Music Review – Joyful Joyful By Andrew Farstar
Music Reviewer
David E. Maxwell
Music is universal and it can transcend our culture and racial barriers. We all listen to music for various reasons and we all get different reactions from it as well. However, one thing that remains constant, it’s that music has a way of evoking emotions as we listen to it. For those of us who create music, we do so with creative reasoning. The common factor is that music connects with us through our experience and feelings. You will always hear me say “Music Is What Feelings Sounds Like”.
The song “Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee / Let Us Praise Him” is a familiar song to many in the Christian community. It’s been covered and performed by many well-known artists, like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Lauryn Hill, the cast of Sister Act 2 (1993) and many others. This new version of the song was written by Andrew Farstar from his album Hymns & Inspiration. Released April 9th 2019, it’s the first song on the 12 track album that takes us on a very pleasant emotional journey. The album shares elements of praise and worship, adoration and gladness, meditation, grace and more.
I think it was a great idea to put this song first as it sets up the listener for the other songs as it conveys an idea of peace, freedom and unity. I believe you will come to appreciate and enjoy how well this song is composed from the beginning to the end. At first it starts out in the contemporary Christian style but then you get a very pleasant surprise when the lyrics drop. Besides from the smooth sound and range of Andrew’s voice, there are various transitions and changes in this song that when it finally ends you won’t mind putting it on repeat.
This song Joyful Joyful was originally composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven as a hymn for his final symphony No 9. It was written in 1824 and it was called “Ode To Joy” back then. In 1972 it was adopted by the European and became their nation anthem in which they called it the “European Union Anthem”. It is often played on special occasions and formal events such as the signing of treaties. The original lyrics was written by Henry Van Dyke in 1907 with the intention of musically setting it to the famous “Ode to Joy” melody of the final movement of Beethoven’s final Symphony No. 9.
When you get the opportunity to check out the Album Hymns & Inspiration, listen to this first track Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee / Let us Praise him. Then, scroll down and listen to track number 7 Joyful / Praise (Interlude). You will understand and appreciate the versatility from Andrew Farstar as he sings and performs these timeless songs. Don’t forget to share this with Contemporary Music lovers because they will thank you for it later.
