Notes and Editorial Reviews
There's nothing like success, and heaven knows Anonymous 4 has seen its share over the years. One of the early music-specialist group's biggest hits was 2003's American Angels, a surprising foray into sacred music of early America--hymns, shape-note tunes, and gospel songs from the 18th and 19th centuries. As is Anonymous 4's practice, the singers drew their material largely from original sources, this time from collections such as The Southern Harmony and The Sacred Harp--a diversion from the medieval manuscripts they've tapped for most of their recordings.
This new release, following a similar repertoire path, is loosely based on a theme of a lost girl, forsaken in love, who
Read more
"looks to the life beyond in spiritual songs of hope, happiness, and glory". Employing both published settings and the performers' own arrangements, the quartet and its instrumental partners bring new life and vibrant power to beloved old hymns, ballads, and revival songs such as Wayfaring Stranger (both instrumental and vocal versions), Where we'll never grow old, Mercy-seat, and Shall we gather at the river--here sung to the tune Palmetto (the group sings the more familiar version on American Angels).
Although both American Angels and Gloryland were recorded at the same favored venue--Skywalker Sound--this latest disc comes across a bit edgier than the first, the voices more forward and more freely ornamenting lines and bending pitches. As one who knows many of the tunes on this program from camps, revival services, and Bible conferences in my younger days, I can say that there's a certain authenticity in the singing--the inflection, the harmony, the rhythmic flow--that sucessfully manages the fine line between sincerity and parody. The solo voices are always strong, true, and--most importantly--expressive of the texts, and together the ensemble makes a sound at once solid and uplifting, worthy of the music's power and purpose.
The instruments for the most part are a very fine addition--and you couldn't ask for more expert or compelling artists than Darol Anger and Mike Marshall. Their accompaniments--they join one or more singers on more than half of the tracks--provide a tasteful folk/country/roots aspect to the songs that works quite effectively, although I couldn't help but feel that their contribution to the last track, exuberant and stylish as it is, sounded more country/pop than gospel.
Highlights include the lively a cappella opening track, the revival song "I'm on my journey home", with its penetrating open harmonies, begun with the singers' attention-getting sol-fa intonation. Susan Hellauer offers a perfectly plaintive Wagoner's Lad and the quartet delivers a sweetly prayerful Pleading Saviour and a wonderfully swinging rendition of the revival tune Merrick, sung to the words "Saviour, visit Thy plantation".
Listeners who thought Anonymous 4 had retired and disbanded will be delighted with this return engagement--which also involves a "Gloryland Tour", already underway and continuing into May, 2007. And as for these four amazing singers, they'd better be careful; they may find themselves in demand for a whole new career and new incarnation as a gospel, folk-hymn, revival quartet. The "Righteous Sisters" anyone? [8/19/2006]
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Like Noah's weary dove by Traditional
Performer:
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 4 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: English
2.
Wayfaring stranger by Traditional
Performer:
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 42 Secs.
Language: English
3.
The lost girl by Traditional
Performer:
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Susan Hellauer (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 56 Secs.
Language: English
4.
Pleading saviour by Traditional
Performer:
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 21 Secs.
Language: English
5.
You fair and pretty ladies by Traditional
Performer:
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Marsha Genensky (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 36 Secs.
Language: English
6.
Parting Friends by Traditional
Performer:
Mike Marshall (Mandolin/Guitar),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Marsha Genensky (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 42 Secs.
Language: English
7.
I'm on my Journey Home by Sarah Lancaster
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1859; USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 13 Secs.
Language: English
8.
An Address for all by William Walker
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Classical
Written: by 1835; USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 4 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: English
9.
Where we'll never grow old by James C. Moore
Performer:
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Marsha Genensky (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: 20th Century
Written: circa 1914; USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 30 Secs.
Language: English
10.
Ecstasy by T.W. Carter
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1844; USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: English
11.
Wagoner's Lad by Traditional
Performer:
Susan Hellauer (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 49 Secs.
Language: English
12.
Mercy-Seat by Traditional
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 4 Minutes 12 Secs.
Language: English
13.
Return Again by William L. Williams
Performer:
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: English
14.
Palmetto by William Houser
Performer:
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Marsha Genensky (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 25 Secs.
Language: English
15.
Merrick by William Walker
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 4 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: English
16.
Shining Shore by George Root
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: 1856; USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 4 Minutes 42 Secs.
Language: English
17.
Saint's Delight by Florence Beatrice Price
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 59 Secs.
18.
Just Over in the Gloryland by Emmett S. Dean
Performer:
Susan Hellauer (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Marsha Genensky (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Period: Romantic
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 2 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: English
19.
Green Pastures by H.W. Vanhoose
Performer:
Marsha Genensky (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandolin),
Mike Marshall (Guitar),
Darol Anger (Mandola),
Darol Anger (Mandolin),
Darol Anger (Baritone Violin),
Darol Anger (Violin),
Johanna Rose (Voice),
Jacqueline Horner (Voice),
Mike Marshall (Mandocello),
Susan Hellauer (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Anonymous 4
Written: USA
Date of Recording: 10/2005
Venue: Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA
Length: 3 Minutes 56 Secs.
Language: English
Featured Sound Samples
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
