Customer Reviews

Down Came an Angel

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

 

 

Jacqueline Schwab's plaintive piano is recognized almost immediately as the background music for Ken Burns' reknowned public broadcasting films covering Baseball and the Civil War...in this disc, she turns her considerable talents to the soothing, ethereal hymns, carols, and spirituals of the Christmas season. Upon my first hearing, I was reminded of my sitting in the parlour of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church's parsonage as the wife of the Pastor effortlessly, without benefit of sheet music, tinkered with the old-but-finely-tuned upright piano, playing Christmas hymns that made me weep. This disc is a gift. I defy you to listen to it and not be moved to your heart.

Jacqueline Schwab's Down Came an Angel wins my best album of the year award (which goes to the best CD I first heard this year). This is Christmas music as it should be. Even without words, these recordings of these songs speak more to my heart and to the meaning of the season than I have heard music do in a long, long time.

Mrs. Schwab's playing has an unbelievable emotional (and I would argue spiritual) range. She is introspective one moment, exuberant the next, and then quietly adoring in the next. Rarely have I been so consistently impressed by an artist.

There are many highlights on this album, but the one that cries out to be heard is Mrs. Schwab's Away in a Manger--if I had a song of the year award, it would go to this song. This is music of hope for a hopeful season. Dorian's sound is, as usual (I'm going to start writing "of course" instead of "as usual"), outstanding.

Get a copy of Down Came an Angel--this is music at its best.

I first heard An Angel Came Down on KFUO-FM here in St Louis. I was transfixed. The solo piano captured the mood of each Christmas song, with strong hints of melody weaving in with light hints of melody - always serene.

A great collection of uplifting spiritual songs recorded by a virtuoso pianist. Songs range from familiar carols to gospel spirituals. A good collection to have at Christmas.