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This is sublime Gregorian Chant from start to finish. The Te Deum is probably my favorite, with it's otherworldly sounding Church bells starting it off and ending it. It sounds like it is recorded in a Church, not in a studio, and while many studio chant albums are excellent, this fact makes this one particularly special to me. The sound is a little different and muted but that lends it an air of the ethereal which I like. Overall a great recording, and well worth it. For Catholics sick of the Protestant hymns, guitars and general silliness of the Novus Ordo, this one will make you seek out that traditionalist church in your area in the hopes of hearing what Catholic music is supposed to be.
Of course after years of daily hearing and chanting, many of these melodies are engraved in my bone marrow, in particular the revolutionary chant Magnificat (and thus I find it difficult to hear in a seated or even prone position), the glorious Salve Regina (although seasonal rather than daily used throughout the year, and again, one to stand to) and the profound hymns which accompany the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, etc., which are included here (and to which one must kneel upon hearing, within a thick cloud of frankincense).In fact not only will you find the Magnificat here (chanted at Vespers every evening, with its own particular liturgical gestures and postures) but also the Stabat Mater, the Te Deum, Adoro te, the Tantum Ergo, Regina Caeli (with an interesting pronunciation of the Invocation) and Veni Creator Spiritus. The frequent accompaniment of a soft organ sometimes grows more intrusive than supportive, and the purist may find it unfortunate here, although often soothing.See also of course the Solesmes recordings from the time of Dom Claire and Dom Gajard (when I was there), including Chant Grégorien, Vol. Originally recorded in 1959 in Luxembourg's famous Abbey of Clervaux, this recording may suffer from the technology of that time, as the recording is quite muddy.It does carry several of the best known pieces from the repertory, yet none of the recordings conveys the word as written, as if the good monks had their jaws all braced in an open position, losing the ability to pronounce a consonant. Most importantly the words (in Latin only) to each of the pieces is also printed in the brochure in two separate places, split by the several pages of ads. Most likely someone let a thick, heavy choir book slip from its small shelf in the choir stalls but the surprise is the recording was not done over. This is an excellent and very moving selection of some of the most well known pieces, unfortunately not well recorded.Another flaw is the actual miking of the chant. In short, this disk may be a good supplement to a fuller collection of Gregorian Chant, a possible indication of the melody of these chants as chanted in the time prior to the Second Vatican Council in this particular Abbey, with this particular group of monks.
Also interesting may be the USA recordings from the Abbey of Regina Laudis, including Women in Chant: Gregorian Chants for the Festal Celebrations of the Virgin Martyrs and Our Lady of Sorrows and Women in Chant: Recordare: Remembering the Mysteries in the Life of Jesus, Son of Mary.One shocking element in this early recording from Luxembourg is the occasional and sudden loud bang, as if a bomb explodes outside, or a pistol is fired in choir. One section in particular sounds like a new age ooh-ing and aah-ing passing from vowel sound to vowel sound without distinguishable consonants, words or morphemes.Therefore if you wish to follow the text with the monks, you may do well to bring your Graduale Triplex: The Roman Gradual With the Addition of Neums from Ancient Manuscripts or the The Monastic Diurnal or the Day Hours of the Monastic Breviary in Latin and English or other monastic liturgical tome in Latin. 1: Pâques / Ascension / Pentecôte / Trinité / Vierge Marie - Abbaye de Solesmes / Dom Joseph Gajard / Dom Jean Claire and Vespers & Compline - Gregorian Chant, which includes the Magnificat so well presented here. Apparently a microphone was placed in the middle of the choir, or even out in the nave, and so all reverberations and echoes are fully represented, covering the distinction of the words even further.I wonder whether this was "Digitally remastered" from the original tapes forty or fifty years later, or from someone's ancient vinyl LP with all of the consonants clipped off from over-use.The thick booklet which accompanies the cd is mainly advertisements for other cd's available from this company, but it also contains a four page general historical and philosophical introduction. This listing of the words appears exact, and correct, and may even be helpful while listening, although having the Gregorian notation above would help very much. For example, when the magnificent "Adoro te" finally gets into full sweep, we suddenly awaken with a bang. This also is an indication of the production values of that time and place.
Very clear, very precise, very smooth. Nice mix of shorter and longer chants. It's so odd how they just. Achingly beautiful. This is not the E Street Band. Also a nice explanatory booklet, with the Latin lyrics. Haunting. In some chants there is an organ that you can barely hear, but that's perfect.
(Somehow, "lyrics" does not seem like the right word). Recorded in 1959 but it could have been last week it sounds so good. end. Very highly recommended.
I have a collection of around 25 chant cds and this is by far my favorite of all - the rendition of "Victimae Paschali Laudes" is so natural and this version of "Salve Regina" is the one I always play before retiring at the end of the day - remembering how, in the SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN, Thomas Merton described the monks a Gethsemani Abbey doing the same thing each evening. This is also the only cd I bought separate copies of for home, the car and work. Great for reading and meditation as well.
The chanting was mesmerizing and the tonality so clean. It has been more than 40 years since I listened to Gregorian chant and I had forgotten how much I loved it. I had the same reaction when I heard this album. When I was a young child it was still the practice of the Catholic Church to chant the entire Mass for special holy days and other occasions. I never enjoyed attending Mass "except" these. The organ accompaniement to these songs is understated and complementary to the vocals. Very beautiful.
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