Alice Parker

Review: Alice Parker and Melodious Accord dig deep into the rich history of the black tradition. This recording contains a cantata, two suites and eight spirituals in choral settings by Parker. Interspersed between the suites and cantata are sets of spiritual arrangements. "I want Jesus to walk with me" is especially beautiful. The title piece "Listen Lord," a cantata for solo contralto, chorus and jazz combo, uses the text of the opening prayer in James Weldon Johnson's God's Trombones in combination with two spirituals. This jazzy-blues set features contralto Pamela Warrick-Smith. The first suite, "Dem Bells," was composed for choir and handbells. The first and last movements are light almost-rags with a slow somber movement in the middle. The performance on the recording uses piano. The last set, "Street Corner Spirituals," is a suite combining fragments of spirituals for chorus, and an informal street corner band of trumpet, drums and keyboard. These catchy tunes and varied rhythms make a fun toe-tapping piece. This CD is a great example of Alice Parker's unique view on the black spiritual as a melodic resource.

Songlist: Three Spirituals:, - When Jesus Comes, - Tell 'em I'm Gone, - You Can Tell the World, Listen, Lord:, - This Morning, - I, It May Be, - This Man of God, - When I've Done, Two Spirituals:, - I Want Jesus to Walk With Me, - He's Got the Whole World, A Suite: Dem Bells:, - Mary and Martha Have Just Gone 'long, - Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass, - I'm A-Rollin', Three Spirituals:, - God Loves All His Many People, - Welcome Table, - Father's Got a Home, A Suite: Street Corner Spirituals, - Come and Go with Me, - Blow Yo' Gospel Trumpet, - Can't You Hear, - Holy, Holy, - Let the Church Roll On, - Glory, Hallelujah

Review: The 17 varied early American songs of praise found in songbooks published between 1790 and 1830 in "Sweet Manna" give us a glimpse of the musical life of the early settlers and the changing modes of Christian worship as the country developed. The rich variety of lyrics and tunes include cheerful gathering songs like "My God, the Spring of All My Joy;" slow, reflective moods as in "Deep Distress and Troubled Thoughts;" sprightly dances: "When Some Kind Shepherd from His Fold;" and joyous marches: "My Soul, Triumphant in the Lord." Fuguing tunes like "How Pleased and Blessed Was I" and "Through Every Age, Eternal God" release their energies; while more modal melodies like "Return, O God of Love, Return" shed a quiet grace. The mixed a cappella voices of MMA are strong and soaring, and these powerful songs are sung with spirit and feeling, and it is easy to imagine being in the congregations where they were first sung, joining in wonderful choruses of praise.

Songlist: Almighty Maker, God, My Thoughts, That Often Mount the Skies, When Some Kind Shepherd from His Fold, Ye Boundless Realms of Joy, How Pleased and Blessed Was I, From Deep Distress and Troubled Thoughts, What Is Our God, or What His Name, My Soul, Triumphant in the Lord, To God, in Whom I Trust, Hear Me, O Lord, nor Hide Thy Face, My Soul, the Great Creator Praise, How Short and Hasty Is Our Life, How Soft the Words My Savior Speaks, Through Every Age, Eternal God, Return, O God of Love, Return, My God! The Spring of All My Joys, Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

Review: Boston's Alice Parker, composer, conductor and teacher was first known for her arrangements and collaboration with the late Robert Shaw. She has built an international reputation composing, researching folk music and performing. In 1985 she formed Melodious Accord, a 16-voice professional chorus. "My Love and I" features the men of this group, singing 24 traditional folk songs from America, England and Scotland, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Ireland and Sea Shanties. Some favorites: "Darling Nellie Gray," "Aura Lee," "When Love is Kind," "A-Roving," "Stodole Pumpa," "Al Olivo," "Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded," "A Ballynure Ballad" and "To Ladies' Eyes." This is well-chosen music from another era, sometimes poignant and heart-tugging, sometimes rousing; always powerful. A generous collection, sung with tremendous feeling by Alice Parker's hand-picked men! All a cappella, nice liner notes with the complete lyrics.

Songlist: America:, Seeing Nellie Home, Stars of the Summer Night, Darling Nellie Gray, England and Scotland:, Passing By, Turn Ye to Me, When Love is Kind, Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes, Sea Shanties:, Haul Away, Joe!, Lowlands, A-Roving, France, Czech Republic, Germany:, L'Amour e Moy, Stodole Pumpa, Treue Liebe, Du, du liegst mir im Herzen, Spain:, La Tarara, Adois, Catedral de Burgos, Al Olivo, Ireland:, Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded, A Ballynure Ballad, Down by the Sally Gardens, To Ladies' Eyes, America:, Aura Lee, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Vive L'Amour

Review: This is a collection of hymn tunes and texts with notes on their origin, idiom, and performance; and suggestions for their use in the service. It is Alice Parker at her best, providing some musical ideas for the improvisation of hymn-anthems by choirs and congregations. Included are chapters on chants and processionals, Psalter hymns, chorales, classic hymns, folk hymns, and spirituals.

Songlist: Of the Father's Love Begotten, Here, O my Lord, I See Thee, Sing We Triumphant Hymns of Praise, O Splendor of God's Glory Bright, All People That on Earth do Dwell, I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes, Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now, Comfort, Comfort Ye My People, Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word, Give to the Winds Thy Fears, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Let All Together Praise Our God, Come, Thou Almighty King, I Waited Patient for the Lord, Praise the Lord who Reigns Above, O Thou in Whose Presence, How Firm a Foundation, Jerusalem, My Happy Home, Star in the East, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Vhild, Were You There?, Standing in the Need of Prayer, Who'll be a Witness for My Lord

Review: The 17 varied early American songs of praise found in songbooks published between 1790 and 1830 in "Sweet Manna" give us a glimpse of the musical life of the early settlers and the changing modes of Christian worship as the country developed. The rich variety of lyrics and tunes include cheerful gathering songs like "My God, the Spring of All My Joy;" slow, reflective moods as in "Deep Distress and Troubled Thoughts;" sprightly dances: "When Some Kind Shepherd from His Fold;" and joyous marches: "My Soul, Triumphant in the Lord." Fuguing tunes like "How Pleased and Blessed Was I" and "Through Every Age, Eternal God" release their energies; while more modal melodies like "Return, O God of Love, Return" shed a quiet grace. The mixed a cappella voices of MMA are strong and soaring, and these powerful songs are sung with spirit and feeling, and it is easy to imagine being in the congregations where they were first sung, joining in wonderful choruses of praise.

Songlist: Almighty Maker, God, My Thoughts, That Often Mount the Skies, When Some Kind Shepherd from His Fold, Ye Boundless Realms of Joy, How Pleased and Blessed Was I, From Deep Distress and Troubled Thoughts, What Is Our God, or What His Name, My Soul, Triumphant in the Lord, To God, in Whom I Trust, Hear Me, O Lord, nor Hide Thy Face, My Soul, the Great Creator Praise, How Short and Hasty Is Our Life, How Soft the Words My Savior Speaks, Through Every Age, Eternal God, Return, O God of Love, Return, My God! The Spring of All My Joys, Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

Review: The Musicians of Melodious Accord are a 16-voice professional chorus in New York City, offering recordings and concerts of many styles. Their conductor, Alice Parker, is internationally known as a composer, arranger, conductor and teacher, with a passion for true folksongs. "Take Me to the Water" is the command, request and plea (founded on John 4:14) made by those who seek the "well of water springing up into everlasting life." It serves as a unifying phrase for the powerful African-American spiritual songs in this collection, which come from the mid-19th century and earlier, from such sources as "Slave Songs," published in NY in 1867. 13 a cappella songs, sung with tremendous feeling, strength and sweetness by the MMA, from "I Know the Lord," "Come On Up to Bright Glory" and "Hush! Hush!" to "Free at Last," the title tune, and "Who'll Be a Witness." "Take Me" is a beautiful, inspirational collection!

Songlist: I Know the Lord, Stayed on Jesus, Come On Up to Bright Glory, Don't Be Weary, Traveler, Hush! Hush!, We WIll March Through the Valley, He Is King of Kings, Let Us Break Bread Together, Is There Anybody Here, Free At Last, Take Me to the Water, Cert'nly, Lord, Who'll Be A Witness