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by Claire Cloninger and Lari Goss
Publisher: Word Music
Song Titles: "His Name Is Jesus" with "My Savior's Love," "A Picture Of Grace," "Ordinary Man," "Grace Medley" (includes "Grace That Amazes," "Amazing Grace," "No Wonder They Call It Amazing," and "Grace Greater Than Our Sin"), "They Should Have Cried Holy," "Cross Medley" (includes "There Is A Fountain," "At The Cross," "O The Blood Of Jesus," "Nothing But The Blood," and "I Am Thine, O Lord"), "One Holy Morning," "Calvary Answers For Me," and "Finale" (includes "A Picture Of Grace," "No Wonder They Call It Amazing," "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," and "Grace That Amazes")

Conceived by Claire Cloninger with arrangements and orchestrations by Lari Goss, Grace That Amazes combines songs from recent years like "Picture Of Grace" (Gaither Vocal Band), "They Should Have Cried Holy" (Greater Vision), "Calvary Answers For Me" (Perrys/Signature Sound) and "One Holy Morning" (Daryl Williams Trio/Triumphant Quartet) with well known classics like "Amazing Grace," "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," and "My Savior's Love."

Cloninger and Goss also wrote some new songs for this musical including the upbeat opening track titled "His Name Is Jesus." Another Cloninger/Goss original is "Ordinary Man," a toe-tapping Southern Gospel number that features a male quartet. Cloninger and Goss also contributed original words and music for two sections of the "Grace Medley." These are blended with portions of "Amazing Grace" and "Grace Greater Than Our Sin," complimenting the more familiar lyrics in a fresh manner.

Overall, the choral parts for Grace That Amazes are moderately difficult...a few rhythms and pitch issues may present some challenges in spots, but overall most choirs should be able to learn their parts with adequate rehearsal time. Tenors will need to be able to hit the G above middle C in some spots and first sopranos are called on to hit the A-flat in the next octave a couple of times...pretty typical stuff for a choir that is used to singing moderately difficult music.

The solos, duets and quartet parts will need careful scrutiny before you choose this title, though. To be most effective, "Picture Of Grace" requires an expressive pair of singers (one low and one high) for the solos. "Ordinary Man" will also be a challenging arrangement to perform. It requires a quartet of men who can sing harmonies like flat sevenths as well as chords that sometimes contradict the accompaniment...for example, a B-flat major chord is written for the vocalists over a G major chord in the accompaniment at one spot. The singers will also need to pull off syncopated rhythms as a unit at a fairly quick tempo. The other feature spots in the musical are more easily attained. "They Should Have Cried Holy" has an optional solo that any reasonably capable baritone or alto should have no trouble singing. The "Cross Medley" features a low solo at the beginning on "There Is A Fountain." It's a cappella. The solo on "Calvary Answers For Me" requires an octave and a half of vocal range. The lowest note is the B-flat below middle C (assuming a female soloist).

The entire musical is just under 50 minutes in length, so you have the option of eliminating a song or two and still having a satisfying length. The narration for this musical comes across as a bit generic sounding, but the song selection and the work Goss has done on the orchestrations is outstanding. I particularly like "One Holy Morning" and "His Name Is Jesus." Of course, I'm the type who tends to gravitate towards more upbeat selections.

All things considered, Grace That Amazes is the top release of the 2006 Easter cantata season for churches that appreciate a dose of Southern Gospel in their music.

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