Trav'ling Home - American Spirituals 1770-1870

Anonymous (Composer), William Billings (Composer), Timothy Swan (Composer), Jeremiah Ingalls (Composer), Daniel Read (Composer), Scottish Traditional (Composer), American Traditional (Composer), Anne Azema (Conductor), Frederick Jodry (Conductor), Joel Cohen (Conductor), Boston Camerata (Performer), Schola Cantorum of Boston (Performer), Margaret Swanson (Performer), William Hite (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Boston Camerata, Schola Cantorum of Boston, Margaret Swanson, William Hite
• Conductor: Anne Azema, Frederick Jodry, Joel Cohen
• Composer: Anonymous, William Billings, Timothy Swan, Jeremiah Ingalls, Daniel Read, et al.
• Audio CD (July 30, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Erato
• ASIN: B000005E40
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,091 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hatfield

2. Invocation

3. The Pilgrims

4. Balloon

5. Richmond

6. Harvest Hymn

7. Calvary

8. Pennsylvania

9. While Angels Strike

10. Cusseta

11. Confidence

12. Something New

13. The Young Convert

14. Scots, Wha H'ae

15. Bruce's Address

16. Saw You My Hero

17. Crucifixion

18. Fare Well Ye Green Fields

19. Greenfields

20. Prince William's March

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh! Pure beauty!, February 20, 2001

By 

"gaios33" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trav'ling Home - American Spirituals 1770-1870 (Audio CD)

This CD is absolutely amazing; the first time I listened to it, I was lukewarm and contemplated returning it. However, the second time around, I was crying throughout. The first song is a jewel, and my heart breaks upon each listen. The women vocalists are angels, and the male voices are earthy, yet just as sweet (and Anne Azema, I need hardly mention, is a goddess, as always). The acoustics are also delightful: the sound is just as if they're singing in a little church out in the middle of "nowhere," much like the church on the cover (I adore that cover photograph).

Some CDs are good "homework" music; this one is not. You cannot listen to it without paying rapt attention. I am in the habit of putting on headphones and turning it on sometimes when I go to bed, and just lying there in the dark with the exquisite harmonies and poignant lyrics wafting through my ears. Buy this now, and try it. It will bring tears to your eyes.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Revelation!, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Trav'ling Home - American Spirituals 1770-1870 (Audio CD)

The outstanding Boston Camerata introduces the listener to early american religous music, which is quite different and much more exciting than the bland, uninvloving tunes in the hymnals that are sitting in church pews these days. Anyone interested in American cultural and/or musical history needs this!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, February 22, 2004

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trav'ling Home - American Spirituals 1770-1870 (Audio CD)

This very enjoyable CD is an anthology of notable American religous music from the end of the 18th century to approximately the end of the Civil War. It concentrates on the so-called shape note and related traditions. Drawn heavily from old hymnals and song books, this CD features a number of lovely pieces, including some by the remarkable Boston composer William Billings. Some pieces are presented in parallel with the secular songs and music used to develop the sacred music. Beautifully performed.