Review

In this musical age we live in, it is very popular to take old standards and contemporize them. Often the outcome is a fresh twist on an age old favorite. Sometimes, however, it simply distracts from the beauty of the original composition. Vineyard Music has done quite a bit of "musical transformation" with some of the well worn hymns of the past. Most of their efforts in this area have been a "pleasing sacrifice."

On the new CD "Emmanuel", they are to be commended for leaving the Christmas standards, for the most part, intact. I found it so refreshing to sit and enjoy I Heard the Bells, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Away in a Manger and O Holy Night in unencumbered simplicity. The passion is still there without a lot of musical hoopla. The sweetness and power of the songs was not overwhelmed by modern technology.

Vineyard also offers us some original work. Adoramus Te is one of the most worshipful Christmas songs I have heard in a long time. It is musically and lyrically beautiful. It's a song I want to introduce to our congregation during the holidays. Congregationally, its one drawback is that the chorus is in Latin. While that works on an album, it would be congregationally challenging. However, an English translation of the words is very simple and would make it a great song for a worship set around the holidays. Glory to God is also a great tune. It has a nice worshipful, flowing feel to it and an easy singable chorus.

Thanks Vineyard for a great addition to my Christmas collection. This will be an often played album around my house this Christmas and many Christmases to come.

Danny Mullins