Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: FABULOUS.
Comment: The Dale Warland Singers "Harvest Home" is incredible. It truly brings in the essence of our American harvest. The intonation is nearly flawless, and the many details in each song make for a truly incredible CD. I haven't taken it out of my CD player since I made the purchase.
Barnett's "McKay" is one song in particular that I listen to repeatedly. Set to a poem well known throughout America, you can definitely hear the "rivers of delight" streaming through the piece.
I recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys excellence in choral music.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: "Harvest Home" Serves Up a Feast
Comment: Most CD recordings of choral music do not attract the attention of the population at large, and "Harvest Home" is clearly an exception. Word came to me about this remarkable album through a fellow faculty member at the Boston Conservatory. He was rightly proud of having written two of the arrangements, but prouder still of the fact that it had become a red-hot bestseller through the word-of-mouth network of choristers all over the country. Needless to say, I was curious but a bit skeptical. Generally, things that become that popular have an aesthetic downside. I ordered my copy from Amazon and got it just before I left to go to a concert with a couple of musician friends. We were frankly thrilled with the quality of the singing, the beautifully shaped nuances, and the richness of the several of the arrangements. It is clear that its popularity among choral singers has to do with the musical material, as with its execution. The arrangements are based on mostly religious American folk songs and show off the delicate intonational skills of Dale Warland's legendary group. It's just the kind of thing that church choir members can really appreciate, but unfortunately cannot stand up to repeated listing -- it has to be the work of great composers for me to hear recordings over and over again. Nevertheless, I played it for my choral group, and they jumped all over it. That's the market audience. Bravo, Mr. Warland.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Comment: I've been a fan of the Dale Warland Singers for a long time, and attended many of their concerts. This recording displays perfectly what the choir was capable of. I listen to it constantly. Many of these arrangements are the best I've heard of these songs. "Deep River" is better than that of Chanticleer or Cantus. "She'll be Comin Round the Mountain" is really fun. I got the chance to sing it a few years ago and will never forget it. You NEED to buy this CD. It's well worth the money.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Comment: Buy this album! This is the finest recording I have purchased this year. The exquisite tonality and the arrangements have kept me listening every day. The audio quality is outstanding - balanced, finely nuanced, lovely soundstage. If you enjoy choral music, purchase this album - NOW.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Exquisite
Comment: I purchased this on a whim and it is been in my 5-disc player ever since. I have always loved choral settings of folk songs and hymns (with one exception - "The Water is Wide" should never ever ever be sung by a chorus - it doesn't work, but it is the only track I skip on this disc). The selections are all old favorites in often harmonically lush arrangements. Hawley's arrangement of "Not One Sparrow" is transcendent and has become my morning prayer, "Lay Me Low" my evening meditation. The singing is as near perfect as can be, musicality is stunning, and technical merits are high. I cannot recommend this disc enough.
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