Spirituals We Love

Your Favorite Composers Share a Few of Their Favorites

By Pepper Choplin

A Collection, like this one, is a good idea to introduce new composers to the purchaser. But -- the Good Writers stand out: Shackley, Hayes, Larson. Their stimulating ideas make the music come alive. The music intertwines from chord progression to chord progression. In comparison the other selections lack quality writing...

. For instance --- an idea or phrase can be found repeating and repeating, as if the piece was for a student learning a new concept. I plan to use the Shackley, Larson, Hayes compositions from the Collection. Their compositions are of high quality.

This is an interesting and enjoyable collection of spirituals. I like the idea of a collection of arrangers so I can sample those whose work I had not seen before. I appreciate the comment by each arranger and the inclusion of the words for each song.This book is a...

great fit for me as service music. There are some easier pieces that I have gotten ready in a week and some more challenging pieces that are taking longer. I like the energy and momentum of all of them. A great addition to my music collection.

This has four very usable slow & reflective pieces for solemn occasions...and several jump-up-and-shout arrangements that will have everybody tapping their feet. Definitely belongs in the collection of church pianists and those of us who play for the occasional funeral or wedding.