Album

The choirs of Washington National Cathedral—boys, girls, and adult altos, tenors, and basses—have made great strides technically under director of music Michael McCarthy and have released a series of albums that can stand with those of the better-known professional choirs in the U.S. In this one they handle a variety of compositions and arrangements with confidence and a sense of controlled development of the program. The main reservations pertain to the billing of the album rather than to its actual contents. Buyers expecting that the title America the Beautiful would promise a selection of patriotic tunes will get satisfaction mostly at the beginning and end of the program, where the cathedral's organ and the talents of the Washington Symphonic Brass are deployed in arrangements of America, America the Beautiful, The Washington Post March, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, The Star-Spangled Banner, and The Stars and Stripes Forever. In between comes a selection of hymnody, both black and white, and even music pertaining to "the traditions of Washington National Cathedral itself," which has only a glancing relationship to the patriotic theme; McCarthy's arrangment of Charles Hubert Parry's Jerusalem was composed for the funeral of Ronald Reagan in 2004. Taken on its own terms, however, the music is both unusual and interesting. The group of arrangements of African-American spirituals brings together a variety of approaches, from the classic William Dawson setting of There Is a Balm in Gilead to Michael Tippett's somehow very British versions to the spectacular Moses Hogan setting of Abide with Me, that would be hard to hear together anywhere else. Organ pieces, including the reflective and apparently completely non-nationalist-related Aria by Paul Manz, break up the program effectively. The bottom line: just make sure you want what you're actually getting here. The booklet essay (in English only) was not edited by anyone who knew the difference between "its" and "it's," and no texts for the vocal pieces are provided.

© James Manheim, Rovi

CD 1
Samuel F. Smith Composer America, for chorus and orchestra ('My Country 'Tis of Thee') Work Washington Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Scott Hanoian Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
1	America, for chorus and orchestra ('My Country 'Tis of Thee')	3:00			$0.99
Samuel A. Ward Composer America the Beautiful Work Washington Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Scott Hanoian Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
2	America the Beautiful	3:22			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Washington Post March Work Erik Wm. Suter Organ
3	Washington Post March	2:53			$0.99
American Traditional Composer Steal Away Work Christine Buras Treble, Gerry Stacy Tenor, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
4	Steal Away	3:04			$0.99
Anonymous, American Composer My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, hymn (to the tune Resignation) Work The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
5	My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, hymn (to the tune Resignation)	4:17			$0.99
Spiritual Traditional Composer There Is a Balm in Gilead, spiritual Work Charlotte Woolley Treble, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
6	There Is a Balm in Gilead, spiritual	3:43			$0.99
Spiritual Traditional Composer Deep River, spiritual Work Mac Lambert Bass, Lara Iglesias-Cox Treble, Roger Isaacs Countertenor, Gerry Stacy Tenor, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
7	Deep River, spiritual	3:30			$0.99
Aaron Copland Composer Fanfare for the Common Man Work Washington Symphonic Brass Ensemble
8	Fanfare for the Common Man	3:06			$0.99
Anonymous Composer O love of God, how strong and true Work Erik Wm. Suter Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
9	O love of God, how strong and true	4:53			$0.99
Sydney Carter Composer Lord of the Dance Work Bobb Robinson Bass, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
10	Lord of the Dance	3:07			$0.99
Paul Manz Composer Aria, for organ Work Erik Wm. Suter Organ
11	Aria, for organ	6:26			$0.99
William Henry Monk Composer Abide with me (Tune: Eventide) Work The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
12	Abide with me (Tune: Eventide)	3:38			$0.99
Richard Wayne Dirksen Composer Father, in thy gracious keeping Work Scott Hanoian Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
13	Father, in thy gracious keeping	4:15			$0.99
William Steffe Composer The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Words by Julia Ward Howe; Music attributed to Steffe) Work Washington Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Scott Hanoian Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
14	The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Words by Julia Ward Howe; Music attributed to Steffe)	5:32			$0.99
John Stafford Smith Composer The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem, USA), for orchestra and voice/chorus, ad lib Work Washington Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Scott Hanoian Organ, The Choirs of Washington National Cathedral Chorus/Choir
15	The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem, USA), for orchestra and voice/chorus, ad lib	1:41			$0.99
John Philip Sousa Composer Stars and Stripes Forever Work Erik Wm. Suter Organ
16	Stars and Stripes Forever	4:35			$0.99