Saints Bound for Heaven (Combined Choirs and Orchestra)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (Concert Choir)
Simple Gifts (Women's Chorus)
Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake! (Concert Choir and University Singers)
The Morning Trumpet (Men's Chorus)
Come, We That Love the Lord (Combined Choirs)
Wondrous Love (Women's Chorus)
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal (University Singers)
Let Me Fly (Concert Choir)
Cindy (Men's Chorus)
Bound for the Promised Land (University Singers)
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Concert Choir and University Singers)
Redeemer of Israel (Combined Choirs)
Aaron Copland's Third Symphony (Philharmonic Orchestra)
How Can I Keep From Singing (University Singers)
Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide (Concert Choir)
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Combined Men and Orchestra)
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Combined Choirs and Orchestra)
Over 500 performers from BYU combine in a concert celebration of beloved American folk hymns. A best-seller since its inception, A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns is now presented year-round on over 200 public televisi... more »on stations. The program features arrangements of beautiful hymn melodies in stunning performances that leave audiences profoundly moved and inspired. The concert was widely rebroadcast in the aftermath of 9/11 as a calming and a healing gesture.« less
Over 500 performers from BYU combine in a concert celebration of beloved American folk hymns. A best-seller since its inception, A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns is now presented year-round on over 200 public television stations. The program features arrangements of beautiful hymn melodies in stunning performances that leave audiences profoundly moved and inspired. The concert was widely rebroadcast in the aftermath of 9/11 as a calming and a healing gesture.
"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."
Fabulous performances; subpar sound engineering
C. Johns | Austin, Texas, U.S.A. | 09/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Buy this if you love choral music
WoodsBaker | Topeka, KS United States | 11/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A University performance as professional as they come!
Duke Gaines | Washington, D.C. | 10/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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.