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State of Grace

80% Recommended by our customers.
Label: Windham Hill Records
Catalog: Music
Release date: 2000-10-10
Media: Audio CD
discs number: 1
Ean: 0019341156529
Upc: 019341156529

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Artist:

Various Artists

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Album tracks: (10)

Veni Redemptor Gentium

Amazing Grace

Miserere

Veni Creator Spiritus

Auguries of Innocence, Pt. 1

Auguries of Innocence, Pt. 2

Be Still My Soul

Angelica

Simple Gifts

State of Grace

Professional Review:

Producer and composer Paul Schwartz thanks many people on State of Grace, but there is one notable exclusion: the 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen. Although these aren't her compositions, echoes of her ecstatic hymns and sequences resound throughout Schwartz's latest electronica-classical opus. He composes his own 21st-century gothic chants, which are sung by the impassioned soprano Lisbeth Scott. Scott is a powerful singer who brings a more emotional, perhaps even lustful, tone to these electro-Gregorian evocations, gliding over synthesizer ministrations and violin from the durable Gavyn Wright. Paul Schwartz was also responsible for the Aria CDs, on which he updated operatic arias with dance beats. State of Grace benefits from the less oppressive rhythmic regimentation, letting these soaring melodies ring out. When Schwartz deviates from his gothic inspirations, State of Grace flags, notably on a predictable rendition of "Amazing Grace," a misguided Celtic take on the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts," and a trio of instrumentals. --John Diliberto

User Reviews:

Written on January 29, 2007
Summary: To be treasured
I Treasure this cd, Always. Every listening moment from beginning to end is a joyful journey. With each passing year, State of Grace grows more precious and meaningful to me. I always know where this cd is and turn to it whenever I anxious or afraid and it's peaceful, lovely grace never fails to flood through me, revitalizing my soul. State of Grace puts me into a state of pure peace and assuring grace. I hope you purchase and enjoy this cd as much as I do, it's just beautiful.

My favorite song on the cd is "Be Still My Soul."
Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side/ Stand calm within, the storm of grief and pain/ Trust in thy God to order and provide/ Through every change, His faithful light remains/ Be still my soul, the restful peace within/ Through trying times leads to a joyful end
Be still my soul, the wind and waves sure know/ The voice who ruled them when He dwelt below/ Torment and doubt have slipped into the past/ All darkened mysteries shall shine at last/ His burning sun shall melt the ice of fear/ Lift up your heart, His soothing voice to hear
Be still my soul, when light you cannot see/ And trembling skies speak to the fear in thee/ The face of God illuminates the light/ Amending peace and trust in perfect light/ Be still my soul, when tears fall from above/ You are divine, eternally in love.

Soar!
o8E

Written on January 31, 2006
Summary: Enhanting and Soul-Calming
I stumbled upon this CD at my library and was enchanted by the angel on the cover so I checked it out last week. It is an amazing, soothing, calming, meditative, soul-stirring rendition of music. The voices on the songs are lyrical, haunting and mesmerizing.

"Be Still My Soul" is like a musical tranquilizer, a heartfelt, beautiful melody that brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. It makes me feel as if I'm safely enfolded in God's wings and listening to His heart beating just for me.

I'm eager to find more music like this. I highly recommend this if you love soothing, uplifting music.

Written on November 18, 2004
Summary: Has become my favorite CD
I really love Paul's music. So what I have to say is somewhat prejudiced by that.

Lisbeth Scott's voice is odd to describe; each of her renditions sounds different, so she doesn't have only one way of singing. As Paul says on the cover, she sings with her heart. Especially on track seven, "Be Still My Soul", she tugs at my heart strings. The first time I heard it, I thought "That girl is singing with her heart and soul"; then I noticed how imperfect her voice is; but by the time it was done, I was back to noticing only the heartfelt quality of the whole song. Paul accompanies on the piano, and you can tell the two of them are in spiritual/emotional synch. Repeated listenings only further endeared "Be Still My Soul": it forms the centerpiece of State of Grace: by not being perfect, Lisbeth's voice (close to tears) links me with another person who is feeling (and expressing) her spiritual longings. Instead of a polished-perfect voice, hers is imaginable as that of anyone you could already know or meet anywhere; but the passionate quality is remarkable, as though this is the only time this ordinary person could really pull off such a song. (Of course, that is the magic of Lisbeth's voice, to me: she obviously sings very well anytime she chooses to, but her voice is extremely natural, sounding unrehearsed; and that is a special sort of magic in itself.)

The other tracks are all good. Especially five and six, instrumentals on the same theme, which are so enveloping emotionally to me, that they would be my choice of my personal theme music, if my life were ever put to film :)

Written on January 30, 2004
Summary: What was I thinking?!
I already wrote a review for this back in 2001. I just wish I would have given it 5 instead of 4 stars. Listening to State Of Grace is a beautiful, uplifting experience that exults the spirit into higher places, and the multi-talented Paul Schwartz has quickly become one of my all-time favorite musicians. He composes and orchestrates all the music while Lisbeth Scott's angelic voice glides like softly felt wings that radiates a deep sense of majesty over the ambient beats and the glorious strings and church choirs that sing their heavenly praises to the mighty forces that we must first believe in order to perceive. But fear not. You don't have to be religious to enjoy this. Just open your mind and, most importantly, your heart and let it wash over you... That's all I ask.

This is now one of my top 20 most cherished albums and that's saying a lot since I currently own over 500 cds!

Written on January 1, 2004
Summary: Intense, intriguing and cool
A compelling collection of compositions by innovative composer and keyboardist Paul Schwartz. The mood of the album varies, but minor keys predominate and a mysterious, brooding reflectiveness pervades many of the selection to good effect. Christian lyrics in both Latin and English are sung by a soloist, accompanied by programmed groove beats and a lush orchestra of synthesized sound. Clear-voiced Lisbeth Scott does a nice job of emulating a boy soprano for the Latin numbers, the Joyful Company of Singers provides a full, if muted, choral sound in "Misere", and violinist Gavin Wright offers soaring descants and sweet leads on several numbers. But it is composer Schwartz who gives distinctive voice to this music with his multilayered programming. He is at his best in sweeping tracks like "Veni Redemptor Gentium", the choral "Misere", the symphonic "Auguries of Innocence, Part 2" and the delicately brooding "Angelica". Songs I could have done without, however, are "Amazing Grace" and "Simple Gifts", tunes that do not lend themselves to the groove beat phenomenon. While that seems to work well for plainchant and some symphonic and operatic selections, these already-metered folk songs would have been better off left in their traditional state. Nonetheless, "State of Grace" is a good listen--evocative, stirring, and generally well-matched in its fusions. If you like religious plainchant fused with modern musical elements, you might also enjoy "Vision: The Music of Hildegard of Bingen" by Richard Souther, Libera's self-titled debut album, and anything by Enigma.

Comparison map

Wondering how the music CD "State of Grace" relates to similar music CDs? Find out at a glance here:

Price comparison	State of Grace	State of Grace II: Turning to Peace	State of Grace III	Earthbound	Aria 3: Metamorphosis	Aria
Our price	$10.99	$8.99	$16.98	$9.99	$16.98	$19.98
List price	$11.98	$11.98	$16.98	$11.98	$16.98	$19.98
Lowest used price	$4.13	$4.97	$7.48	$4.96	$8.50	$1.75
Lowest new price	$4.98	$4.98	$8.75	$7.18	$10.09	$9.95
Collectible price	-	-	-	-	-	$19.98
Catalog	Music	Music	Music	Music	Music	Music
Release date	2000-10-10	2003-10-07	2006-11-07	2002-05-21	2004-09-21	1997-10-14
Media	Audio CD	Audio CD	Audio CD	Audio CD	Audio CD	Audio CD
discs number	1	1	1	1	1	1
Ean	0019341156529	0828765301725	0099923769224	0019341160526	0099923576525	0706881400921
Upc	019341156529	828765301725	099923769224	019341160526	099923576525	706881400921
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State of Grace