Search - Chanticleer, Christopher Fritzsche, Eric Alatorre :: Our American Journey

Our American Journey
Chanticleer, Christopher Fritzsche, Eric Alatorre
Our American Journey
Genres: Special Interest, New Age, Pop, Soundtracks, Classical
 
This is Chanticleer's 25th recording and also marks its 25th anniversary season. The title refers to the group's wide-ranging repertoire; this disc includes Mexican baroque, traditional American songs in various styles and...  more »

     
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This is Chanticleer's 25th recording and also marks its 25th anniversary season. The title refers to the group's wide-ranging repertoire; this disc includes Mexican baroque, traditional American songs in various styles and music commissioned by Chanticleer itself. A program that tries to please everybody is bound to disappoint somebody; however, no one could be disappointed by the singing. The sound of these 12 unaccompanied male voices has an unearthly, celestial beauty and purity; their blend is perfect. Though the singers rarely use vibrato, their intonation is impeccable both together and in solos. Their expressive range and stylistic versatility are incredible: they can project tenderness, pleading, and bitter protest and are equally at home in plainchant, Latin hymns, blues, spirituals, shouts and crooning. Among the highlights are the three opening hymns, settings of two poems of Torquato Tasso by William Hawley, commissioned by Chanticleer, which combine 16th- and 20th-century styles, and the two final folksongs, the last with a stride-style piano accompaniment, making a rousing, exuberant ending. The booklet, in three languages, is well laid-out and informative. --Edith Eisler

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CD Reviews

Not what I was looking for
James A. Thorson | Omaha, NE USA | 08/04/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)

"I own most of the other Chanticleer albums, and I love their delicious harmonies. The sweet singing I was looking for was lacking here, at least in selections four through eleven. In fact, the harshness (could a couple of tenors be taken out and gently shot?) rattled my teeth. Perhaps this was the intention, but I'm getting to the stage when I don't have time to waste. I want beautiful music, and I don't think that's too much to ask."
Awful
Coffee Lover | 01/03/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)

"I love Chanticleer...but this album is just plain awful. My husband also loves Chanticleer, but he skipped track after track....you can't call them songs or music. Very little in this album sounds like the Chanticleer we love. What happened?"