Search - Paine Denson, Nehemiah Shumway, The Tudor Choir :: The Shapenote Album

Unbridled spiritual energy

12/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who saw "Cold Mountain" and was struck by the vitality and energy of the hymn singing in that one brief scene in church will be immediately impressed with this stunning album. The album's only flaw is that, unfortunately, it does not include that hymn that was in "Cold Mountain" (it is titled "I'm Going Home").



Otherwise, it is pure joy to listen to. The singing is full of that same raw passion that makes it sound so primitive. I've heard other albums where the sound is polished, concert-hall like, and as a result very dead. This is not that way; it moves and stirs as good spiritual music ought to.



This is a new field of music for me, even though I've sung in church choirs for years and listened to all kinds of classical music. Hearing this album makes me want to go find the sheet music and start singing it myself, it is so infectious."

American Music of Hope and Glory

Dr. Michael B. Gehl | New York, NY USA | 04/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!)"

A difficult undertaking, well done

Martin Lodahl | Auburn, CA USA | 05/31/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."