Reviewed by Nigel Harris

There are occasions when I have to ask - just because you CAN do it, should you? This is a good example: it is well done for what it is, but was it really necessary? This bumper three CD compilation, which Kingsway appears to have picked up from Classic Fox Records, features 50 all-time classic hymns, from "Amazing Grace" and "Ave Maria" to "Onward Christian Soldiers", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder". Incidentally, The Eden Symphony contribute just four of the 50 tracks, although there is no noticeable difference in style. I was expecting a collection of classical pastiches from these two world-famous orchestras - "How Great Thou Art" in the style of Strauss, etc. What you actually get is more akin to an old Hollywood soundtrack score. Most sound to me like the music that used to accompany the old Westerns my Dad took me to watch in the '60s and '70s - I could picture the prairies and the cavalry riding over the hill on numerous occasions as I listened to these CDs. Quite a few tracks have a very long prelude during which you can play "guess that hymn" (four hours is a lot of listening for a reviewer!), but unless your knowledge of hymns is encyclopaedic you may still be guessing when you get to the end of some. Many are arranged in such a way that you can sing along to the tune, others lend themselves more to easy listening. Most of it becomes aural wallpaper after a few minutes. If orchestral music is your thing you may like this, but it's by no means a classic.

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