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Music
for Missionaries
"A
Musical Companion," "True to the Faith," "Let
Us Go Forth" and "Called to Serve Him" are suitable
for Sunday listening and sure to inspire missionary zeal.
By Laurie
Williams Sowby
Most LDS missionaries
face restrictions on the kind of music they can listen to. The Tabernacle
Choir albums are generally acceptable, but here are somerecordings
which may pass the muster with mission presidents looking to encourage,
build faith, and motivate their missionaries. All are available
from LDS book/music outlets or may be ordered from individual web
sites.
Let Us Go
Forth
"Let Us
Go Forth," the newest, from Sounds of Zion, features some less-familiar
and original songs along with familiar favorites such as "The
Spirit of God," "Praise to the Man," "I'll Go
Where You Want Me to Go," and "Called to Serve" on
its 14 tracks.
But even the
old ones receive new treatments with Greg Hansen's deft arrangements
and orchestrations, while able vocalists -- both men and women --
bring out the best of the new songs. Dave Tinney's voice is perfect
for the haunting rendition of "A Poor Wayfaring Man,"
and Tammy Simister Robinson's is equal to the task on "When
Spirit Speaks to Spirit."
Barry Hansen
wrote and also performs the title song. Other nice cuts are "And
We Go," "May I Serve Thee," "Our Mothers Knew
It" and "Here am I, Send Me." All contribute to
the spirit of missionary work. The CD is available at $15.98 and
may be previewed and ordered through soundsofzion.com.
Called to
Serve Him
Covenant Communications,
Inc. has drawn on its stable of recording artists for "Called
to Serve Him," an inspirational instrumental album ($15.95
on CD, $9.95 on cassette).
Naturally, it
includes "I'll Go Where You Want me to Go," "Called
to Serve" and "We'll Bring the World His Truth."
They're combined in a medley with David Glen Hatch at the piano;
he also performs five other favorites, including a convincing arrangement
of "I Believe in Christ" and "How Great Thou Art,"
embellished with arpeggios and chime-like chords.
Pianist Marshall
McDonald is featured in a lush and ethereal orchestration of "If
You Could Hie to Kolob" and a tender "Come, Follow Me."
Contrasting with those orchestral arrangements are the relative
simplicity of Mark Geslison and Jeff Groberg's folk-style renditions
of "I Need Thee Every Hour," "Beautiful Savior"
and "O My Father." In a similar simpler vein is the Lightwood
Duo's clarinet-guitar arrangement of "Abide With Me" and
"The Lord is My Light."
The 16 tracks
on "Called to Serve Him" offer an array of sound suited
to Sabbath listening and sure to inspire any missionary.
Marvin Goldstein
From Marvin
Goldstein comes "A Musical Companion," featuring the pianist
in 20 hymns that are, for the most part, exuberant expressions of
missionary zeal.
A convert from
Judaism, Goldstein himself surveyed around 200 missionaries in the
Florida Tallahassee Mission where he lives, seeking a list of hymns
most meaningful and motivational to them.
This instrumental
album has 20 hymns, beginning with "High on the Mountain Top"
and ending with "Ye Elders of Israel," their familiar
melodies reinterpreted with different chords, new rhythms and fresh
ideas. From the bouncy "Called to Serve" to the lush,
lyrical setting of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and
quieter pieces such as "Our Savior's Love" and "Abide
With Me," listeners seeking uplift will find it in "A
Musical Companion" ($15.98 on CD, $9.98 on cassette).
True to the
Faith
"True to
the Faith" is Sounds of Zion's earlier contribution to missionary
spirit with a generous 16 selections, book-ended by Marvin Goldstein's
piano renditions of the title cut. Greg Hansen's professional arrangements
add variety and a touch of class.
Notable are
"His Hands," with Barry Hansen on vocal against a cello
accompaniment; young Aaron Karr's innocent voice on "Jesus
was No Ordinary Man;" and Cody Hale's lead vocal on the powerful
"I Never Stand Alone," performed with full choir and orchestra.
Other inspirational
tracks include "He is Real," "Never a Better Hero,"
"Reach Out with Love," "To Be Like Him," "I
Will Go and Do," "Face to Face" and "How Do
You Move a Mountain?"
"True to
the Faith" retails at $15.98 on CD and $9.98 on cassette.
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© 2004 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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