Anonymous 4: American Angels – Songs of Hope, Redemption & Glory (FLAC)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Size: 277 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Brethren, We Have Met to Worship
Composed by William Moore
with Anonymous 4

# Abbeville (Come, Holy Spirit, come)
Composed by American Traditional
with Anonymous 4

# Wondrous Love, folk song
Composed by Anonymous
with Anonymous 4

# Sweet Hour of Prayer
Composed by William B. Bradbury
with Anonymous 4

# Jewett (Amazing grace, how sweet the sound)
Composed by R.F.M. Mann
with Anonymous 4

# Dunlap’s Creek (My God, my portion and my love)
Composed by Freeman Lewis
with Anonymous 4

# New Britain (Amazing Grace) [The Sacred Harp] (Philadelphia)
Composed by American Traditional
with Anonymous 4

# The Morning Trumpet
Composed by Benjamin Franklin White
with Anonymous 4

# My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, hymn (to the tune Resignation)
Composed by American Anonymous
with Marsha Genensky, Johanna Rose

# Poland (God of my life, look gently down)
Composed by Timothy Swan
with Marsha Genensky, Anonymous 4

# Wayfaring Stranger
Composed by American Traditional
with Anonymous 4

# Sweet by and by for chorus & organ
Composed by Joseph Philbrick Webster
with Anonymous 4

# Blooming Vale (O, were I like a feathered dove)
Composed by Storm
with Anonymous 4

# Idumea I & II
Composed by Ananias Davisson
with Jacqueline Horner, Anonymous 4

# Sweet Prospect
Composed by William Walker
with Anonymous 4

# Shall we gather at the river?
Composed by Robert Lowry
with Anonymous 4

# Amanda (“Death like an overflowing stream”)
Composed by Justin Morgan
with Anonymous 4

# Hark, I Hear The Harps Eternal (Invitation)
Composed by American Traditional
with Anonymous 4

# Parting Friends (The Social Harp)
Composed by American Traditional
with Anonymous 4

# Angel Band (My latest sun is sinking fast)
Composed by William B. Bradbury
with Anonymous 4

Inspiration sung from the heart.

Now everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I really disagree with that review that complained about too much harmony. Harmony is just a basic fundamental of music that makes it sound beautiful and gorgeous. So why is harmony so terrible? Anonymous 4 is very harmonious and knows how to enhance the music performance. They are not absent of melody. These tunes stood out to me. Besides, if a I wanted an exact replica of how these songs sounded 150 years ago, I could have gotten a CD of a performance of by a Baptist choir. But I chose this CD because from the time I first heard this ensemble perform these songs on public radio, I was enchanted. They perform songs that are very meaningful to me, such as “Sweet Hour of Prayer” a hymn that I have treasured in my church for ages. I was very inspired by such songs as “Holy Manna” and “Amazing Grace” because they make me imagine the spiritual pioneer experience. Other meaningful treasures are “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Angel Band”. I really fell in love with “Invitation”(Hark! I hear the harps eternal). They sing so beautifully and clearly that they deliver such inspirational insights in each song. It’s not too different from their medieval/Renaissance albums. They are portraying the same spiritual longings just as they did with chants and motets, only in a different place and time period. Anyone who complains about this CD needs to take time to not just listen, but feel the music. Feel the way that each singer speaks from the heart. Feel the way that each singer expresses the longing fo the writer. They sing these words and tunes so sincerely.