Chosen Children – Children of God The Movement

Children of God The Movement
Chosen Children
(self produced)
www.myspace.com/childrenofgodthemovement

Some children’s choirs are cute. Other children’s choirs are cute and can sing. Children of God The Movement is cute and can sing. In fact, it’s hard to believe such a big sound comes from such petite people!

This is not surprising, given that Children of God The Movement was organized out of the children’s choir at Bishop Larry Trotter’s music-rich Sweet Holy Spirit on Chicago’s southeast side. Today, Children of God the Movement is a full-fledged community youth choir, truly a movement, with members hailing from several denominations and churches in and around Chicago. In addition to Sweet Holy Spirit, choristers come from congregations such as True Vine COGIC, Good Hope Freewill Baptist and Streator Community Church.

The group’s debut CD, Chosen Children, presents a group of energetic youngsters with a strong, unified sound and studied articulation in their delivery of the lyrics. The musicians – and particularly the percussionists – are splendid. Chosen Children contains well-selected material for the voice ranges and while the songs are not too complex, they are not simplistic, either. The chaste praise and thanksgiving messages are age-appropriate. The live audience is loudly supportive, or perhaps it’s the choir cheering for itself, but nevertheless, the enthusiastic applause drives the energy meter far to the right.

Tracks to catch are the opening number, “We Welcome You;” the lyrically clever and musically compelling “God’s Honor Roll” (ideal for the coming school year) and “Praise the Lord.” Each of these three tracks features the group in full fortissimo voice, which is their sweet spot. I’m not sure who the female soloist is on “The Lullaby,” an atmospheric closing number, but she has a lovely sound and is one of the best soloists on the project.

Children of God The Movement performed at this year’s Chicago Gospel Fest and continue to tour around Chicago. It even has a gig in Selma, Alabama later this year. My guess is that in a generation’s time, we will hear well-known gospel singers paying tribute to this organization because it gave them their start.

Four of Five Stars