People of Faith

Canadian Brass has joined forces with the Elmer Iseler Singers, one of Canada's premiere choral ensembles, and with organist John Tuttle in performances of some of the most famous Protestant hymns, including one new piece written for the CD. The results of the collaboration are mixed. The most effective arrangements are those that come closest to preserving the music in its recognizable form, and most of the arrangements do this well, with the Canadian Brass providing showy but tasteful accompaniment to the voices. The arrangements that sound more like brass concerti with choral accompaniment, such as "O God Our Help in Ages Past," seem distractingly out of focus. The circumspect arrangements of "Sheep May Safely Graze" (by Eugene Watts), "We Gather Together," and "All Creatures of Our God and King" (by Peter Tiefenbach) are especially moving. The singers and instrumentalists perform with energy and devotion. The resonant acoustic is ideal for this music, but the listener may want to turn down the speakers because of the high volume level of the recording.