Beth Nielsen Chapman: If Love Could Say God's Name

Average customer rating:

Be prepared for the unexpected

A complete disaster

I WAS THERE!!!

INPSIRATIONAL

Beth Nielsen Chapman: If Love Could Say God's Name
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Manufacturer: BNC RECORDS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Beth Nielsen Chapman [Us Import]

Sand and Water

ASIN: B000MCIDGE
Release Date: 2007-01-29

Customer Reviews:

Be prepared for the unexpected.......2007-04-27

If I had made this DVD with my local choir in my loacl church, I would have been dead chuffed and shown it to all my mates. But this is Beth Nielsen Chapman! What on earth are we to make of it?! It has all of the hallmarks of a good but amateur production. Witness the bottle of water on BNC's music stand throughout the event, the undisguised cables taped to the floor, and a sound recording that was so clearly unable to cope with the unusual accoustics of St Pauls Cathedral that I had to listen with my finger constantly on the volume control. The inadequacy of the sound came across in the spoken parts too, not just in the music. Neither was the camera work particularly imaginative.

Is this all sounding a bit negative? Then let me say that I am a BNC fan. Her 'Sand and Water' and 'Deeper Still' albums got five star reviews from me. I was just a bit taken aback by this. Perhaps that's because I didn't know quite what to expect. I knew it would be something of a cross between a concert and a church service, but I thought it would lean more towards being a concert, when in fact it leaned the other way. Nothing wrong with this; knowing that Beth has recorded hymns and has a pronounced spiritual side to her character, I suppose it shouldn't have taken me by surprise, but it did.

But in spite of all this, I did enjoy this DVD, and have given it four stars. Why? Partly because for me the word amateur has positives as well as negatives. The warmth and spontanaity of all of the participants came across. I actually liked seeing that bottle of water on BNC's music stand; it reminded me that I was watching a real event and real people. Also because the songs, in spite of the inadequacies of the recording, are undeniably beautiful and well performed. Some I had not heard before, and were a revelation to me. Of those I knew, the performance of 'The Color of Roses' was particularly spine-tingling, as were the spirituals.

I can understand why anyone who was there would love and cherish this DVD as a momento of what must have been a moving and unique event. People like me, who are BNC fans through her recorded work but have never seen her live will also get a lot from it. It certainly makes me want to catch one of her live performances if I ever get the chance. But for those who are not yet BNC fans, then this is probably not the best introduction to her.

A complete disaster.......2007-04-26

I'm sorry folks, but this is awful. I love BNC's other work, and was really looking forward to this spiritual treatment, but this is a major disappointment. The production quality is poor - full of echo and badly mixed, and the choice of material was weak and did not flatter her voice. At times I wondered whether the concert was the first time she and the choir had sung together. Avoid, and stick with her brilliant secular material

I WAS THERE!!!.......2007-02-18

Some of you will know how much of a fan of Beth Nielsen Chapman and her music I am, and this DVD is so brilliantly shot and certainly captures the atmosphere of the service, which myself and my wife attended. Watch out for Beth's new CD PRISM soon which will feature some of the hymns on here. IF LOVE COULD SAY GOD'S NAME she has also been performing on her recent tour and is a piano-based number which displays all her vocal talent . . . but wait, beneath the awe-inspiring dome of St Pauls, her vocal range is captured even better echoing through the building! What is also amazing here is that Beth can perform in different lanugages - a Zulu hymn called MASIBULELE KU JESU(I'm sure this was done by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, I recognised it) - a Hebrew hymn called SHALOM ALEICHEM which I heard when Beth was rehearsing beforehand and was totally blown away - and AVE MARIA. Not the Schubert version we all know, and I sang in chapel at school, but a Donizetti transposition/arrangement during which we got up and lit the candles in the cathedral. Strange thing is I knew all of the Latin lyrics off by heart.

Beth's own song THE COLOR OF ROSES in a choral arrangement had me struggling not to burst into tears at this service as I knew we were being filmed(we were at the front row) as this song, from the SAND AND WATER album, is very personal to me. And as if this is not inspiring enough, the HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING and AMAZING GRACE solo/choral performance is even more mindblowing.

The next day after the service, I phoned venues all across the UK for tickets to see Beth on tour, and after SOLD OUT messages I luckily made it to Birkenhead, front row, and met her again afterwards. Watch out for even more amazing hymns, including one in Welsh, on the forthcoming CD.

But overall, whatever your faith, whatever your religion, this is a DVD well worth the money - especially if you were there - and suitable for all to enjoy, but please have some tissues at the ready as Beth's voice will really move you to tears in ways you can't imagine!

INPSIRATIONAL.......2007-02-04

A most beautiful DVD. Beth Nielsen Chapman sings wonderfully, usually just accompanied by a choir. The first track, which she sings accompanying herself on the piano, is worth the money alone. And do listen to the great "How Can I Keep From Singing" track when Beth interpolates "Amazing Grace" above the choir.
The service is very good as well. If you want to find a bit of peace in this cluttered world, then do buy this !!!

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