty of the human voice singing in harmony and, occaisionally, a few well-chosen and artfully arranged musical instruments. Above all, they are beautiful melodies well sung.

As others have noted, this album relies upon our mostly unknown heritage of Northern hymns from the nineteenth century. There is none of what I think of as shaped note, or "Sacred Harp," singing, and I say that as an enthusiastic participant in that tradition. These hymns are folk hymns, to be sure, but they were written by the musically literate to be played and sung, or at least conducted, by the musically literate. The hymns are well chosen and logically sequenced--from the nativity through Christian education, through struggles and doubts, through death, and, finally, through our eventual reunion with Christ in the Heavenly City. The hymns are gorgeous. All are outstanding; a few, such as "O Come, Come Away," "Gently, Lord, Gently Lead Us," and "Burst Ye Emerald Gates," are simply hair raising. Incomprehensibly, however, one or two of the songs are secular in nature and just do not fit in with the album's theme. Even they are well sung.

This album may very well deepen your faith. At the very least, it will leave you awe-struck at the musical inspiration of 19th Century Northern hymn writers as well as at the technical and inspired proficiency of the always-great Boston Camerata.

A beautiful collection of "low-church" hymns in a folk style, but from the North. Some similarities to Sacred Harp-style shape-note singing, mostly found in the South, but from New England and largely taken from mid-19th Century period sources. Extremely well-performed and haunting, these songs will be running through your head for weeks after your mega-church's latest electric guitar extravaganza fades away.

You needn't be a person of faith, as I am not, to appreciate, to be moved by, the beauty of the human voice presented in such simplicity and purity as it is on this CD.

The power of community comes through clearly - this is music that can be, was, sung by any group of people. It is directly accessible with simple harmony and melody. How easily one can imagine a congregation standing to sing these numbers. But just as easily can one imagine an individual singing these to him or herself while working in the fields or around the farmhouse - songs known by heart.

The pleasure of singing, something one can do at any time with the equipment one is born with, is unfortunately not common now, displaced by performances that leave us passive recipients and embarrassed that our own vocalizing is so poor in comparison to the best of the best on recordings.

This CD made me want to join in, just as was intended by the composers. I think, if you get this recording, you'll feel the same urge. Give in to it.