While she has been respected for years as a composer and arranger of traditional sacred music,
Alice Parker
has spent the majority of her musical career relegated to the background -- holding the strings while the puppets got credit for the show. Here, on
Sweet Manna
, she finally gets to take center stage. This collection of early American sacred music has been expertly executed by
Parker
and the
Musicians of Melodious Accord
. Largely composed by famed hymnwriter
Issac Watts
, these traditional songs share some remarkable similarities with European early sacred music styles. Considering the fact that these songs span a time period from 1700 to1830, the music seems remarkably simple and chant-like, with multipart harmonies and singing in the round. Indeed, the music borrows heavily from British folk styles and has a kind of nostalgic quality. The execution of the album is precise and beautiful; the chorus is flawless and the bell-like tones of the sopranos are often heartbreaking. Overall, this is a fine document of a style of music that is often overlooked. ~ Stacia Proefrock