Shushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth [Import]

Jane Siberry | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sheeba Music
• ASIN: B0000SZ750
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,981 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. How Beautiful Are the Feet

2. Sheep May Safely Graze

3. Star Shall Rise Up Out of Jacob

4. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

5. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

6. In the Bleak Midwinter

7. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

8. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

9. If God Be for Us

Editorial Reviews

Review

Her passion and enthusiasm breathe new life into these forgotten gems of Holst, Handel, and Bach. Shushan is easily the most beautiful album you will ever own. --Stylus, Winnipeg

A gorgeous contemporary recording. --Calgary Sun

Product Description

Building on an international reputation as one of the great creators and innovators in contemporary popular music, legendary Canadian artist Jane Siberry goes a step further with a recording of mainly classical and traditional sacred songs. Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn and others are interpreted and transformed by Jane and her collaborators on this new album. Strings, horns and woodwinds build a stately foundation for the voice of Jane - and what a voice it is! Fresh from summer festival appearances and singing on Emmylou Harris' latest album, Siberry sings like the angels she once famously called upon in her much loved Calling All Angels.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty, but unsatisfying, February 4, 2004

By 

William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth (Audio CD)

This Jane Siberry "hymns" collection sounds nice, but I had a couple of problems with it. Primarily, her song arrangements are thick with harmony arrangements that tend to obscure the original melody in clouds of pillowy harmonies (with Jane singing all the parts). On songs such as "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," the saturated harmonies and fuzzy chamber ensemble make it very difficult to follow the melody. The arrangement also has a curiously quaint feeling, like the music from some Disney animated movie of the 1940's. I half expected Jiminy Cricket to start talking about how Pinnochio could become a real boy.

When Jane sings a melody with minimal harmony, as on the lovely "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" and "If God Be For Us," the effect is much more powerful and enhcanting.

Most of Jane's music in recent years has consisted of her versions of other people's songs. Her previous album Hush was a similar collection of traditional songs. Although I enjoyed Hush more than Shushan, I would still hope that next Jane will return to doing some new songs of her own!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Spiritual, December 11, 2003

By 

V. Lalonde "vicster22" (Calgary) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth (Audio CD)

I just saw Jane perform this collection of music here in Calgary Live at the UofC and it was truly a moving experience especially at this time of the year when everyone makes their seasonal homage to the Nutcracker. Anyway I bought the cd there and have been listening to it all morning mesmerized by the uplifting moments it creates that take you on a collaborative journey with Jane and the other players. Each track is so incredible thoughtful in honouring its inspirations, and sincerely thankful for the places the pieces have brought the artist.

The liner notes are extensive and provide the evolutionary flow through the ages of the pieces. There is a sense that in the midst of all the extraordinary loveliness Jane weaves around you musically, that she is having a really good time, at moments its simply playful.

Anyway the album is a really worthwhile collection, its a great gift for the holidays due to its inspirational qualities, and if you can manage -- it go see Jane on this tour because you'll come away from those 2 1/2 hours with her and her friends uplifted beyond your imagination.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting diversion for Siberry, March 31, 2008

By 

Luna Stormcrow "Dogma" (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth (Audio CD)

I think that Ms. Siberry deserves the utmost respect and applause for this musical diversion Sushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth. I was not sure what to expect, based on other reviews, but being a Siberry fan for many, many years, I was not disappointed. I was afraid that she would try to fit her musical style to these imposing and timeless Hymns. Instead, she has created a wondrous blend of her own style with the more classical veins running through and around her amazing and at times childlike voice. What this evokes is the wonder of childhood upon its first consciousness of something greater than any of us. To me, it is a loving, musical enfoldment of the earth and her inhabitants. Though the hymns are in the main Christian, it makes no matter, because her haunting approach to them carries one far beyond any parochial meanings or history. BRAVO JANE!