Excerpts from reviews of “Shall We Gather”
No frills, no fuss. Just honest, plain-spun hymn singing from a choir of 13, who phrase deftly and climb inside the texts with such natural conviction, you almost forget there’s artistry involved . . . . you will enjoy the level of intimacy established here. They saved the best for last: “We Shall Walk Through the Valley” is delivered with an affecting legato guaranteed to uplift even the crankiest soul . . . . It’s a lovely program. . . .
Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide
In 27 selections that take up just under an hour, conductor William Appling and his eponymous chorus explore a well-chosen selection of American folk hymns and spirituals. As an accompanying essay says, “For a period of about 250 years, from the arrival of the Puritans in the early 1600s to nearly the end of the 19th century, the most pervasive musical form in America was the hymn.” This collection surveys the scene from colonial composer William Billings through the “Sacred Harp” and Negro spirituals to the hymns of the late 19th century revivalists. The 13-voice chorus sings them tunefully and mostly a cappella, with just the right amount of idiomatic flavor . . . .
Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Shall We Gather” brings together 19th-century hymns of Protestant, Jewish and Shaker origin and spirituals of African-American descent. The William Appling Singers, an ideal chamber choir, sing with pristine beauty and feeling.
Mark Stryker, The Detroit Free Press
[T]here are a few familiar items here: “What Wondrous Love Is This,” “Gospel Train,” “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night,” “He’s a Mighty Good Leader,” “Hold On” (a.k.a. “Gospel Plow”), and, of course, “Shall We Gather at the River.” But the other 21 tracks on this collection are far from warhorse status (though sometimes unfamiliar words prove to be set to common tunes), and there are many wonderful discoveries to be made.
The emphasis is on 19th century material, though a few items come from the early years of the 20th century. There is frequent recourse to John W. Work’s 1940 collection “American Negro Songs,” but that date doesn’t reflect the origin of the pieces, though Work did write his own arrangements. An even dozen of the tracks are spirituals, and the alternation between these and the more formal hymns (occasionally written or composed by familiar names as George F. Root, Lowell Mason, and Isaac Watts) gives the program a pleasing variety.
The performances by the 13-voice William Appling Singers, recorded in Christ & St. Stephen’s Church in New York City, are polished enough to make repeated listenings inviting without becoming so slick as to lose the folksy charm of these pieces.
Steve Holtje, CDNOW Senior Editor, Classical
This is a wonderful CD! A fine group, beautifully recorded, and handsomely packaged by Albany. It’s a great pleasure to hear all the hymns and gospels, but particularly nice to hear such handsome and honest renderings of five of Charles Ives’s favorite hymns. I hope others lavish praise!
James Sinclair, Orchestra New England
A fine recording. . . The group’s intonation is especially fabulous, and the repertory is resourcefully researched and imaginatively programmed.
H. Wiley Hitchcock, Musicologist and Author