Customer Reviews

Hymns

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Beth Nielsen Chapman's "Hymns" is a gorgeous recording. Like Iris DeMent's "Lifeline," Chapman sings religious songs from her upbringing that are still meaningful today. Obviously, those of us who have been enthralled by Chapman's secular work have to know going into this CD that while "Hymns" still boasts her gorgeous voice and sterling musicianship, hearing a hymn sung in Latin is going to be quite a different musical experience than listening to "World of Hurt" from "Deeper Still." However, Chapman's work has always been imbued with a deeply-felt spirituality. Hearing "Veni Veni Emmanuel" with its soft chant-like melody and background chorus does give one a sense of reverence. "O Salutaris Hostia" is so lovely with its angelic chorus that one can almost visualize the elegant chorus ringing out in a chapel. Sometimes Chapman approaches the music solely in voice; oftentimes a quiet guitar backs the lovely melodies as on "O Sanctissima." "Salve Regina" has an angelic choir allowing this lovely melody to float joyfully. Two songs are in English including the original Chapman-penned "Hymn to Mary" with its gorgeous melody & lyric, "Lift my sorrows, deepening shadow, so that I may see your face." Chapman's composition fits seamlessly into this music much as Iris DeMent's own "He Reached Down" fit perfectly into the older hymns she did on "Lifeline." "O God of Loveliness" also has an English lyric with Beth's lovely alto. The set concludes with a wonderful rendering of "Ave Maria," the Schubert classic. "Hymns" is a gutsy statement of faith, dynamic and bold because it is so out of step with current popular music. It is excellently crafted. Let this disc play in the private chapel of your heart. Enjoy!

This is not your traditional album of a uniformed choir singing hymms per some definition of how songs should be sung. This is a beautiful album of letting the songs sing for themselves. The artist lets the songs lead the way and the words and songs are breathtaking. Awesome in their gentleness and sensitivity. I could listen to her voice forever. This is an album that will reach out and touch you and such that you will not forget. All albums should be so good. This hits your heart.
david

I listened to an interview with Beth on NPR just the other day describing and playing cuts from her new CD, Hymns. I had to stop the car and pull over. I had never heard hymns like this sung in this heartfelt form. I cried. I couldn't help it. Stunningly beautiful. The ressurection of these pre-Vatican II Latin hymns (something unfamiliar to me) is sung in a rich, clean and beautiful form that I doubt was ever heard when 'popular' back then.

I was listening to NPR one evening and heard the interview with Beth Chapman. I was delighted to hear the "old" songs of the Catholic Church presented in a contemporary, sophisticated, yet respectful manner. That night I immediately logged on to Amazon and ordered enough for my choir. They all enjoyed the music, and, knowing I've been trying to get them to sing more Latin at Mass, found the music accessible. As a church musician, I've grown weary of the watered-down Kum-Ba-Yah approach the Catholic Church has moved into. Perhaps more people will see that the "old" music is everlasting for a reason.

Joni Mitchell sang "Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you got till it's gone." That is what occurred to me when I listened to this disc. Sometime after Vatican II these classic melodies were shelved in favor of music that was considered more... accessible. The beauty of these hymns is timeless and sung by the bell-like voice of Beth Nielsen Chapman evokes a time when the Catholic Church and its rituals held a sense of mystery and awe.

Additionally, Chapman contributes a new song of her own, "Hymn to Mary" that is so beautiful and reverent that one might conclude she was born a few centuries too late.

Beth Nielsen Chapman has produced an amazing album sung mostly in Latin representing the "top 40" hits of her catholic childhood home. She says she's found these songs to be "centering" as have I. The melodies are traditional medieval songs (except one composed by the artist) accompanied mostly by voice harmonies and an occasional accoustical instrument. The lack of overriding instruments really allows the beauty of the voices to shine.

Beth is very introspective and sings completely from the heart. It's a powerful but quiet album. Not meant to be listened to when a lot of distractions are around. This is an excellent album for savasana (yoga relaxation) or meditation. Wonderful Sabbath music. Two songs are in English, "Oh, God of Loveliness," A tune known to me as the "Crusaders Hymn" or "Beautiful Savior." These words, while different than what I'm familiar with, are also worthy of a magnificant old melody. Adoramus Te, and Veni, Veni, Emmanuel are masterpeices sung with strength and conviction.

Her Hymn to Mary was written while coping with breast cancer.

My only complaint (as one from the reform religious tradition) is that there are too many Marian songs. Her Hymn to Mary contains doctrine that am uncomfortable with so I skip it. Yet even then I am fascinated by the harmonies and quiet power of Sanctissima
and Ave Maria.

If you want a contemplative album that touches your heart this is it. A superb work.

I spend a lot of my spare time in music stores listening when headphones allow to a wide variety of music: Broadway, rock, electronica, classical, jazz, fusion, folk, bluegrass, alt country, etc. A lot of the material I listen to is good, but little of it would I label "great" or really ear-catching, a stand-out among the song parade.

I've always suspected Chapman of being underrated. Her secular albums boast solid songwriting and expressive unaffected singing. "Sand and Water" is a ballad masterpiece which dares to speculate about death and the afterlife: "I will see you in the light of 1000 suns. I will hear you in the sound of the waves. I will know you when we come as we all must come through the doors beyond the grave."

Her transition to Catholic hymns was already smoothed by her frequent address of spiritual issues. Voice-centric, lush and simple, there's no weak song on this well-chosen collection. Chapman's alto has developed a rasp (which she softens by the end of a phrase); frankly I think this works in her favor. Like the work of poet-priest Gerard Manley Hopkins makes clear, there is often a struggle to achieve spiritual peace, a shouting at the Gate to be let in.

Listen to Chapman's "Hymns." It will swing open for you.

I am neither religious nor Catholic, however, I know good music
when I hear it. This is it. Spirituality is personal, and the
expression of it should also be personal. Music is an art, a conveyance of one's inner self (good music, that is) and when an
artist plays and sings something close to her own life and
experiences, the genuine feeling comes through in the final work.
I would enjoy this music whether it was made through expression
of a religious idea, or produced as a result of other encounters in life. The same sort of feeling can be found in the works of many faiths, and in songs about matters which are not religious but are very dear to the hearts of those who create the art. What comes through is a
real expression of feeling and the importance of the
music to the artists who perform it on this CD. This is a beautiful expression of Ms. Chapman's emotional depth while
purposely crafting an
exceptional piece of musical art.

I heard an interview with Beth on NPR and was prompted to purchase this CD for several folks for Christmas. One of the persons I sent it to was my brother in Iraq. He needs a little R&R from the difficulties he is facing.

...and one of those recipients was me. I listen to it in the morning and it transports me to a spiritual place, a peaceful place of gratitude. You don't have to be old enought to remember the Latin masses to feel transported to towering cathedrals with incense and echoing prayers. These hymns could be sung in the canyons of Arizona and have the same majestic feel.

Thank you, Beth!

Chapman's voice is a little reedy, and I am not Catholic. But I believe this cd is more about the listener and their beliefs than about any preconceived musical attitude, acquired in whatever denomination. At the end of the day, it's about worship, and it has a lot of merit and grace. (Plus, it's really good to play when the traffic is awful and you're getting irate.)