Kyle Pederson does it again, taking classic spiritual songs and
putting a contemporary, piano-based spin on them, in the process making them
his own.
The album lives up to the title, as this collection makes these
storied tracks live again. The songs are a mix of hymns from the Middle Ages,
the Age of Enlightenment, and early to mid-contemporary times. Tunes include
“Be Thou My Vision,” “What Wondrous Love Is This,” and “Lord Whose Love in Humble
Service.” The standout is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” not only because it
is the most recognizable and the most durable composition here, but also
because Pederson’s interpretation is a real accomplishment precisely because of
those reasons.
Pederson deliberately chose not to use the organ on any of these
tracks because of the instrument’s inseparable identification with this music.
Pederson’s performance on piano keeps the recordings classy and elegant, with
some accompaniment by other musicians on guitar, mandolin, bass, violin, cello,
and oboe. The extra instrumentation provides just enough of a hint of
embellishment without overwhelming the sacrosanct nature of the songs.
People who enjoy hymns should enjoy Pederson’s take on these
classic spirituals, but people of all faiths, if any, should appreciate this
disc as well, as was Pederson’s intention.
--Raj
Manoharan
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