John P. Reese, Stephen Jenks, C. Dingley, William Billings, Seaborn McDaniel Denson, Jeremiah Ingalls, Lucius Chapin, Paine Denson, Nehemiah Shumway, The Tudor Choir, Doug Fullington - The Shapenote Album

Not quite authentic.....

Recently, I got interested in the Sacred Harp music, being a devoted fan of "old" country, western, blues and bluegrass, and bought this CD.

I must say I was disappointed because, well, this music is too polished, to perfect, too professional. It is as if a bunch of music majors and professional muscians got together and perfected shape note tunes for the modern ear.

I really enjoyed the Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church found on the Cold Mountain soundtrack. Granted, it is hard to find this "authentic" sound, and harder still for modern urban raised muscians to duplicate that sound. But if you really are looking for traditional, down-home, Sacred Harp music, this isn't the album for you. Yes, it's a brilliant piece of artistic recreation of an old style of singing, but it just doesn't sound true to it's roots, in my opinion. August 28, 2008

A difficult undertaking, well done

I'm always concerned when real choirs approach the hymns of the shapenote tradition. This is music best experienced by singing it enthusiastically with untrained singers, and to my ears the most convincing and satisfying recordings have been the field recordings done years ago at rural shapenote sings. The simplicity and pungent sincerity of those performances seems to my ears to be perfectly suited to the music itself, and when "cleaned up" by a skilled choir, more is usually lost than gained. Its name suggests that "The Tudor Choir" specializes in a quite different genre, but in "The Shapenote Album" they sing the old hymns with sensitivity and grace. From the opening bars it's clear that these are musicians who understand tailoring vocal color to the material, and have a sense of the simplicity of approach most closely compatible with such too-rarely-performed gems as "China" and "Soar Away." In a few selections, notably "Heavenly Union," "Expression" and "Kedron," their virtuosity gets in the way, producing a self-conscious effect which seems ill-suited to the material. On balance, they've done an admirable job of steering between Scylla and Charybdis, producing a very pleasing album better suited to the entry-level shapenote listener than to the hardcore fan. May 31, 2008

Exquisite, Gorgeous Music

I bought this CD about a year ago, and it has not left the CD changer in my car since. I suspect that shape-note singing is something you either love or can't abide. I love it, and still I was surprised by the diversity of the music on this CD. There is the full-throated, joyful noise of the more exuberant revival songs, which I expected. But then there are some solo pieces, and some performed by smaller groups among the singers. And these are hauntingly beautiful.

I've yet to grow tired of any of the cuts on this CD. However, there are a few that I find especially lovely. Listen to "Soar Away," and see if your heart can resist soaring with it. "Evening Shade," with its exclusively male voices is as sweet as a lullaby. "All Is Well" is perhaps my favorite - I'm always moved by its consoling lyric: "Weep not my friends/My friends weep not for me."

If you're thinking you'd like to explore shape-note music, this recording is a wonderful place to start. January 27, 2008

Most hauntingly beautiful church music

One of the best recordings of American hymnology.
All the songs are moving and powerful. A great addition to any collection. January 24, 2008

American Music of Hope and Glory

Although I have known about Sacred Harp Music for many years, this album utterly overwhelmed me in its power, beauty and expression of pure American strength and faithful surety. I grew up in the churches of Christ, one of the few American denominations that uses only a capella four-part harmony vocal music in their worship services. Shape notes were known to me since I was able to understand a musical staff, and we used shape notes for each note on the scale (a few more than The Sacred Harp Tradition). Alas, over time, the immense power and beauty of true Sacred Harp music was "homogenized" into congregational singing that remains quite beautiful, but no longer has the vigor of The Sacred Harp tradition. (The churches of Christ still, to this day, occasionally have "Sings" - an all afternoon singing festival with food and fellowship, as do Sacred Harp "Singing Classes" today). This album above all speaks - rather SINGS to the immense faith of Frontier America, and the absolutely majesterial beauty of music well-sung from the human heart, which is, of course, The "Sacred Harp". To any who want to experience a new (and very old) musical tradition, this recording will be one that you will never forget. All choral music singers and admirers should own this marvelous album. (Having a copy of the "1991 Sacred Harp Hymnal" in hand will make your enjoyment all the better!) April 8, 2007

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