A Land of Pure Delight [IMPORT]

William Billings (Composer), Paul Hillier (Conductor), His Majestie's Clerkes (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: His Majestie's Clerkes
• Conductor: Paul Hillier
• Composer: William Billings
• Audio CD (February 16, 1993)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007D3
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,919 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. O Praise the Lord of Heaven, for chorus

2. Is Any Afflicted, for chorus

3. Emmaus, for chorus

4. Africa, for chorus

5. Samuel the Priest, for chorus

6. Shiloh (Suffolk Harmony, 1786)

7. Jordan, for chorus

8. I Am the Rose of Sharon

9. Euroclydon, for chorus

10. Hear My Pray'r, for chorus

11. Rutland, for chorus

12. David's Lamentation for chorus

13. As the Hart Panteth for chorus

14. Creation for chorus

15. Brookfield for chorus

16. Lord Is Ris'n Indeed, for chorus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Delight it is, July 12, 1999

By A Customer

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When Music was the Heart and Soul of Hearth and Home!, January 4, 2001

By	"rrr338" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars Speechless., August 22, 2009

By	Brooks Gingerich "BroFabian" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.