Customer Reviews

Early American Choral Music, Vol. 2

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

 

 

Please note this CD is a duplicate of His Majestie's Clerkes's "Goostly Psalmes: Anglo-American Psalmody 1550-1800" -- identical contents but a different name and cover. I ordered both and was irritated to discover this. This CD is cheaper, so I recommend this one. It is a lovely choral work from a little-known period of sacred music.

I have both disc in the series. I liked the music on this disc much more than the first. The selections seem more focused and the sounds are much clearer. Also, the particular pieces fit better together. I love the sound of this group and hope they make more in the future.

This has become a favorite album of mine. As a shape-note (Sacred Harp) singer myself, I was familiar with many of the American songs here. But the pairings with English 17th century psalmody opened up an entirely new connection for me and are quite convincing. The performances are first-rate. The singing is both powerful and nuanced -- rare with recordings of this music. The recent Anonymous 4 recordings from this tradition are also great, but with the possible exception of some Boston Camerata performances, no group I know of does a better job of getting the balance just right. They bridge the cultural divide between (on one side) "serious" choral musicians who can't quite get into shape-note music and (on the other) those of us for whom no other style has as much power and vigor. Alas, they don't "sing the notes" (fa-so-la syllables), but otherwise it's a gem.

These CDs should appeal to the following types of adventurous listeners: choral music fans who want something fresh and not too far removed from "folk" music; Christian music listeners who may want something a little more eccentric and heartfelt than your typical CCM fare; anybody who likes "Brother Where Art Thou" and songs such as Amazing Grace, Wondrous Love, and Simple Gifts. The wording in particular ("dragons with contagious breath") grabs the listener's attention like a piece of colonial folk art. Volume 1 and 2 are excellent. "Jordan" is a particular favorite of mine, with a perfect encapsulation of religious yearning, as well as the mini-epic "Who is this that cometh from edom?" that features a stunning litany of the names of the son of God, followed by a harrowing crucifixion narrative, and a triumphant conclusion. My only quibble is something that I can't quite put a finger on with the treble voices, which sound a tad harsh to me. But no mind - these recordings are old favorites and I keep returning to them.

This is by the same group who did the wonderful & engaging Early American Choral Music 1. Somehow this CD did not live up to its predecessor in some ways. The performance is still top notch, but somehow the CD as a whole isn't quite as engaging to listen to as the first. Perhaps version 2's strength is also its weakness. Its diversity of composers allows you to pear past the shadow of William Billings and sample other notable early American hymn writers. That exposure is valuable & appreciated. I just couldn't get into it as much.

A final note: many of the texts are beautiful (and available from the publisher's web site). However, I would criticize "Who is this that cometh from Edom?" as dwelling just a bit too much on the Jews' rejection of Jesus. Among other reasons & issues, Christianity says that we are all sinners & there is no cause to single a particular group out negatively.