Sweet Manna (Arr. A. Parker for Choir)

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.