Search - Mormon Tabernacle Choir :: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

A stunning album that redefines choral excellence

Customer Bob | USA | 04/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording secures Mack Wilberg's reputation as *the* preeminent choral arranger of our day. Really -- there's no contest. When working with the American folk hymns for which he has such an affinity, or any other piece for that matter, Wilberg has a knack for finding the core essence of the tune and text and creating an arrangement that amplifies the original rather than buries it in contrived effect (as so many lesser arrangers do). What's more, he's an astonishingly gifted orchestrator.



When these arrangements are brought to life by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (in stellar form here!) and the Orchestra at Temple Square, the result is utterly spell-binding. I just can't imagine a more potent combination of repertory, arranger, conductor, and ensemble. This is the kind of exceptional collaborative effort that comes along maybe once in a lifetime.



If that isn't enough, the wonderful Moses Hogan and Howard Roberts arrangements of spirituals on this disk reveal a side of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that even many of its fans may not be familiar with -- they are without peer when it comes to the concert tradition of African-American spirituals. The hard-to-find recording of spirituals the Choir made in 1997 (An American Heritage of Spirituals, conducted by Moses Hogan and Albert McNeil) was an important early step in this development, but the spirituals on this current disk are even more energized, focused, heartfelt, and disciplined than the earlier recording, and less "wooly" sounding. The choral sound on "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" and "Rock-a-My-Soul" for example (not to mention Alex Boye's spine-tingling solos) is as close to perfection as I think I'll ever hear. And every other track on this disk is just as good.



The order of tracks is important, moving with carefully judged effect from triumphant to contemplative to joyful to pastoral and through the entire spectrum of folk-hymn types. And just when you begin to feel that "Amazing Grace" (complete with bagpipes) can't be surpassed as a closer, you get Wilberg's incomparable arrangement of the album's title track in what must be considered the definitive recording.



In short, there is something very special about this disk; it raises the bar and redefines standards of choral excellence. Anyone with even a smidgen of interest in folk hymns and spirituals should listen to it. But all serious choral musicians *need* to hear it!"

Soul-stirring music from a world-class choir

The Music Man | United States | 03/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are three musical genres in which the Mormon Tabernacle Choir excels: sacred music, patriotic music, and folk songs. "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" is filled with stunning examples of the third category, and it is one of their strongest albums ever. A huge reason for the album's success lies in the striking arrangements of their current musical director, Mack Wilberg. Long recognized as a premiere arranger of folk songs, his musical stamp is all over this recording, with thirteen of the seventeen songs being his own arrangements. "Saints Bound For Heaven" opens the disc, and a more joyous, powerful reading could not be hoped for - from there, the disc alternates between gorgeous, lyrical melodies (like "Death Shall Not Destroy My Comfort" and "His Voice as the Sound") and joyous declarations of faith, such as "Bound For The Promised Land," "How Bright Is The Day," "Down To The River To Pray," and the title track.



Most surprising of all is the soulful gospel revealed in songs like "I Want Jesus To Walk With Me" and "Rock-A-My-Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham" (both featuring soloist and choir member Alex Boyé). The size of the choir, coupled with their diligent perfectionism result in some of the most moving, inspiring music making of their entire oeuvre. Other favorites of mine on the disc include "The Battle Of Jericho" "Deep River" and the seminal "Amazing Grace" (also in a new arrangement by Mack Wilberg, which is stunning.) But I cannot recommend this disc highly enough - in these difficult times, this is music to lift you up.



Here's the track listing:

1. Saints Bound For Heaven

Music: American Folk Hymn (THE SAINTS BOUND FOR HEAVEN)

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 2:53



2. My Song In The Night

Music: American Folk Hymn (EXPRESSION)

Text: adapted from Joseph Swain

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 4:39



3. We'll Shout And Give Him Glory

Music: American Folk Hymn (REVIVAL SONG)

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 3:59



4. His Voice As The Sound

Music: American Folk Hymn (SAMANTHRA)

Text: adapted from Joseph Swain

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:29



5. How Bright Is The Day

Music: American Folk Hymn (SAWYER'S EXIT)

Text: Reverend S. B. Sawyer

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 3:18



6. Death Shall Not Destroy My Comfort

Music: American Folk Hymn (MOUNT WATSON)

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 7:19



7. My God, My Portion And My Love

Music: American Folk Hymn (DUNLAP'S CREEK)

Text: Isaac Watts

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:30



8. Bound For The Promised Land

Music: American Folk Hymn (THE PROMISED LAND)

Text: Samuel Stennett

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 2:44



9. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me

Music: African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Moses Hogan

Soloist: Alex Boyé 3:54



10. Old-Time Religion

Music: African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Moses Hogan; adapted by Benjamin Harlan 3:06



11. The Battle Of Jericho

Music: African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Moses Hogan 2:39



12. Deep River

Music: African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 4:35



13. Down To The River To Pray

Music: American Folk Hymn/African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 3:58



14. Rock-A-My-Soul In The Bosom Of Abraham

Music: African-American Spiritual

Arrangement: Howard A. Roberts

Soloist: Alex Boyé 3:07



15. Softly And Tenderly

Music: Will L. Thompson (THOMPSON)

Text: Will L. Thompson

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 5:55



16. Amazing Grace

Music: American Folk Hymn (AMAZING GRACE)

Text: John Newton

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 6:25



17. Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

Music: American Folk Hymn (NETTLETON)

Text: Robert Robinson

Arrangement: Mack Wilberg 6:09"

WONDERFUL CD!

The Music Man | 02/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This my favorite album of the Tabernacle Mormon Choir. Music divinely interpetras by Coral com orchestra. Surely this is the best choir in the Word! My dream is to her him peronally,but for now does not by financial problems."