Customer Reviews

Calling All Dawns

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm one of the fans who discovered Christopher Tin through his "Baba Yetu", the Swahili-language hymn which opened the game "Civilization IV" and went on to dazzle in the "Video Games Live" concerts. I followed the progress of this album through his blog posts, and the preview clips he posted on his website. But that led to high expectations: could he possibly meet them?

He didn't just meet them -- he beat them, and left them in the dust!

"Baba Yetu" is back, with more epic orchestration, and a thrilling chorus by the Soweto Gospel Choir. "Mado Kara Mieru" is a beautiful song in Japanese, about a cycle of seasons; this alludes to the cycle of human life within the song, and the overall cycle of day-night-dawn in the album. "Lux Aeterna" (Latin) and the "Hymn do Trójcy Swietej" (Polish, featuring Frederica von Stade) plant a foot solidly in the classical tradition -- this is an album that welcomes lovers of the orchestral and operatic traditions. And so on through eight other tracks, each in a different language.

Part of what makes the album so brilliant is the clever interweaving of themes from one track into another. Here are riffs from "Lux Aeterna" and "Mado Kara Mieru" woven into "Baba Yetu" and "Hayom Kadosh". There the opening chant and strings of "Hayom Kadash" recall starts of "Baba Yetu" and "Caoineadh". But what I think is most compelling is how the ending of the final track, "Kia Hora Te Marino", segues so seamlessly into the start of the first track, "Baba Yetu". This makes the whole album a circle. You can start it at any point, and it will roll forever. In fact, I normally play the album starting from "Sukla-Krsne" (near the "end"), and put my player on repeat.

I'm used to any work, even ones I really like, getting stale after one or two hearings. I have to put them away for some days or weeks before I'm ready to hear them again. Somehow, Tin has, with this album, written such a delicious confection that I can listen to it over and over for hours. If it were possible to wear out a digital music file from repeated playing, my bits would would be in tatters. But fortunately, the files hold up just as well as Tin's music.

While Baba Yetu was written in 2005 for the video game, Civilization IV, I didn't hear it until May of this year when I was watching a video of the dancing waters at the recently-opened Burj Dubai. I found the song to be incredibly moving and with just a little Googling, found Christopher Tin's web site. I was delighted to learn he had an album in production and spent the entire summer eagerly anticipating its release. As Jame DeLaHunt has stated, and with which I entirely agree; Chris didn't just meet my expectations, he far surpassed them.

I highly recommend this work for anyone who appreciates orchestral and choral masterpieces.

I first encountered "Baba Yetu" in the intro computer game Civ4. I liked "Baba Yetu" it so much that sometimes I would just let my computer sit while the song looped. Fortunately for my productivity, I no longer have to start Civ4 to get my fix: Calling All Dawns has Baba Yetu on it. That alone would be enough to get me to buy the disk, but the other songs are also really good: a sampler from around the world.

This is a particularly good album if you want to be inspired. After listening to this album, you'll want to go wrestle elephants with your bare hands.

Flash -- "Calling All Dawns" was nominated in 2 categories in the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards race, and Christoper Tin took home both honors: "Best Classical Crossover Album" and "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists" (for the album's opening track "Baba Yetu.") Every one of his growing fans is celebrating along with all the incredible artists who lent a world of talent to this CD. Congratulations Chris ! You proved that an independent artist can achieve the heights without the hype -- just on the basis of the music itself.

There is not much more that I can add to what has already been said here, though I agree with all of the five-star ratings. To receive so many consistently high ratings will help you to understand that this is not an ordinary recording from an average composer.

Christopher Tin is not "just" a composer, he is a healer. If you do not purchase the CD, your life will go on, your mind might not care, but your heart will be crying from the loss. May I suggest that you do the right thing for you and make the purchase. You will not regret it.

I LOVE this album... Definitely check it out.
Jesse Carmichael
-Piano/Guitar/Vox for Maroon 5

After hearing this album, I not only bought it for myself, I bought it for a wide variety of people on my Christmas list. So this review isn't just from me, it's from my 16 year old cousin (a young man who can be impossible to shop for), my 60 year old aunt, my girlfriend's 40 year old sister, and a wide variety of friends and family with diverse tastes... and everyone thinks it is musical gold. Its very rare to come across music that is so universally appreciated not because it is simple, but because it is so vibrant in its complexity and texture.

This is one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in years. The music is stirring and inspirational. There isn't a bum track on the whole thing, though I particularly love Baba Yetu.

Each track is distinct, yet they also work exceptionally well as a whole. I would love to see this work appear in a film -- the music is very cinematic.

I listened to it as I drove across the Utah deserts and was amazed at how the music heightened the stunning landscape.

Calling All Dawns is a compilation of twelve prayers from around the world. The music is beautiful and inspiring. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys listening to music from other cultures.

This is a wonderful Cd that will move you to appreciate the joy of living, and waking, and experiencing music.