Customer Reviews

Harvest Home

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4 star:		(2)
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On Harvest Home, the Dale Warland Singers delve into the rich legacy of mostly American sacred and folk music. With the lush vocal orchestrations and thoughtful arrangements, many of these familiar songs take on new life and emotional depth.

As a boy, I grew up in the Mennonite church tradition and one of the distinctive things about our church services was the a cappella 4-part harmony. As I got older, I thought this was a bit odd and wished we used instruments in church like most people. In looking back now, I am thankful for that tradition and what it taught me about music and harmony.

Throughout high school I was involved with choral groups, doing several programs each year. The first year after high school I spent a few months at a religious school that had a long-standing tradition of chorale music. I well remember the hours of rehearsal to get the song just right, practicing enunciation and dynamics and expression.

So when I hear a group like the Dale Warland Singers, I have a small insight into the dedication it takes to do choral music at the level of this recording. These are singers and a director at the top of their game, with attention to detail everywhere, creativity in the arrangements and technical brilliance. And what a vocal range, with "how low can they go" bass and sopranos that my normal laptop headphones have trouble reproducing without distortion.

I've long been a fan of spirituals; they are at times moving to hear, at times playful and fun (and can be even more fun to sing). This album features a couple of my favorites: "Shall We Gather At The River" and "Deep River". Upon first hearing this rendition of the latter, I was nearly moved to tears by the stark beauty and emotional depth of this arrangement. It's a prime example of the power of music to take us places emotionally and connect us with the deeper feelings and longings of the soul.

In addition to several spirituals, there is a unique variety of other religious pieces pulled from the traditions of Quakers and Baptists among others. The album also mines some rich treasures from the Shaker tradition, including the comforting "Not One Sparrow Is Forgotten" and the poignant tenderness of "Lay Me Low', with the simple text of

Lay me low where the Lord can find me, where the Lord can own me, where the Lord can bless me

Not everything leans towards the serious or sacred though. A fun, light-hearted arrangement of "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain" (arr. by Emma Lou Diemer) features bouncing bass lines and lots of syncopation and sibilance to keep things interesting. And the traditional Dixie folk song "Cindy" tells the story of a heartsick man with tongue-in-cheek lyrics that playfully bounce from part to part.

The liner notes are exceptional, with lots of helpful historic and musical notes on the various selections. This is one of the final albums from The Dale Warland Singers after 31 years. The group disbanded in May 2004 so that the founder Dale Warland could focus more on teaching, consulting and guest conducting. He certainly has left his mark on the choral landscape and this recording is no exception. Highly recommended if you appreciate choral music, especially traditional folk and sacred selections.

I purchased this on a whim and it is been in my 5-disc player ever since. I have always loved choral settings of folk songs and hymns (with one exception - "The Water is Wide" should never ever ever be sung by a chorus - it doesn't work, but it is the only track I skip on this disc). The selections are all old favorites in often harmonically lush arrangements. Hawley's arrangement of "Not One Sparrow" is transcendent and has become my morning prayer, "Lay Me Low" my evening meditation. The singing is as near perfect as can be, musicality is stunning, and technical merits are high. I cannot recommend this disc enough.

Buy this album! This is the finest recording I have purchased this year. The exquisite tonality and the arrangements have kept me listening every day. The audio quality is outstanding - balanced, finely nuanced, lovely soundstage. If you enjoy choral music, purchase this album - NOW.

I've been a fan of the Dale Warland Singers for a long time, and attended many of their concerts. This recording displays perfectly what the choir was capable of. I listen to it constantly. Many of these arrangements are the best I've heard of these songs. "Deep River" is better than that of Chanticleer or Cantus. "She'll be Comin Round the Mountain" is really fun. I got the chance to sing it a few years ago and will never forget it. You NEED to buy this CD. It's well worth the money.

The Dale Warland Singers "Harvest Home" is incredible. It truly brings in the essence of our American harvest. The intonation is nearly flawless, and the many details in each song make for a truly incredible CD. I haven't taken it out of my CD player since I made the purchase.

Barnett's "McKay" is one song in particular that I listen to repeatedly. Set to a poem well known throughout America, you can definitely hear the "rivers of delight" streaming through the piece.

I recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys excellence in choral music.

Most CD recordings of choral music do not attract the attention of the population at large, and "Harvest Home" is clearly an exception. Word came to me about this remarkable album through a fellow faculty member at the Boston Conservatory. He was rightly proud of having written two of the arrangements, but prouder still of the fact that it had become a red-hot bestseller through the word-of-mouth network of choristers all over the country. Needless to say, I was curious but a bit skeptical. Generally, things that become that popular have an aesthetic downside. I ordered my copy from Amazon and got it just before I left to go to a concert with a couple of musician friends. We were frankly thrilled with the quality of the singing, the beautifully shaped nuances, and the richness of the several of the arrangements. It is clear that its popularity among choral singers has to do with the musical material, as with its execution. The arrangements are based on mostly religious American folk songs and show off the delicate intonational skills of Dale Warland's legendary group. It's just the kind of thing that church choir members can really appreciate, but unfortunately cannot stand up to repeated listing -- it has to be the work of great composers for me to hear recordings over and over again. Nevertheless, I played it for my choral group, and they jumped all over it. That's the market audience. Bravo, Mr. Warland.

Nice CD, but not as good as some. Have enjoyed listening, and got it quickly. You might like it, if you like hymns.
Thanks,
Ellen

What a shame that this recording is not available. It really should be reissued. The Dale Warland Singers have the most beautiful velvety sound and the arrangements of all of these songs are just wonderful. Some of the most exquisite choral sounds ever. If you get a chance to buy it, grab it!

I heard clips from this CD on WGUC, Cincinnati, and was entranced. I have been a big fan of the Dale Worland groups for years, leaped at the chance to add this disc to my collection. The music is not holiday music in the normal sense - it does not address the traditional Christmas period at all, but presents wonderfully musical pieces from the pre-an d Thanksgiving time. Another excellent performance by the Dale Worland folks.

For anyone having had the uplifting experience of singing in a good choir or chorus this CD will serve as a wonderful reminder of the many unique joys of such participation. The Warland Singers set the standard for fine choral singing and maintained it for many years until, regrettably, they disbanded, leaving behind no real heir. Fortunately, their legacy did include several fine recordings, such as the present one, and lovers of choral music should consider seeking them out and acquiring them all.

The only group comparable to this would be the Robert Shaw Singers and other groups under the leadership of that sorely missed choral master. But as I am not prepared to offer a meaningful comparison at this time, I'll only say that the groups represent for me the pinnacle of choral singing in America.

Particularly endearing of the present CD is its inclusion of many songs which have been the mainstay repertoire of choral groups of all sorts throughout the country. If you've ever sung in a chorus odds are that you've sung one--more likely several--of these songs at one time or another. (And lest we be judged guilty of omission let us take note here also of those choral music lovers who merely listen. The experience of hearing fine choral music, while perhaps not quite so intense as that of actually singing, can be a hugely inspirational esthetic thrill.)

I recommend this CD, along with others by the Warland Singers, to anyone appreciative of choral music at its best and purest! While not sensationalist, this music offers artistry, sincerity, and esthetic fulfillment of the highest order!

As a seasonal afterthought I should mention that the Singers also have a Christmas album which is rich in the delights of that holiday.