Customer Reviews

Land of Pure Delight

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

 

 

Truly excellent. Great choral blend, intonation, and technical mastery combine with subtle, expressive dynamics to make for a recording worthy of its title. Recording engineering is first rate too. Even though the technical singing and recording quality are very high, the joy and sheer gusto here eliminate any sterility. I was left with the impression that the performers loved every note of this music, and their ability to baste their music with this affection makes for a recording that is indeed A Land of Pure Delight.

This is an extremely well performed collection of vocal pieces by early American composer William Billings. Actually, he was a tanner by trade, and wrote these songs as something of a hobbyist. Amazing -- people back then found all this time for artistic expression, and here we are with all our supposed time-saving technology, seldom finding time to whistle a tune, let alone compose one!

The Billings songs evoke an historical era, and the way of life that found exhuberant expression in common song. Listenting to this disc brings about a mixed reaction from me: joy in the very "social" feeling of the music, and a bit of sadness that we live in an age where people now seem to spend more time at home watching TV or playing computer games. We don't have a TV in our home, and be forewarned... if you listen to this disc and succumb to its spirit, you may trash your own set and insist that the kids partake in a nightly, family "sing along." Oh the beautiful power of music! Also recommended: "New Britain" and "Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals" (Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata), "The World Turned Upside Down" (Barry Philips). Enjoy!

This album is very powerful. As a performer, director, and huge choral enthusiast this album is one of my all time favorites. Billings' compositions combined with the powerful texts of Isaac Watts truly make your blood boil. The performance is superb: strong and bold male voices combined with well controlled women's voices. This music revives a true American spirit that makes the listener want to sing along on every song.

A great find for William Billings fans!

Note that this CD was reissued under the title "Early American Choral Music, Vol. 1". (There is also "Early American Choral Music, Vol. 2", which is a reissue of a different CD called "Goostly Psalmes".)

This is an awesome CD. I agree with the person who said the more I listen the more I like. If you dont buy this CD it is your loss.

Hey guess what this composer happens to be one of my direct anscestors. He lived during the American Revolution and he taught him self all about music. He was friends with famous American's such as Sam Adams (not the beer!) and his songs were the favorites of the American soldiers. They were often sung at the camp grounds and as they were marching into battle. So buy this CD and listen to what our American ancestors sung as they fought to free America from the tyranny of colonial British rule.