Customer Reviews

A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just the performance of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" makes the DVD worth purchasing. Mack Wilberg's arrangement of the hymn is brilliant, and the choir's performance throughout the concert is powerful and heartfelt. The orchestra's performance is uneven, and so is the sound quality of the recording. If you're deciding between formats, go with the DVD instead of CD. The DVD has better sound quality. But, more important, the DVD is a live recording of the actual performance. The combination of sight and sound is stunning, from the energy of the performers to the perfectly timed (but perfectly genuine) tear that runs down a singer's cheek during the final piece.

There is nothing to dislike about this CD. A friend made me listen to it several years ago, against my will. But I had to listen to it again and again, and now it's a Thanksgiving staple in my household, or pretty much anytime I want to feel good about God and Country. The arrangement of My Shepherd Will Supply My Need makes me weep, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic makes me stand up and cheer.

I bought this CD for my husband to listen to in the car because it contains several of his favorite hymns. I think that BYU chorus does a good job with these but it is hard to tell because the sound levels are terrible. I normally turn my car stereo up to between 4 and 8 for listening to the radio or our other CDs. With this one, I have to turn it up to 28 just in order to hear that there are voices accompanying the orchestra. During quiet segments, the thing has to be turned up as loud as it will go in order to hear anything. Now, this would be fine if it were just a matter of having a particularly quiet CD, but when the orchestra kicks into exuberant mode, the radio has to be turned back down to about 10 or it will blow us out of the car and destroy our new stereo. I am very disappointed. I completely appreciate the fact that a good presentation of sacred music will have some ebb and flow in the strength and volume of the sound, but it should never drop out all together, you should be able to hear the vocals above the orchestra and the loud points should not take out your ear-drums. They need to send their sound mixer back to tech school.

This recording is stunning. I first saw the PBS concert and was blown away by many of the numbers. "Abide With Me" and "How Can I Keep From Singing" are fantastic and this arrangement of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is unsurpassed. It is dramatic and beautiful. If you love choral music you won't be disappointed. BYU has an amazing choral program from the sounds of this.

After first seeing this concert on PBS one Thanksgiving,I just had to have the CD of it.Rarely have I heard such a fine performance of such professional caliber from University students.What really makes this particular collection of American Hymns so extraordinary is that nearly all of the arrangements are composed by the BYU Music Faculty members,Ronald Staheli,Amy Dalton and Mark Wilberg in particular.Wilberg's rousing rendition of "Saints Bound for Heaven" kicks off the program on such a resounding high note and then drops us completely by the "still waters" in "My Shepherd Shall Supply My Need".Wilberg's rendition of "The Morning Trumpet" is the best that I have of three different arrangements, and the BYU men venomously spew their h's on "HEAR the trumpet..." which is exciting and exhilarating.It is Wilberg's final selection,Robert Robinson's "Come,Thou Fount..." that really cements Wilberg's reputation as an innovative composer as he transforms this usually sprite hymn into a towering climax of praise and resignation in Christ's Finished Work on the Cross.It is in slowing this hymn to a near standstill that Wilberg creates such a sublime work of art and the BYU Orchestras and Choirs are totally up to the task.The breath control required by the Choirs is staggering.I could never like this hymn fast again after hearing done with such reverence.
There are a few very minor negatives to mention:the trumpets repeatedly miss notes in the very opening of "Saints Bound For Glory" and the words are near impossible to understand in the opening lines.(I GOOGLED the song to get the words as there is no insert booklet).Also, the lead female in "How Can I Keep from Singing" is a bit shaky revealing her lack of composure, though the arrangement by Staheli is exquisite."Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" and "Abide With Me" do not have the force of the other arrangements IMO in that they were NOT compositions of the Faculty.
One last observation: because some hymns are louder than others, this CD does not make for optimal listening in a car (I know exactly where to push the button up or down.That is not a problem).BUT,at home,at rest and in quiet you will not beat this collection by Brigham Young University.It is touching and inspirational.
RATING:A-
Price Rating:B- (but so very worth it)

I love the CDs made by the BYU Choirs. They're all fabulous, but this one is seriously one of my favorites. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

Having watched over and over, a you-tube video of the BYU choirs singing 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing', I bought the CD and have since ordered the DVD so I can watch as well as listen - I find this a very inspirational, moving collection. It has also led me to order another CD by the BYU choirs and I am looking forward to that although I haven't yet heard any of the content of this latest-ordered CD. Gwen

'Come thou font of every blessing' could be the best song of all time. Great CD

This is an interesting collection of American songs, performed by a fabulous university choir (the director is currently leading the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). From exciting to inspiring, each song catches the attention of even my young boys. They love to sing along and I'm happy to expose them to quality choral music.

RE: "Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns" - This CD did NOT contain hymns that I consider as "Thanksgiving Hymns". The music & vocals were nice, just NOT what I wanted when I ordered it. I was looking for familian, to me, hymns, such as "We Gather Together" & "Let All Things Now Living" & "Come Ye Thankful People, Come". Are there such hymns on a CD & available to order?