Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Cross Rhythms has already published a full report on how David Albracht, a Texan doctor, has been composing new settings for the Psalms. The CD under review contains three Psalms, namely verses 1 to 4 of Psalm 66 along with Psalms 48 and 115. All use the full text of the King James Version with no edits or paraphrases which led me to expect some difficult phrasing but Dr Albracht and his arranger Paul Ayres rise triumphantly and indeed joyfully to the challenge. The 2018 'Make A Joyful Noise' is undoubtedly the full Choral / Classical works featuring the London Voices and London Symphony Orchestra in a splendid recording at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. The quick and easy review would be to compare Albracht's compositional voice to John Rutter's in being strong on melody and always allowing the texts to take precedence. These settings are written to be used in worship with sheet music promised at a future date. Already available on this release are the three orchestral tracks which allow us to hear just how imaginative and - that word again - joyful are the compositions. When we put the words back in the end result is spiritually uplifting and musically most enjoyable. So that's two and a bit Psalms done, 147 and the rest of Psalm 66 to go and this listener waits with joyful anticipation.

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