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ARTICLE
Music Review: USMA Cadet Glee Club at West Point, "Stand Ye Steady"
by R.J. Carter Published: July 19, 2005
01. Men of Freedom 02. The Longest Day 03. Into the Fire 04. Rise Up, O Men of God 05. On Great Lone Hills 06. Lest We Forget 07. Mansions of the Lord (Interlude) 08. Mansions of the Lord
09. Jerusalem 10. Via Dolorosa 11. Non Nobis 12. The Star-Spangled Banner 13. Take Me Home (with I Am A Soldier) 14. America (My Country 'Tis of Thee) 15. Men of Freedom (Sacred Reprise) Bonus Track: This Christmastide
A number of adjectives instantly spring to mind when one hears the United States Military Academy Cadet Glee Club perform, none of which truly translates into words the palpable and powerful emotions wrung from the listeners: Thrilling. Blood-stirring. Awe-inspiring. These don't do justice to the work of the Cadets.
These rousing patriotic anthems and hymns of affirmation speak directly to the spirit. Recorded in the century-old Cadet Chapel, our nation's soldiers perform traditional standards as well as some newly-penned songs inspired by the state of world events. Doug Coppi, who wrote the lyrics to the album's leadoff song, "Men of Freedom", comments in the liner notes, "I penned these lyrics to the defiant Welsh tune, 'Men of Harlech' during that awful week following the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11th." It's an a capella piece that completely fills the room your listening in; you really feel like you're standing in the midst of the Cadets as they sing, starting with one, then a few, and finally growing into an innumerable throng of voices in unison:
Don't they know we'll stand fast
Next to those who have passed
All who fought for freedom sought
By those oppressed and downcast
Men of Freedom clutch it dearly
Freedom's bell rings ever clearly
Homes and loved ones all before ye
Free Men will not yield!
There are a good number of a capella or nearly a capella pieces on here, but there are also many songs accompanied by martial snares, and four songs ("This Christmastide", "Jerusalem", "Lest We Forget", and "On Great Lone Hills") that are driven by the great chapel organ -- "the largest church organ in the world," according to the liner notes.
The Cadets also welcome a pair of guest singers onto the album. NYPD's Daniel Rodriguez delivers a charging aria with "Into the Fire," a song of exhortation and a celebration of bravery. Lyrics alone don't do justice to Rodriguez's stirring interpretation:
Into valleys, into waters
Into jungles, into hell
Let us ride, let us ride home again
With a story to tell
Into darkness, into danger
Into storms that rip the night
Don't give in, don't give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight
Tony award winner Lea Salonga ("Miss Saigon") also guests on this album, singing "Via Dolorosa" with a moving passion that brings tears to the eyes; and when she performs the second verse in Spanish, the emotion evoked becomes completely overwhelming.
I would be completely remiss in my review if I were not to mention the absolutely amazing performance the Cadets put in on this album of "The Star-Spangled Banner." A last minute addition to the album, this song is one the Cadets have performed numerous times at sporting events -- so much so that no retakes were required in recording this one. This is the National Anthem played the way it should be.
Stand Ye Steady is a necessary component for the music library of military families and patriots of all political stripes. Truly inspiring.
A number of adjectives instantly spring to mind when one hears the United States Military Academy Cadet Glee Club perform, none of which truly translates into words the palpable and powerful emotions wrung from the listeners: Thrilling. Blood-stirring. Awe-inspiring. These don't do justice to the work of the Cadets.
