Melanesian Choirs The Blessed Islands - Chants from the Thin Red Line (26 tracks) +Album Reviews

If Angels could sing, this cd would tell them how

M KIRK-DUGGAN | El Cerrito Fellowship, CA USA | 08/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A beautiful a capella performance, mastered to the highest standards, and one that brings peace and joy to this listeners soul. Technically, the music sounds to me like early American Shape-Note Songs, of the Sacred Harp tradition. Like them, the rhythms and and tonalities respond to something deep within that is spirtually satisfying to the nth degree. It is somewhat amazing to have this beautiful music and beautiful singing and beautiful recording associated with the violence inherent in the movie, yet without the movie we would not have had this experience.I particularly enjoyed the conjunction of the missionary influence with the native sense of aural beauty. The Sunday Service on this recording would justify its purchase in and of itself. I found myself saying "AMEN" to myself at the end of each and every selection. An aural spiritual immersion, which washes away the cares of this helter skelter world. AMDG"

A Surrealistic Experience

N. Schoenfeld | Woodside, CA USA | 05/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many songs from this CD are featured in "The Thin Red Line" but only one is on the soundtrack. Thankfully there is an answer, which is this CD. These tunes are pure heaven. They are haunting choir pieces that need to be experienced. If you liked the Melanesian music in the movie, you will definately enjoy this CD. It's an aquired taste, however, which means not everyone will enjoy it. If you haven't heard it, you can get a taste of it from "The Thin Red Line." For anyone who likes choir, new age, or just likes soft tunes, this is Highly Reccomended."

A must-have for Melanesiaphiles

N. Schoenfeld | 05/18/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who has spent time in the Solomons or Papua New Guinea will recognize the familiar cadence and clarity of these voices. I felt immediately transported to a mission church in a remote village. I especially appreciated 'Early Morning at Tabalia' and the unmistakeable sound of an empty gas cyclinder being wrapped with an iron rod to mark the beginning of the school day. My only gripe is not with the music but the dearth of contextual information in the music jacket. Former volunteers, missionaries, and other visitors to this enchanting corner of the world will thoroughly enjoy this recording ."

Practical Information

W. Heyser | 09/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording has already been reviewed with regard to quality, so I thought I'd skip what we all know (that this music is fantastic) and give a few more practical bits of info.

First of all, if you have the DVD of The Thin Red Line, the chants that come in the extras are all present on this disc. If that's all you want and you can put up with having to use your DVD player to listen, then there's no real reason to buy this album. However, the album contains twice as much material, all of it just as good. Don't think that if you buy this album you won't be getting your money's worth, even if you already have the DVD.

Secondly, the sound quality of the recording is for the most part excellent, especially when one considers that the whole album was recorded "on location" so to speak. That said, there are a few moments where the high end seems to get lost somewhere, and the occasional cough or ambient noise. If this bothers you, then be warned. It really shouldn't.

Thirdly, in response to another review, the language they are speaking (although sometimes they speak English and the accent makes it hard to tell) is Tok Pisin, or Melanesian Pigin. I won't bore you with the details, but the short version is that Tok Pisin is actually a full-fledged language, not just a pigin, dialects of which are spoken throughout the area. A minor bit of trivia: "Jisas, masta mi save" doesn't have anything to do with being saved; "save" (pronounced "sah-vay") means "to know," from whence comes "savvy" as in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Lastly, some reviews might give one the impression that this album has an overwhelming religious presence, or that it is "Christian," or some such. I won't lie; I would say 75% of the songs have the word Jesus or God somewhere in them. All I can tell you is to find some way to listen to some of them and see for yourself whether or not one has to be religious in order to appreciate the music. I would say no, others might disagree.

Visit the website of the Melanesian Brotherhood at [...]"

I am transformed

Jenn | Boston, Ma | 02/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've honestly never been one to assign much spiritual value to music, but after hearing these recordings in A Thin Red Line, I was amazed. The power behind these songs is unforgetable. The mix of emotions that they convey is almost heartbreaking in its intensity. The feelings that arise when you listen to these songs transcend everyday life. In short, I am transformed."

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