Prayer and Plainsong has the feeling of private meditation. It draws the listener into a quiet space where the mystery unfolds. This unique recording was conceived during a visit to the historic Mission San Jose. Cynthia Clawson was so moved by the quiet sanctity of the old church that she began to softly sing as a personal act of worship. The

Prayer and Plainsong has the feeling of private meditation. It draws the listener into a quiet space where the mystery unfolds. This unique recording was conceived during a visit to the historic Mission San Jose. Cynthia Clawson was so moved by the quiet sanctity of the old church that she began to softly sing as a personal act of worship. The hallowed walls reverberated with centuries of prayer and worship and the sound was the sound of an ancient praise embellished by a sweet holiness.

Noting the beautiful acoustical quality of the 300-year-old sanctuary,she brought her friend, accompanist and arranger, Bruce Greer, to hear the quality of the sound of the room. They determined to capture as nearly as possible the experience Cynthia had when she sang a prayer in the mission.

Every song was to be thought of as prayer; and the songs were songs that Cynthia was familiar with after a lifetime of singing the hymns with which she was raised. Songs like: Pass Me Not, O Worship the King, Take My Life, Holy, Holy, Holy and Have Thine Own Way. She then chose more recent writings to fill out this recording of prayers with other songs like: Eternal Life/Prayer of St. Francis, O Bountiful Provider, I Love You, Lord and Hear Our Prayer, O Lord.

With a musical gesture to the historical meaning of this old mission where Spanish missionaries attempted to tell indigenous people about God's love expressed in Christ, Bruce Greer wove the language and the musical style of these Catholic missionaries into these decidedly Protestant hymns. The results are stunning. Not only are the artists impeccable in their delivery, but they have provided for the listener an opportunity to hear the gentle assurance of God's abiding grace.