Mandolinist Butch Baldassari stirs new interest in this age-old instrument and is luring legions of admirers to the music he creates. In today's crowded, noisy and sometimes complicated music environment, oftentimes less truly is more. Lyric, not loud. Soft, not strident. Romantic, not raucous.

Mandolin Hymns features Baldassari on mandolin, mandola and octave mandolin in an instrumental program of 15 traditional gospel songs.

Nashville session players Aubrey Haynie and Andrea Zonn-fiddle, Robert Bowlin-guitar, Stuart Duncan-banjo, along with Dennis Crouch and Mike Bub on bass bring a fresh string band sound to these classic melodies.

Butch Baldassari has appeared on "A Prairie Home Companion," "CBS This Morning," and "Riders in the Sky Radio Theatre."

Links indicate MP3 samples

• Morning Has Broken
  
  
• Wayfaring Stranger
  
  
• Simple Gifts
  
  
• Redeemed
  
  
• Down To The River To Pray
  
  
• Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
  
  
• What A Friend We Have In Jesus
  
  
• Amazing Grace
  
  

• Unclouded Day
  
  
• I Am A Pilgrim
  
  
• Precious Memories
  
  
• Sweet Hour Of Prayer
  
  
• Life Is Like A Mountain Railway
  
  
• Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
  
  
• Softly and Tenderly