Shenandoah: Songs of the American Spirit

by John Alexander Singers, John Alexander

Overview

Here's a release for those who enjoy American choral singing of the old school, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, for example. The music consists of what are known as folk songs, and in fact the arrangement of "Cindy" (track 10) by Mack Wilberg is close to the one he made for the Mormon choristers. The charm of the program, however, lies in the variety of the arrangements, which are all by different composers and range from simple harmonizations to dense jazz-harmony and African-American spiritual treatments, including settings influenced by art song, pop, the British choral tradition (John Rutter's version of Sourwood Mountain may be annoying for some, but it's undeniably arresting), and more. The John Alexander Singers are a 24-member subgroup of the larger Pacific Chorale, a Southern California ensemble. Its style may seem overly cute by this time, but it's fresh, technically spot-on, and genuinely enthusiastic: when the group breaks into shouts to introduce a percussive quasi-dance passage, it doesn't come off as forced or rehearsed. Whether called on to execute gospel-style slides or unadorned intervals, the singers adjust seamlessly and stay on top of the music's shifting styles. The booklet notes explain something of the history of each song and don't shy away from the darker or raunchier aspects present in their histories, although the performances themselves would not suggest those. Generally a well-executed collection of traditional American music. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2009
Label:	Gothic Records
UPC:	0000334926328
Rank:	248776

Tracks

1. Shenandoah, folk song
2. Sourwood Mountain
3. She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain, folk song
4. Down to the River to Pray, hymn
5. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
6. Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier, folk song (a.k.a. "Shule Agra", "Butternut Hill")
7. Aura Lee
8. Goober Peas, song for voice & piano
9. He's Gone Away
10. Cindy
11. Billy Boy, song (Thaunton, Massachusetts)
12. Buffalo Gals
13. The Erie Canal
14. Home on the Range (original version)
15. Colorado Trail for voice & piano
16. Sacramento-Sis Joe
17. How can I keep from singing?, for choir

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Alexander Singers   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
John Alexander   Primary Artist,Conductor
Lisa Sylvester   Piano,Piano
David Clemenson   Piano
Robert Slack   Percussion,Drums,Drums,Percussion
David Montoya   Harmonica,Harmonica,Harmonica
Mindy Ball   Harp,Harp
Jeff Morris   Tenor (Vocal)
David Clemensen   Piano,Piano
I-Chin Feinblatt   Alto (Vocals)
Thomas Ringland   Bass (Vocal)
Kellee King   Soprano (Vocal)
Aram Barsamian   Baritone (Vocal)
Daniel Cardwell   Tenor (Vocal)
Tim Emmons   Bass
Lorraine Joy Welling   Soprano (Vocal)
Nicholas Preston   Tenor (Vocal)
Aaron Mosley   Tenor (Vocal)
James Garafalo   Bass
Katharin Rundus   Soprano (Vocal)
Artie Barsamian Orchestra   Baritone (Vocal)
Zanaida Robles   Soprano (Vocal)
Carver Cossey   Bass (Vocal)
Laura Harrison   Alto (Vocals)
Dennis Houser   Bass (Vocal)
James M. Schaeffer   Baritone (Vocal)
Daniel Babcock   Tenor (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Fred Vogler   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer
Kelly Ruggirello   Unknown Contributor Role
Mack Wilberg   Arranger
John Alexander   Arranger,Artistic Director
Philip Lawson   Arranger
Jackson Berkey   Composer
Stephen Foster   Composer
Gordon Paine   Liner Notes
Elizabeth-Anne Swift   Production Coordination
Brandon Brack   Associate Producer
Mark Hayes   Arranger
Pete Seeger   Text Adaptation
Robert Lowry   Text
Ralph Hunter   Arranger
David Frazer   Cover Image
John Rutter   Arranger
Robert DeCormier   Arranger
Norman Luboff   Arranger
Alice Parker   Arranger
Ron Nelson   Arranger
Scott Sedillo   Engineer,Mastering
Brewster M. Higley   Text
Stan Sholik   Photography
Robert Shaw   Arranger
Julie Bussell   Producer
Robert Fountain   Arranger
William Whiteman Fosdick   Text
James Erb   Arranger
Emma Lou Diemer   Arranger
Sergei Parfenov   Editing,Assistant Engineer
Glenn Campbell   Photography
Ryan McSweeney   Arranger