Angel Arc | Songs of Remembrance and Hope

Published: June 24, 2011

Angel Arc is three women and one man, singing a selection of 18 "Americana, spiritual, traditional, and inspirational songs" dedicated to military and other heroes who protect us daily – firemen, police, volunteers at natural disasters, and the like, living or no.

In particular, the song "American Anthem" by composer Gene Scheer, is dedicated as "a song of tribute and respect to all American heroes." The entire lyrics are printed in the liner notes.

The album also pays tribute to well-loved Hot Springs artist and author Jo Rainbolt, who passed away at too-young an age in 2006. Bonnie Jean Triplett, the group member residing in Hot Springs, says many of the songs picked for the compilation were chosen by Rainbolt; she came up with the idea and was to have performed with the group as well.

Triplett, a light lyric soprano, voice-over artist and author, joins Ruth Coberly, producer Norine Forde-Straub, and Ken Zimmerman, all from Denver, in the effort. Together the group covers religious as well as secular gospel tunes, and a couple instrumentals, including "Piano Prelude No. 1,” by Bach, with Coberly on piano; and "A Kiss for Bonnie," composed and performed by Forde-Straub on piano.

Triplett handles most of the lead singing, and Forde-Straub chimes in on harmony on quite a few, as does Coberly. Zimmerman gets to use his baritone/tenor voice on the great Irish number, "Danny Boy," to piano accompaniment.

"Amazing Grace" gets two treatments – on the first, Coberly sings in her heavier soprano and plays piano, first in its major mode, then modulates to minor, an interesting effect. Later on the album, the song is reprised with Coberly on harp, and Triplett singing in a different key, with harmony from Forde-Straub.

Triplett and Forde-Straub share vocal duties on some of the later gospel-tinged songs: "This Little Light of Mine," "I'll Fly Away," and "Sweet By and By," to name a few. And Coberly, besides contributing all the accompaniment, provides a third voice as well.

You can almost hear Jo singing along.

– Mariss McTucker