Asymmetric Music

I had only heard "Simple Gifts" in its instrumental version. I was taken aback by the lovely lyriced version I heard on the Hugh Hewitt show. Intrigued, I investigated and found out that it was by the Armstrong family. I listened to the whole album. Enthralled, I purchased. I find their slightly un-tuned performances charming. Here are the ones that mention our Lord, for Christmas:

"Simple Gifts" is the podcast.

"Lullay, the Son of Mary"

O.-L. Vrouwekathedraal 1577 Antwerp

"Corpus Christi Carol"

"This Old World"

DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO 1482

The Wheel of the Year -- Thirty Years with the Armstrong Family by Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael, Peter Joffre Nye

These albums are a hat trick of goodness for me. The best Catholic music in English. The best Irish music I've heard. And, just great music, period.

The performances are stunning. Frank Patterson is a formidable tenor. Regina Nathanson's a thrilling soprano. The monks are fine if you like that. There's even some affecting boy singers. Choirs, too.

I've never heard the songs on this collection, which makes them especially valuable to me. They're soaringly melodic and exceptionally well-constructed. They have religious lyrics, but you can still enjoy them if you lack faith the same way you might still appreciate Handel's Messiah despite the event that inspired it.

Future saints, on the other hand, are in for an amazing experience. The songs range in theme from soft devotions to the Trinity, Mary, and the Church to full-throated hymns of religious defiance to the English (originally; however, they're equally applicable to other challenges).

The second album adds Latin and Gaelic lyrics.

I consider both albums a must-own. There's a concert DVD I haven't seen and a Christmas CD I haven't heard. I plan on purchasing both.

Faith of Our Fathers: Classic Religious Anthems of Ireland

Faith Of Our Fathers, Vol. 2

Faith of Our Fathers