Customer Reviews

Awake My Soul/Help Me to Sing

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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This is my new favorite cd. The 1st disc is like a southern version of gregorian chants. The 2nd disc has a huge variety; many songs have celtic and bluegrass sounds which I love. The insert has all of the lyrics and commentary from artists involved in the project, which is really interesting.

It's so interesting to find out that this is the very first uniquely American form of music - and it originated in rural churches in the south. And to hear contemporary artists re-framing this form of music - it's just a great experience and makes me want to learn more! I bought the dvd and it's amazing too. This is a very special cd and I'm buying it as a gift for a number of people on my list this year!

This gets my vote as my favorite CD of the year,and I'm not just
saying this because I sing this music every month,which might make me a
tad on the biased side.Disc 1 contains some of the very finest examples of
singings I've heard.I am even acquainted with some of the leaders.Disc 2
as Tim Eriksen terms it is a true tribute recording.I even have some of my
favorites cuts on Disc 2,such as "Blooming Youth","Africa",and "Abbeville"

This is a packed-full collection of Sacred Harp singing in its natural form as it was being sung by communcal gatherings in several locations across the South. It is filled with the raw full-voiced sound that is central to Sacred Harp. The sound is best on a stereo system rather than in a car, yet you can listen to it anywhere. If you are looking for "refined" performance music, skip this CD set. If you are looking to hear excellent examples of the uniquely American communal sharing in singing for the shear joy of singing and NOT for performance, then this is one of the best collections you can get. It may remind you of church singing, it may remind you of family reunions, it may remind you of grandparents or a disappearing simpler way of life. It is folky and without accompaniment of any sort, using only the sound and rythym of human voices (the sacred harps) to produce a full-bodied and sometimes discordant sound. It will touch you to hear it. It is great to sing along with at full throttle! People either like it or don't pretty quickly. I recommend the CD and finding a group singing close by to participate in person in this music and feel the wall of sound the live singing produces.