Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration

Dianne Reeves (Artist), Patti Austin (Artist), Stevie Wonder (Artist), George Duke (Artist), Take 6 (Artist), Al Jarreau (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Word Entertainment
• ASIN: B000002LUJ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,533 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Pop Vocal
  • #25 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Noels
  • #26 in Music > Pop > By Decade > 1990s

Track Listings

1. Overture: A Partial History of Black Music

2. Comfort Ye My People

3. Every Valley Shall Be Exalted

4. And the Glory of the Lord

5. But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?

6. And He Shall Purify

7. Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive

8. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion

9. For Unto Us a Child Is Born

10. Glory to God

11. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion

12. Behold, The Lamb of God [Instrumental]

13. Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates

14. Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage?

15. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

16. Hallelujah!

Editorial Reviews

A virtual Who's Who of contemporary African-American music interprets Handel's 250-year-old oratorio. The roster includes Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Patti Austin, Boys Choir of Harlem, Andrea Crouch, Edwin Hawkins, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Phylicia Rashad, Vanessa WIlliams, Stevie Wonder and the Yellowjackets.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: HANDEL'S MESSIAH-SOULFUL CE
Title: HANDEL'S MESSIAH-SOULFUL CELEB
Street Release Date: 08/15/1995
Domestic
Genre: XMAS VOCAL COLLECTIONS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary interpretations of classic music, December 13, 2000

By 

Eric V. Moye (New York, by way of Dallas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (Audio CD)

Another reviewer hit it on the head: This disc shows that even in these classic compositions, there is plenty of room for innovative interpretations.

Forget the ethnocentric nature of some resposes. ANYONE who is a lover of music will love this disc. Wonderful work is done here on some very familiar songs, such as the Boys Choir of Harlem's rendition of "Glory To God". "And The Glory of the Lord", "A Child Is Born", and "Every Valley Shall Be Exalted" are nothing short of contemporary masterpieces.

The best, however is the Hallelujah Chorus. It must be played loud, in the house, in the car, in the office, or anywhere else. It is the most inspiring music I have ever heard. Somewhere, Handel is smiling and marvelling at what has come from the wonder which he penned two centuries ago.

Everyone should own this disc!

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lord is Good, December 7, 1999

By 

Marvin Harris (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (Audio CD)

It really doesn't get much better than this while still on earth. This cd proves that there is still new ground to be covered in traditional music; it's full of innovative twists to old favorites and new sensations. This is one of the bets collections of contemporary Christian Gospel music available anywhere; I give it the highest rating as it gives God the highest praise.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groovin' With The Messiah!, November 29, 1999

By 

Kellie Sisson Snider - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (Audio CD)

This is our tree trimming music now- and has been ever since I found it quite by accident a few years ago while trying to learn the Rejoice solo. I must admit that THIS Rejoice is the best, and I know it enhanced my, definitely more traditional, performance. Methinks perhaps that the reviewer for Amazon was a tad proud of him/herself the day the review was written. After a couple of egg nogs that reviewer will be groovin' with the rest of us!