Feel the Spirit: Songs and Spirituals

John Rutter (Performer), Cambridge Singers (Performer), Melanie Marshall (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, Melanie Marshall
• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collegium
• ASIN: B00005NUOD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #39 in Music > Indie Music > Classical

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 27-AUG-2001

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Rutter....., March 2, 2002

By 

M. B Hazen "Madge Bruner Hazen" (Jacksonville, Fla.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feel the Spirit: Songs and Spirituals (Audio CD)

John Rutter is not only a friend, but one of my favorite composers. I have sung his music and own most of the CDs. I listened carefully to "Feel the Spirit", looking forward to another amazing study in English music combined with excellent arrangements and sensitive vocal shaping.(One of my choir friends told me I must buy the disc, which I did at her enthusiastic recommendation.) However, the disc seems to be a collage of a number of styles and ideas that may work in clumps. Some upbeat, almost jazzy arrangements have their roots with George Shearing, the venerable blind English jazz master. The spiritual arrangements were almost embarassing. I felt that the selection and treatmments thereof really didn't fit the genre of "classic" spirituals.
John Rutter is such a beloved composer I hate to berate him even a pinch. But I feel this disc is really a classroom study in different styles, arrangements, and ideas, rather than another enjoyable Rutter disc to be played over and over again. Some of the Shakespeare songs were delightful. But, I feel the disc is somewhat uneven. However, I love John Rutter's work, and recommend this disc to those who do, also!..Madge Bruner Hazen

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, February 4, 2007

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Feel the Spirit: Songs and Spirituals (Audio CD)

A HOMAGE TO THE SPIRITUAL, THE MADRIGAL AND THE AMERICAN SONG!

John Rutter states the following: "This album, which has an Anglo-America thread running through it, is a homage to three of my favorite musical traditions-the spiritual, the madrigal, and American song-and at the same time, a homage to two remarkable Englishmen,William Shakespeare and George Shearing."

'Feel the Spirit' is a cycle of seven spirituals arranged for mezzo-soprano soloist, choir and orchestra. It premiered in June 2001 in Carnegie Hall, New York. They are quite well-known in this country, but Rutter makes them seem fresh and new.


Rutter and Shearing were both born in London, and have similar music backgrounds. They got to know each other in America during the 1990's, when Shearing was becoming interested in choral music, at which time he wrote his second Shakespeare Song cycle, 'Songs and Sonnets'. Again the tunes chosen are quite familiar to most music lovers, and I personally find them very attractive to hear.


I have actually performed 'The heavenly aeroplance, several times with choirs; it's fun to sing and gets an enthusiastic audience reaction every time. It is actually an Ozark folk song from the Missouri mountains to which Rutter wrote his own tune.


The 'Lord of the Dance' is taken from an American Shaker song 'The Gift to be Simple', and was first popularized in Aaron Copland's 'Appalachian Spring'. And later used by the English hymn-writer Sydney Carter inspired by the traditional carol'Tomorrow shall be my dancing day'.


The 'Birthday Madrigals' is Rutter's musical tribute to George Shearing on his 75th birthday, written in 1995, and can only loosely be called madrigals.

Hoagy Carmilchael's 'Skylark' completes the album as one of the lovliest American songs from the golden age of American song.
This is a very easy to listen to disc; a good one to put on when all you want to hear is something comfortably familiar, but not boring! It is well-sung and skillfully put together.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for John Rutter fans, February 4, 2002

By 

c larsen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feel the Spirit: Songs and Spirituals (Audio CD)

The Cambridge Singer's have an outstanding reputation for their choral music under the direction of John Rutter. This recording lives up to Collegium's standard of high quality recordings. Rutter's "Heavenly Aeroplane" is a kick! My 11 month old kid dances to it. "Who is Sylvia" is hauntingly beautiful.