Review Detail
Declare Your Name - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Integrity
WL Quick Tip: This will be an album that impacts many hearts with music for your choir, congregation, and selections for special occasions, sermon support and personal listening. Although not every song will be a fit for every congregation, with arrangement adjustments-most congregations are smaller than BTC's choir-there will be something for everyone.Choir director Carol Cymbala and her creative cohorts at the Brooklyn Tab, not to mention a 285 voice choir and some great guest vocalists (including Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, and Jonathan Butler), have once again fashioned a worship experience that is sure to bring in the accolades and award nominations.
Declare Your Name is a big, roof-raising, lush, orchestral production; it is emotional, inspirational, and scripturally-based, with a nice variation in tempos and approach (Pop/World/Gospel/Contemporary worship/musical theatre). The lyrics hold few surprises, but are solid and simple, with all words and music written in-house by the BTC team. "Oh, the Cross" and "New Jerusalem" are power-packed pop ballads that would serve as special music for Easter. The latter is an album highlight opening with the plaintive cry of a single violin that leads into the evocative and powerful vocalizing of TaRanda Greene. "I Surrender" is the perfect re-dedication chorus, filled with trust and hope. With the overall bigness, one notices the juxtaposition of the quiet, simple and subdued moments more, as on "Helpless" with guest Paul Baloche, which will be adapted across congregational/denominational styles. Guest Jonathan Butler brings Afro-Caribbean style and joy to "It All Belongs to You" and "Coming Back." Brooklyn isn't that far from Broadway and in the music/production department
Declare Your Name has all the drama and sparkle of a New York Broadway musical.
Play List: "I'll Sing of Your Love," "Helpless," "Where Can I Go"
- Andrea Hunter
brooklyntabernacle.org
