Robert Gass & On Wings of Song return with
Awakening, a collection of eight chants from around the world. Subtle instrumentation weaves its way through the album, with pianos underpinning the gentle "Cuncti Simus" and drums and flutes adding to the tribal feel of the
Gass original "Remembrance," but the focus, as always, is on the group's unified voices.
On Wings of Song does a fine job adapting to the album's different chant styles, spanning the lovely Hindu chant "Chant of the Lotus Guru" as well as a 12-minute reading of "Lord's Prayer" and an 11-minute version of Pachelbel's "Alleluia." Guests such as
Glen Velez,
Steve Gorn,
Margo Krimmel, and
Omar Faruk Tekbilek add to the album's authenticity and diversity, which is also enhanced by a 28-page booklet of descriptions and translations. Ultimately,
Awakening does a good job of contemporizing global chant without cheapening it. ~ Heather Phares