Robert Shaw Albums (9)
'Songs of Faith and Inspiration'
Release Date 1/1/2001
Tracks 10
Label RCA
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What The Critics Say
A renewal of popular interest in sea shanties coincided with the commercial folk craze. Country, folk, and pop artist from Jimmie Driftwood to the Norman Luboff Choir recorded entire albums of seafaring songs, and in 1961 the Men of the Robert Shaw Chorale did the same. Because Shaw's chorus was primarily a classical music ensemble, its interpretations of watery favorites like "Blow the Man Down" and "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor" are very reserved, polished and precise. None of Driftwood's rowdiness and humor or the Norman Luboff Choir's pop flourishes is to be heard here. The album has a serious, almost academic aura in place of the rousing Pirates of the Caribbean caricatures one might expect. The chorale appealed to intellectual listeners, though, and its approach is in keeping with accepted modes of classical music performance. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
'Gloria: Music of Praise & Inspiration'
Release Date 10/27/1998
Tracks 15
Label Telarc
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'The Many Moods of Christmas'
Release Date 6/17/1997
Tracks 17
Label RCA
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What The Critics Say
This is one of the later, and better, Christmas offerings from these performers. ~ David A. Milberg, All Music Guide
'Christmas with Robert Shaw'
Release Date 9/5/1995
Tracks 16
Label Vox
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What The Critics Say
On the budget-priced Irish Folk Songs, conductor Robert Shaw leads his Chorale through smooth renditions of 16 Irish folk tunes and ballads, with the emphasis on sentimental material. This release will appeal more to fans of easy listening than of traditional Celtic music. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
While most folks in the 1960s were being consumed by the unholy flames of rock & roll, a somewhat smaller sect was experiencing the wonders of stereo through the soft baton of Robert Shaw. Unlike Mantovani, Herb Alpert, and the Ray Conniff Singers, who saw the mining of the rock movement as a tool of survival, the Robert Shaw Chorale found inspiration in the songs of Robert Foster and in the increasingly popular realm of sea shanties and spirituals. Essentially, Shaw did for easy listening what Martin Denny and Esquivel did for exotica. Battle Cry of Freedom is exactly what you'd think it is. Eighteen hammy and meticulously arranged songs of patriotism, from "the Battle Hymn of the Republic" to "Dixie," are impeccably performed and often quite poignantly by the heavenly voices of the R.S.C. As the decades have progressed, 20th century easy listening has acquired a definite "kitsch" tag, however, nestled amid the soft polyphony of Robert Shaw and his Chorale is a hint of "coolness." After all, in the '60s, easy listening was the equivalent of 21st century indie pop. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Festival of Carols features Robert Shaw performing a variety of holiday favorites. Featured songs include the album-opening "Medley," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and "Shepherd's Carol," in addition to 11 others. Those who appreciate Shaw's music should find this a lovely addition to the holiday season. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
