Customer Reviews

Catholic Classics, vol. V: Simple Gift of Praise

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

 

 

Very beautiful and inspiring rendition of some favorite Catholic classics. The most beautiful: "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" which fades in the middle into a chant-like revery-inducing song only to flourish again with new-found faith at the end. Second most beautiful: "Holy God, We Prise They Name," which builds in three voices towards the end, one added for each person of the Blessed Trinity. Also noteworthy: "For the Beauty of the Earth," with its mix of Latin and English transitions and blending of Gregorian chant in between verses. Good rendition of "Ave Maria" and "Simple Gifts." A lot of steel-string guitar played strong and true, but not overwhelming the beautiful voice of David Fischer. Fischer accompanies himself on the best tracks, to great effect (especially "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow").

The guitar and vocals on this CD will blow you away. Of all of the Catholic Classics CDs, this one is my favorite - an awesome way to learn some of those more traditional songs without a voicy choir.

I really expected a more traditional arrangement with organ & choir, so I was in for a bit of a shock right off the bat. The arrangements are relatively simple with one or two voices and limited orchestration. However the effect is wonderful. The primary singer has an unusual high and clear voice, and the harmonies raise goosebumps with their beauty (all I know about music I learned from my highschool punk rock band, so you'll have to listen to the tracks above if my description is unclear).

Some of the tracks are forgettable, but the others are truly outstanding. "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" is wonderful, and exceeded only by "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name." The mixture of latin chant with vernacular on "For the Beauty of the Earth/Ubi Caritas" and "Go Silent Friend/In Paradisium" was tastefully done. The performers and arrangers also rescued the otherwise saccharine "How Great Thou Art" and turned it into a genuinely inspiring hymn, although they were unable to accomplish a similar feat with the thoroughly overplayed "Amazing Grace."

So many other people have beautiful renditions of Ave Maria, so the track on this CD barely registers for me. Panis Angelicus is done better on many other disks as well.

Still, if it were only "Praise God..." and "Holy God..." on this CD, it would be worth the price. Truly excellent.

I had previously bought the CD "Catholic Latin Classics" by the Cathedral Singers and loved it. I had hoped this CD would be in the same vein, seeing the titles represented. The vocal part was OK, but the accompiniment by guitar was disappointing. I'm burnt out on guitar strumming liturgical music. I hear pop and folk music 24/7. I don't want any more to go along with religious themes. Enough already.