I was a little surprised when I checked into my blog history and saw that I haven't presented much in the way of sacred choir music (save for Christmas). With this post, I will start on the path to correcting this oversight. (Whatever I just typed, there.) And, when you see Ralph Carmichael's name on a gospel LP, you know you're going to hear some superbly professional singing and playing--and that's just what we get on this 1959 effort from the Sacred label. Spectraphonic high fidelity, no less, from the "world leader in religious records." The back cover has a little box which explains "Spectraphonic Sound," and I'm sure everyone will be rushing to the scan (included in the zip) to find out more about this fascinating process.
Nearly all of these twelve selections are "standard" hymns--that is to say, no There Is Power in the Blood or He Will Set Your Fields on Fire in the playlist. More mainline Protestant classics, and all excellent. The liner notes, however, divide the numbers into three categories: 1) Simple hymnals (hymnals?)--When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, This Is My Father's World, Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand, and In the Cross of Christ I Glory; 2) Anthems as used on Sunday mornings--All Creatures of Our God and King, A Ballad of the Trees and Master, For All the Saints, and Now Thank We All Our God; and 3) Gospel songs (capital G) with string background--The Old Rugged Cross, Wonderful Peace, Ivory Palaces, and I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.
Well, I've never regarded Now Thank We All Our God as an anthem, though For All the Saints definitely qualifies. But why didn't they do Saints in choir-and-organ hymnbook fashion, following Ralph Vaughan Williams' magnificent setting as written? A big missed opportunity, there. The Old Rugged Cross has since graduated to the ranks of standard hymns, though I'm not sure about Ivory Palaces. Depends on the mainline denomination. And mainline hymnals are becoming more inclusive by the year, so... And, for some reason, I thought I Heard the Voice... was in our main UMC hymnal, but I guess not. (Okay, I'm remembering all the way back to my Presbyterian days--it was, and maybe still is, in that hymnal. But with a different tune for the words.) And I'm sure this internal dialogue is totally fascinating.
Some superb music and singing for the first phase of Operation Post More Sacred Choir Fare. Nice to have such a distinguished example to start things off. Oh, and on the MP3 tags I did some corrections on the author/composer credits, which mostly involved including the names of the former (the text writers). Additions and a couple of corrections. To the Sunday sounds...
DOWNLOAD: Hallowed Moments--Ralph Carmichael Choir and Orchestra (1959)
The Old Rugged Cross
All Creatures of Our God and King
A Ballad of the Trees and Master
For All the Saints
Ivory Palaces
Now Thank We All Our God
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
This Is My Father's World
Wonderful Peace
Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand
In the Cross of Christ I Glory
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Hallowed Moments--Ralph Carmichael Choir and Orchestra (Sacred 8010; 1959)
Lee
7 comments:
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the upload. Reminds me, sans orchestra, we had only an organ, of the occasional church music with choir we had in church as a child. Usually Christmas and Easter time. This is more to my style. For some reason, I only like religious music in this reverent soothing style. Because of how I was raised, a somewhat nonstrict Catholic, but Catholic nonetheless. Also, the type of church we went to. This is comfort music to me. I do not think of going to a church to have a good time, partying in song, etc. A church to me is for personal worship only, between God and myself. So I worship with God in my heart, knowing he is always with me. I shortly left the church in my early teens after my last parent, my mother, had passed away suddenly without warning. I am almost 45 years old now and still cannot think of or would change going back to a church. Also, this kind of music reminds me of happy childhood memories. Of seeing occasional old Hollywood films with a religious theme of some sort to them. Again, maybe they were Christmas and Easter-themed. I will defiantly keep this one and make up a special folder to place this into. I will add into it several similar religious LPs, from the 101 Strings output. Again, Thank you and God Bless you.
Bryan
Hi Lee,
An absolutely beautiful LP. I cannot say enough. Again Thank You.
Bryan
I recently landed a bunch of Ralph Carmichael Christmas records. Will locate titles for you to consider.
Hi Diane,
If the Ralph Carmichael Christmas records are anything like this superb LP that Lee uploaded, they would be great to hear. I hope Lee will be able to use them. Thanks for always sharing items with Lee. You are very much appreciated.
Bryan
Bryan,
I had a feeling you'd enjoy this one! Glad to get your kind input.
Diane,
Thanks!!
I had the Sheridan album back in the 60's. John Lennon sang the lead on My Bonnie. The Beatles also had an instrumental track, Cry for a Shadow. They backed Sheridan on a few songs, but a different group, identified as the beat boys, did the rest. It was easy to pick out the non Beatles tracks as they featured a Hammond organ.
Larry--
Hi--I think you meant this for the "Current Hits" post! Oops. As for the lead on "My Bonnie," I'm almost sure it's Sheridan and not Lennon. Lennon, of course, sings "Ain't She Sweet" from the Hamburg session (sessions?).
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