Customer Reviews

Hymns & Meditations

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I listened to Amy Grant's "Legacy" and was extremely disappointed. Then I heard "Hymns and Meditations" and was truly amazed. Fernando imparts a level of reverence and sincerity that other artists lack. Making beautiful music is not just a job to him - it is his calling. Thank you Fernando!

I try to be objective in evaluating anything-- you know, throw the bad in with the good. However, there isn't anything bad to say about this album. I LOVE THIS ALBUM! Fernando Ortega's "Hymns & Meditations" collection is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever listened to. The arrangements appeal to almost every taste. I have played this album for non-Christian friends and they have RAVED about it. It is truly beautiful music; the string instruments in conjunction with the beautiful voice and piano of Fernando Ortega, with a little accordian thrown in... it is just delicious! I had heard only one song by Fernando Ortega when I purchased this album... His rendition of "Con Que Pagaremos" that he performed on the Promise Keepers "Breaking Down the Walls" (1996) album prompted me to buy that CD for that song alone! I have since played that song about 1,000 times and memorized the lyrics (I speak a little Spanish)... I burned that song onto a disk and copied 'Hymns and Mediations' behind it, to play in the car. It is my favorite CD and most of my popular music selections have had to move aside (at least for awhile). This music is so nice to listen to at almost anytime of the day. I am a police officer; this music is so soothing and beautiful that it helps me keep the world in perspective. I enjoy it at the end of hard day, or anytime. Fernando's instrumental re-makes of many of the old gospel songs I grew up listening to are fantastic. I have shared this music with my family and they all love it. This truly is a prize winning rose in the garden of music! I look forward to purchasing more of Fernando's work when my budget allows. God Bless You Fernando Ortega!

I can't remember discovering a CD / cassette that I enjoyed as much as this one. Fernando Ortega's voice is smooth, middle-ranged, and easy on the ears! For this CD, he accompanies himself on piano and is joined by a cellist, who supplies even more mellowness. Three or four of the selections are instrumental (piano & cello) only. This is a really good Selection whether you're stressed out or just feeling kind of pensive and worshipful. Yep, it would be nearly impossible NOT to worship while listening to this music! You'll find every single selection in your hymnbook--- these are classics beautifully interpreted by the artist. I'm getting ready to order a few more as gifts.

Listen to the samples Amazon.com provides, and you'll see what I'm talking about!!!

(P.S. It was mentioned in another review that tracks 10 & 11 are missing, BUT THEY AREN'T actually! Those two are part of a medley which forms Track 9, so don't despair! )

This is a great album to meditate to. It's so relaxing and welcomes the Holy Spirit into the atmosphere. The way he sings you can feel the love of God in his voice. This album is truly a blessing to my soul. If you desire an album that will bring you closer to the spiritual realm. This is it!

As proof of this recording's soothing qualities, it and several other Fernando Ortega CD's accompanied my wife and I in the delivery room. Even the nurses were humming along under their breath during a stressful, yet remarkable, moment in our lives. A quiet, yet powerful, experience.

I've listened to many songs before, but boy, no one can sing hymns like Ortega. His voice would not be as good for other contemporary Christian music but is just perfect when it comes to hymns. I've actually bought many of this particular CD as gifts to my friends. Other CD's of his are so so, but this one is my favorite. I'm about to buy some more.

I look forward to getting my chores done, maybe lighting some candles and putting this CD in. A wonderful way to escape the troubles of the world and come before the throne. What an excellent pianist. My only complaint of this CD is IT'S TO SHORT.

...if I could only take one. Really. It's that good. But I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to cd's entitled "hymns and meditations". I don't want "modern" garage-band versions, nor do I want glissando-ized Liberace piano stomping. (Picture me standing in an elevator Edvard Munch-style with a permanent screech on my face.)

The first hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is worth the price of the entire cd. Most church choir directors take the thing way too fast (in my opinion...which, since you are reading this, must be worth something). It's not a march. Fernando does this hymn sweet and slow-tempoed justice. His use of accordion and cello is beautifully orchestrated in some of the hymns, and others are simply his wonderful playing and voice. A truly intimate and mostly quiet worship experience. When I say quiet though, I only mean not leaping through an "alive!" audience shouting hallelujah. My heart does this well enough with just Fernando and the car cd player. Probably just as well for my fellow travelers on I-65 that I'm not leaping from the sunroof.

Trying to put into words what makes Fernando special, or this particular cd stand out from his others, is difficult. In a way, it almost seems to be a "sacred romance" to his God. There is something wonderfully personal that I don't often find in other artists. In fact, this cd is my "gold standard" for all other worship cd's.

I am always on the lookout for other artists and cd's with this same spark...if you are of like mind, please send recommendations to shrinkrapt@aol.com. Or flames to badgoat@charter.net.

A friend recommended this CD. I take it with me wherever I go and am having problems keeping it. All my friends are asking for the name of the album and where they can get it.

Fernando's voice is absolutely a delight to listen to. The piano music is haunting and worshipful.

A must!

I love this cd. The music is very relaxing and what I think heaven will sound like.