Album

It's largely through the scholarship of Prosper Gueranger, the founder, in 1833, of l'Abbaye de St.-Pierre de Solesmes, that the various chants of the Roman Church throughout Europe were collected and codified. It's fitting then that the Abbey's monks' choir is committed to recording a substantial number of the chants. The chants collected here are intended for the Feasts of the Epiphany and the Presentation of the Lord. This CD includes the Propers, the sections of the Mass that vary from week to week, but not the Ordinary (the parts of the Mass such as the Gloria and the Credo that use the same text for every service). The feasts, which commemorate the Christ child's first public appearance, when he was presented in the temple, are celebratory, so the music has a lively, festive character. The fact that many of the chants are in modes that have a major-key character contributes to the cheerful mood. (This is not music that fits the cliché of somber, hooded monks processing morosely down dark corridors.) The performances, led by Dom Richard Gagné, don't sound like performances—this music is part of the monks' regular lives, and their easy familiarity with it allows them to sing with freedom, spontaneity, and nuanced attention to its meaning. Their voices are pleasant and soothing and have a beautiful simplicity, as is appropriate for this repertoire. The recording quality is good, with nice resonance, but it's on the loud side, so listeners may need to adjust the volume to keep from being overwhelmed by the sound.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
Gregorian Chant Composer Épiphanie (Epiphany) Work 27:39 Saint Pierre de Solesmes Abbey Monks' Choir Chorus/Choir
1	Chant D'Entrée Ecce Advenit	1:07			$0.99
2	Graduel Omnes De Saba	3:30			$0.99
3	Alleluia Vidimus Stellam	2:09			$0.99
4	Offertoire Reges Tharsis	2:09			$0.99
5	Communion Vidimus Stellam	2:42			$0.99
6	Répons Illuminare Ierusaem	4:11			$0.99
7	Hymne Hostis Herodes	2:42			$0.99
8	Antienne / Magnificat Tribus Miraculis	6:23			$0.99
9	Annonce Des Fêtes Noveretis	2:46			$0.99
Strotchny Chant Composer Presentation of the Lord Work 25:19 Saint Pierre de Solesmes Abbey Monks' Choir Chorus/Choir
10	Procession. Antienne / Cantique Lumen Ad Revelationen - Nunc Dimittis	1:42			$0.99
11	Procession. Antienne Adorna Thalamum	2:42			$0.99
12	Procession. Antienne Obtulerunt	2:47			$0.99
13	Procession. Antienne Benedicamus Dómino	2:28			$0.99
14	Messe. Chant D'Entrée Suscepimus Deus	3:19			$0.99
15	Messe. Graduel Suscepimus Deus	4:07			$0.99
16	Messe. Alleluia Senex Puerum	3:09			$0.99
17	Messe. Offertoire Diffusa Est	2:03			$0.99
18	Messe. Communion Responsum	3:02			$0.99