Paul Schwartz┊State of Grace

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Producer and composer Paul Schwartz thanks many people on State of Grace, but there is one notable exclusion: the 12th-century nun Hildegard von Bingen. Although these aren't her compositions, echoes of her ecstatic hymns and sequences resound throughout Schwartz's latest electronica-classical opus. He composes his own 21st-century gothic chants, which are sung by the impassioned soprano Lisbeth Scott. Scott is a powerful singer who brings a more emotional, perhaps even lustful, tone to these electro-Gregorian evocations, gliding over synthesizer ministrations and violin from the durable Gavyn Wright. Paul Schwartz was also responsible for the Aria CDs, on which he updated operatic arias with dance beats. State of Grace benefits from the less oppressive rhythmic regimentation, letting these soaring melodies ring out. When Schwartz deviates from his gothic inspirations, State of Grace flags, notably on a predictable rendition of "Amazing Grace," a misguided Celtic take on the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts," and a trio of instrumentals. --John Diliberto
Paul Schwartz: state of Grace
(Windham Hill - 2000)
With an extensive history in the symphonic world, Paul Schwartz combines spiritual themes, orchestral sounds, modern electronic rhythms and luxurious vocals into his state of Grace. Expect a certain amount of new-aginess on this Windham Hill release, but expect to be dazzled as well.
Backed by light-though-undeniable rhythmic effects, Lisbeth Scott's lushly ululating voice streams into the synthorchestral swells of Veni Redemptor Gentium; a gorgeous convergence of timeless elegance, modern beats and stunning vocal powers. Soft synthclouds and subtly percolating e-percussion back Amazing Grace (6:42)... yes, that Amazing Grace, given an electronic/new age twist and topped by Scott's emotive phrasings.
The Joyful Company of Singers lend their wafting multi-voiced choirsounds to Miserere, a smooth variation on the chants-and-dance theme... heavenly! Majestic chamber music (with Gavyn Wright and David Theodore contributing violin and obe) swirls in beatless neosymphonic splendor in Auguries of Innocence: Part 1, picking up hip-hop inflections as it becomes temptestuous Auguries of Innocence: Part 2.
Then there are the songs... expertly-produced, though overtly contemporary/new-agey. Schwartz' classical piano wanderings make a bed in which Scott lays the plaintively-delivered words of Be Still My Soul. Sweet melancholy oozes through the crooned Latin verses of beautiful Angelica, laced with rippling electronics and brooding strings. Tweedling flutes shine with polish as Simple Gifts traipses into a (too) chipper blend of pop, Irish and new age.
Violin and piano join for State of Grace (3:09), a beatless musical interlude... following a brief silence, a "hidden" track emerges; a vocal-free version of Miserere soaks in a cool, lightly pattering groove and pitch-bending synthleads.
Several of state of Grace's seductive (yet steeped in spirituality) tracks simply sweep me away; particularly the ethereal/orchestral-plus-beats numbers. While much of Paul Schwartz's material here falls outside of "ambient" listening (and into vocal/new age territories), all are masterfully arranged and glow with obvious sincerity. An 8.4 for craftsmanship and heart.

Review/專輯評論
Paul Schwartz的這次回歸接續State of Grace系列，為我們帶來了State of Grace II：《Turning To Peace》。一如眾多深受偉大的聖經而激發創作靈感的前輩作曲家那樣，State of Grace II《Turning To Peace》的立意是基於兩課拉丁聖經：「聖母瑪利亞頌」與「聖母悼歌」。
「『聖母瑪利亞頌』直接取自聖經中盧克（路加）的《聖經