Customer Reviews

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

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

 

 

"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" is the experience of a church music service without actually going to church. There are very few CDs out there that are specifically dedicated to Thanksgiving, but this one is a good outing.

The Quincy Choral Society presents a program that might be performed in your local church on Thanksgiving Eve. It is a good mix of traditional hymns, carols and popular songs. The program suggests an autumn setting complete with rustic backdrops and a plentiful harvest.

The CD sums up the program with the following message: "We in America live in an extraordinary time of bounty. Never before in history have so many people had so much: nutritious food, ample clothing, spacious housing, good health. For all this we should be thankful every day. Let us consciously reject destructive influences in our society, and instead embrace a thankful attitude for the good fortune we enjoy in our country -- not just at Thanksgiving in November, but every day throughout the year."

When listening to this CD, my mind wanders back to my early childhood and memories of church concerts at Thanksgiving: memories of friends and family gathered around the supper table; memories of the wonderful smells and aromas from the kitchen as my mother prepared Thanksgiving dinner; thoughts of the coming Christmas season; my feeble attempts, in grade school, at making a paper turkey from a drawing of my hand (!); and of all the things we have to be thankful for.

The description indicates Ludwig Van Beethoven as the author. He did write the music for "Ode to Joy" which is included in this CD, but there are many composers and authors represented in this program, both classical and contemporary.

The performers include: The Quincy Choral Society, Johanna Nichols (flute), Marilyn Whipple (piano and organ), QCS Kids & Friends, Jeff Cruikshank (guitar and vocals), Laurie Macintosh (vocals), and AKA Pelican Groove (a capella vocals). The performances were recorded at various churches and schools in Quincy and Milton, MA.

Thanksgiving is certainly a time to reflect on the bounty and richness of life, and this CD will certainly bring out those memories. If you enjoy choral music, you will count your blessings and be thankful you purchased this CD of Thanksgiving hymns and carols. Highly recommended.

As long as I can remember, two of my favorite Thanksgiving songs have been "Come Ye Thankful People Come" and "We Gather Together."
I'm glad that I found them both on this CD. The singers are not the Mormon Tabernacle Choir--nor do they pretend to be. Nonetheless, the humility and sincerity of the voices shine through, and I am enjoying once again these songs from my early school days.

As one who was brought up surrounded by beautiful choral music I was very disappointed with the mediocrity of this choral group. I wondered whey they even bothered publishing this and actually sold it to the general public. Although I as very taken with the seasonal choices of the music, I was not at all moved when I actually heard the muusic presented by a not overly talented group. I don't doubt their enthusiasm and committment - I just think they should have kept it for their local community. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

This CD contains all of the music from the Thanksgiving programs I enjoyed so much as a young person growing up in the fifties and sixties. The music and vocals are lovely and diverse and especially well suited to each song, whether it be a young child or adult solo, or a full chorus for the vocals. All of the childhood songs are here, as well as the classic "grateful praise" songs of the Christian church.

If you are looking for the full Thanksgiving musical experience, or even thanksgiving and praise songs to fill your heart for God every day of the year, then I heartily recommend this collection to you.

I wanted a collection of thanksgiving songs that I could play in the office this week. I should have spent my money on the Tabernacle Choir. Even "Over the river and through the woods" sounded bad. The kids did not know all the words for their songs. One song had the background music in a different tempo and rhythm than the singers. I heard wrong notes and off key sounds periodically. Finally the suprano crucified Amazing Grace with her screeching voice.
One reviewer wrote that it sounds like church music, but the average person on the street can sing better than this. I agree with the reviewer --who wrote after I bought this--that said it should have never been published nationally. I would go so far to say maybe not at all. Be thankful, but don't waste your money.

This was a very disappointing CD. I was excited to get a "recommended" CD coupled along with another I had purchased. Unfortunately this is a collection of poorly produced and poorly performed music by a local church choir. Whlie there is certainly good reason to produce and offer a CD to one's own congregation, this one should never have been marketed nationally. Save your money on this one.