Customer Reviews

Golden Harvest: 38 Shaker Chants & Spirituals

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The Boston Camerata is characteristically superb in interpreting this new collection of 19th century Shaker spirituals. Like their previous recording of Shaker songs, "Simple Gifts," the Camerata captures the hope and humility of Shaker belief, performing with bouyant movement and emotional clarity. By dividing the songs into thematic sections however, this CD is untimately stronger and more consistent than the latter. The Native American songs are particulary unique and the addition of a youth choir and the Shakers brothers and sisters add a freshness and reality to the smooth as silk voices of the ever professional Camerata. The tunes sound like a combination of folk and traditional protestant church music, but the lyrics reveal many elements of Shaker theology, some quaint, some still as revolutionary as they must have seemed in 1830. This CD offers an inspirational experience no matter what your religious background, the perfomances transcend definition.

For authenticity and variety, this is one of the best albums available. It includes both well-known and new songs done in proper Shaker tempo using voices alone to convey the feelings reflected in the songs. The comments by the Shakers regarding their thoughts about their music gives a special touch to the album. This album, along with the earlier one titled "Simple Gifts", is a worthwhile addition to any collection.