SAVAE: San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble

Revival Tonight!Revival Tonight!
by SAVAE - San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble

Talking Taco # TT-375 (released October 15, 2007)
Distribution: Talking Taco Music
P.O. Box 781211, San Antonio, TX 78278
(210) 269-1691, info@TalkingTaco.com

San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble, SAVAE, has released its sixth recording with an album of beloved American music from the Primitive Baptist, Southern Baptist, and Southern Singing School traditions. Revival Tonight! is a joyous celebration of the relationship between music and the spirit, and SAVAE uses its robust vocal sound to shine a light on the seventeen hymns recorded for the Talking Taco Music label.

SAVAE is best known for its meticulous research into the history and dialects of the music it records, and this album is no exception. For Revival Tonight! SAVAE artistic director Christopher Moroney consulted Southern music and dialect experts — the ensemble's own members.

SAVAE Tenor Jody Noblett, who was raised in a Southern Baptist community in Mississippi, created most of SAVAE's arrangements based on his personal experiences singing at Baptist revivals and youth camps. Alto Tanya Moczygemba, whose parents led music for their Southern Baptist congregation, brought her distinctive Bay City (Texas) dialect to the project. Tenor Lee P'Pool, raised in Kentucky and Tennessee, inspired the music with the same heart that his own father brought to the churches where he led revival music. And sopranos Kathy Mayer and Sonya Yamin, whose grandfathers were preachers, brought their early tent revival experiences and love for the “good old hymns” to the project.

Building on the successes of its recordings of ancient Latin American and Middle Eastern music, SAVAE hopes to reach new audiences with its first-ever recording in the English language. SAVAE's album, Guadalupe, Virgen de los Indios, (1998) reached into the top twenty of Billboard's world music charts and won wide-spread critical acclaim. Ancient Echoes (2004) was featured by NPR, and found its way into the hands of Hollywood director Ridley Scott who used a track from the CD in his "Kingdom of Heaven" film.

Revival Tonight! will be distributed through both traditional and digital avenues through outlets such as amazon.com and iTunes Music Store. Talking Taco Music will handle both retail and wholesale distribution of the album, and World Library Publications will add it to their growing catalog of SAVAE recordings.

Produced by Christopher & Covita Moroney / Engineered & Mixed by Covita Moroney
Recorded at The Green Umbrella, San Antonio, TX / Mastered by Roland Perez
Photography: Christopher & Covita Moroney / Cover & Design: Christopher Moroney
Vocal Arrangements by Jody Noblett and Christopher Moroney

SAVAE: Kathy Mayer, Tanya Moczygemba, Christopher Moroney (artistic director), Covita Moroney, Jody Noblett, Lee P'Pool, Sonya Yamin

LYRICS

    1. note - audio clip OLD TIME RELIGION
    Words & Music adapted from an African American Spiritual by Charles D. Tillman, 1889
    Give me that old time religion, it's good enough for me. Well, it was good for our mothers, yes, it was good for our mothers, said it was good for our mothers, it's good enough for me. It makes me love ev'rybody, makes me love ev'rybody, makes me love ev'ry body, and it's good enough for me. And, it has saved our fathers, it has saved our fathers, it has saved our fathers, it's good enough for me. good enough for me. It will do when I'm dyin', it will do when I'm dyin', it will do when I'm dyin', it's good enough for me. Well, it will take us to heaven, yes, it will take us to heaven, oh, it will take us to heaven, it's good enough for me. Yes, it's good enough for me!

    2. note - audio clip AMAZING GRACE
    Words: John Newton, 1779 Music: Columbian Harmony, 1829
    Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me save thus far, and grace will lead me home. When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shinning as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.

    3. note - audio clip I AM GOING TO A CITY
    Words: Janie West Metzgar, 1929 Music: Old Regular Baptists Lined Out Hymnody
    I am going to a city 1.Where the streets with gold are laid. 2.Where the tree of life is blooming. 3.Where the roses never fade. 4.In this world we have our troubles. 5.Satan's snares we must evade. 6.We'll be free from all temptation. 7.Where the roses never fade.

    4. JUST AS I AM
    Words: Charlotte Elliott, 1835 Music: William B. Bradbury, 1849
    Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bid'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

    5. HALLELUJAH
    Words: Charles Wesley, 1759 Music: William Walker, 1835
    1 - And let this feeble body fail and let it faint or die; My soul shall quit this mournful vale, and soar to worlds on high. And I'll sing hallelujah, and you'll sing hallelujah, and we'll all sing hallelujah, when we arrive at home. 2 - Oh, what are all all my suf frings here, if Lord Thou count me meet; With that inrap tured host appear, and worship at thy feet. And I'll sing halhallelujah, and you'll sing hallelujah, and we'll all sing hallelujah, jah, when we arrive at home. 3 - Give joy or grief, give ease or pain, take life or friends away; But let me find them all again, on that eternal day.

    6. SWEET BY AND BY
    Words: S. F. Bennett, 1868 Music: J. P. Webster, 1868
    1 -There's a land that is fairer than day, and my faith we can see it afar; for the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. 2 -We shall sing on that beautiful shore the melodious songs of the blest; And our spirits shall sorrow no more, not a sight for the blessing of rest. 3 -To our beautiful Father above, we will offer our tribute of praise; For the glorious gift of His love, and the blessings that are our days.

    7. PASS ME NOT, O GENTLE SAVIOUR
    Words: Fanny J. Crosby, 1868 Music: William H. Doane, 1870
    Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, do not pass meby. Trusting only in Thy merit, would I seek Thy face; Heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by Thy grace. Let me at a throne of mercy find a sweet relief; Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief. Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry; While on others Thou artcalling, do not pass me by. Thou the Spring of all my comfort, more than life to me, whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in heav'n but Thee? Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry; While on others Thou artcalling, do not pass me by.

    8. WAYFARING STRANGER
    Words: Bever's Christian Songster, 1858 Music: Eld. C.G. Keith, 1908
    I am a poor wayfarin' stranger, While trav'lin' through this world of woe. Yet there's no sickness, toil, nor danger In that fair land to which I go. I'm goin' there to see my father, I'm goin' there, no more to roam. I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home. I know dark clouds will gather round me, I know my way is rough and steep; Yet golden fields lie just before me, Where God's redeemed their vigils keep. I'm goin' there to see my mother, She said she'd meet me when I come; I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home. I'll soon be freed from ev'ry trial, My form shall rest beneath the sod; I'll drop the cross of self denial, And enter in my home with God. I'm goin' there to see my sisters, Who've gone before me one by one. I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home. I want to sing salvation's story, In concert with the bloodwashed band; I want to wear a crown of glory, When I get home to that good land. I'm goin' there to see my Saviour, To sing His praise for evermore; I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home.

    9. PRESENT JOYS
    Words: Joseph Cottle Music: A. M. Cagle, 1908
    We thank the Lord of heav'n and earth, Who hath preserved us from our birth. For present joys, for blessings past, And for the hope of heav'n at last. Redeemed us oft from death and dread, And with Thy gifts our table spread.

    10. SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER
    Robert Wadsworth Lowry, 1864
    1 - Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Yes we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. 2 - Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease, soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody ofpeace. 3 - Ere we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down; Grace our spirits will deliver, and pro vide a robe and crown. On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever all the happy golden day.

    11. BRETHREN
    Words: George Atkins, 1819 Music: William Moore, 1825 Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God; Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the word? All is vain unless the spirit of the Holy One comes down; Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around. Brethren, see poor sinners 'roundyou slumbering on the brink of woe; Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go? See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down; Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around. Let us love our God supremely, let us love eachother, too; Let us love and pray for sinners, 'til our God makes all things new. Then He'll call us home to heaven, at His table we'll sit down; Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.

    12. WONDROUS LOVE
    Traditional
    1.What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul. 2.When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down; When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. 3.To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing, To God and to the Lamb, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, and to the great I AM; While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing. 4.Ye friends of Zion's King, join the praise, join the praise, Ye friends of Zion's King, join the praise; Ye friends of Zion's King, with hearts and voices sing, And strike each tuneful string in His praise, in His praise, And strike each tuneful string in His praise. 5.And when to that bright world we arrive, we arrive, And when to that bright world we arrive; When to that world we go, free from all pain and woe, We'll join the happy throng, and sing on, and sing on, We'll join the happy throng, and sing on.

    13. MIXTURES OF JOY AND SORROW
    from The Primitive Baptist Hymn Book, pub. 1887 by D. H. Gobles and Elder R. W. Thompson
    1 - Mixtures of joy and sorrow I daily do pass through; Sometimes I'm in the valley, then sinking down with woe; Sometimes I am exalted, on eagle's wings I fly; Rising above my troubles, I almost reach the sky. 2 - O how I am thus tossed, thus tossed to and fro; How are my hopes thus crossed wherever I do go! O Lord, thou never changest, it is because I stray; Lord, guide me by thy Spirit, and keep me in the way.

    14. NEAR THE CROSS
    Words: Fanny J. Crosby, 1869 Music: William H. Doane, 1869
    Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain free to all a healing stream, flows from Calv'ry's mountain. In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; 'til my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star sheds its beams around me. In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; 'til my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. Near the cross! O, Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o'er me. In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; 'til my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

    15. CUBA (Go, Preachers, and Tell it to the World)
    Words: Anonymous Music: J. H. Bolen & H. S. Reese, 1859

    Go, preachers, and tell it to the world, poor mourners found a home at last; Through free grace and a dying Lamb, poor mourners found a home at last. Go, sisters, and tell it to the world… Go, brothers, and tell it to the world… Go, children, and tell it to the world… Go, people, and tell it to the world…

    16. HAPPY LAND
    Words: Andrew Young, 1838 Music: Leonard P. Breedlove, 1850
    There is a happy land, far, far, away. Where saints in glory stand, bright, bright as day. Oh, how they sweetly sing, worthy is our Savior, King; Loud, let His praises ring, praise, praise for aye. Come to the happy land. Come, come away. Why will you doubting stand? Far, far away. Bright, in that happy land, beams ev'ry eye. Kept by a Father's hand. Love cannot die.

    17. SWEET CANAAN
    Words: Mead's General Collection, 1807 Music: E. J. King, 1844 1.O who will come and go with me? I am bound for the land of Canaan! I'm bound for Canaan's land to see, I am bound for the land of Canaan! O Canaan, sweet Canaan, I'm bound for the land of Canaan, Sweet Canaan 'tis my happy home; I am bound for the land of Canaan! 2.I'll join with these who're gone before, I am bound for the land of Canaan! Where sin and sorrow are no more. I am bound for the land of Canaan!