Reviewed by Ewan Jones

This interesting package turns out to be a bit of a mixed bag. A CD and DVD pack featuring instrumental versions of 15 classic hymns. Musically, the recording and musicianship are of a high quality. The orchestral tracks have the endearing feel of a 1940's Hollywood movie score, while other selections offer a more reflective Celtic mood or a smooth as silk, Songs Of Praise style studio arrangement. Names such as Simeon Wood pop up in the credits enough to give you the general idea. This odd variety is fine on the whole, although one or two of the tunes do suffer due to some bizarre arrangements. I imagine that the main purpose of the CD and DVD is for them to be used either in your personal reflections, or as aids to musical worship in a church/home group setting. I see no reason why this wouldn't work, although it's worth knowing the material well before you use it in a group - "Be Thou My Vision" has a 1:45 introduction before the first verse kicks in. Some tunes will be incredibly easy to sing along to; others less so. The DVD provided is a more dubious affair. The advantage over the CD is that the lyrics can appear at the bottom of the screen as subtitles for you to follow. More distracting may be the images - and this will be very much down to personal taste - old ladies outside country cottages, young girls on bouncy castles, cute liccle birds and animals, beaches, forests, fields, etc. Some scenes bear rather tenuous links to the songs they accompany. An option to view the lyrics to each song is useless and should have been offered as a text file. This compilation is perhaps worth a go for some pleasant background music or if instrumental versions of these tracks can aid in worship, but I remain sceptical.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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