- Buy a CD or a vinyl record, get a $1 Amazon MP3 Credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
| |||||||||||||||
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Track Listings
| 1. Alma Redemptoris | |||
| 2. Salve Regina | |||
| 3. Salve Mater | |||
| 4. Sequence: Ave mundi spes Maria | |||
| 5. Sequence: Stabat Mater dolorosa | |||
| 6. Kyrie IV | |||
| 7. Gloria IX | |||
| 8. Sanctus IV | |||
| 9. Agnus Dei IV | |||
| 10. Rorate caeli | |||
| 11. Puer natus | |||
| 12. Parce, Domine | |||
| 13. Alleluia, O filii et filiae | |||
| 14. Salve festa dies | |||
| 15. Kyrie III | |||
| 16. Gloria III | |||
| 17. Sanctus III | |||
| 18. Agnus Dei III | |||
| 19. Alleluia, Confitemini | |||
| 20. Alleluia, Vir Dei | |||
See all 23 tracks on this disc
| |||
Editorial Reviews
The remarkable Monks of the Desert, who spend their daily hours praying for peace, working and studying in silence, make their major label debut on Sony Masterworks with an album of Gregorian chant, Blessings, Peace and Harmony. Named after Pope Gregory I, Gregorian chant involves the early Christian liturgical music that originated in medieval times and forms the roots of Western classical music.
"The kind of singing that we do calms the spirit and helps us live in peace with our world and with one another," says Abbot Philip Lawrence, a scholar of chant who also leads the monastery of Christ in the Desert. "According to various studies, chanting has some strange effect on brain waves," notes Abbot Philip. In modern times, many people have been attracted to Gregorian chant believer or non-believer. There is something ethereal and transcendent about the sound, not only as entertainment, but as a deepening of a life of prayer, inner peace and sharing with others. The Monks believe that Gregorian chant is a way of touching hearts and minds. With Blessings, Peace and Harmony they hope to bring others into a world in which peace, inner tranquility and an appreciation of beauty prevail.
About the Monks:
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is located completely "off-the-grid" in the stunning Chama Canyon wilderness in northwestern New Mexico, about 75 miles north of Santa Fe. When not praying or studying, the monks run a multitude of self-sustaining businesses including light manufacturing, brewing beer (Monk's Ale & Monk's Wit), an on-site "hotel," community thrift store in Santa Fe and a separate retail store specializing in hand-crafted religious items, books, music and folk art.
"The kind of singing that we do calms the spirit and helps us live in peace with our world and with one another," says Abbot Philip Lawrence, a scholar of chant who also leads the monastery of Christ in the Desert. "According to various studies, chanting has some strange effect on brain waves," notes Abbot Philip. In modern times, many people have been attracted to Gregorian chant believer or non-believer. There is something ethereal and transcendent about the sound, not only as entertainment, but as a deepening of a life of prayer, inner peace and sharing with others. The Monks believe that Gregorian chant is a way of touching hearts and minds. With Blessings, Peace and Harmony they hope to bring others into a world in which peace, inner tranquility and an appreciation of beauty prevail.
About the Monks:
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is located completely "off-the-grid" in the stunning Chama Canyon wilderness in northwestern New Mexico, about 75 miles north of Santa Fe. When not praying or studying, the monks run a multitude of self-sustaining businesses including light manufacturing, brewing beer (Monk's Ale & Monk's Wit), an on-site "hotel," community thrift store in Santa Fe and a separate retail store specializing in hand-crafted religious items, books, music and folk art.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This latest CD of Gregorian Chant by the Benedictine monks at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert near Abiquiu, New Mexico really hits the spot as a spiritual pick-me-up most anytime of the day, but especially in the early morning hours before dawn (at about 4:00 a.m. or so) when the monks themselves are arising.
Apart from the calming and meditative qualities of the overall chant presentation on this CD, each Latin chant itself can be individually enjoyed for its own stark and austere simplicity and beauty. This is very much in keeping with the life led by these desert brothers at the monastery once visited by Thomas Merton in 1968 before his untimely death in Asia.
For more black & white photographs of the monastery and the community see the recently published (2011) book by Tony O'Brien - "Light in the Desert: Photographs from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert" - taken when he spent about one year living with the monks 24/7.
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert was originally a foundation of Mount Savior Monastery in Upstate New York (Pine City near Elmira). It was also the setting of the television series (a reality show) - "The Monastery" - which was broadcast on cable television (The Learning Channel - TLC) during the second half of 2006.
If you like their chant and would like to hear more, other earlier CDs are available through their online "Monastery Gift Shop" (see Web Site "christdesert.org"). Make an effort to support this ancient way of life and hospitality. Let's keep the monks chanting and praying for you and for me - ceaselessly - and even more CDs are bound to follow!
NOTE: If you like this chant CD, you might also like "Mystical Chants of Carmel" by the Carmelite monks of Wyoming (also available here on Amazon) who are presently raising funds to build a new monastery to last 1,000 years. See their two Web Sites "carmelitemonks.org" and "newmountcarmelfoundation.org" for more information. While you are there you can also try some of their truly "heavenly coffee" (at "mysticmonkcoffee.com"), if you are so inclined.
Apart from the calming and meditative qualities of the overall chant presentation on this CD, each Latin chant itself can be individually enjoyed for its own stark and austere simplicity and beauty. This is very much in keeping with the life led by these desert brothers at the monastery once visited by Thomas Merton in 1968 before his untimely death in Asia.
For more black & white photographs of the monastery and the community see the recently published (2011) book by Tony O'Brien - "Light in the Desert: Photographs from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert" - taken when he spent about one year living with the monks 24/7.
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert was originally a foundation of Mount Savior Monastery in Upstate New York (Pine City near Elmira). It was also the setting of the television series (a reality show) - "The Monastery" - which was broadcast on cable television (The Learning Channel - TLC) during the second half of 2006.
If you like their chant and would like to hear more, other earlier CDs are available through their online "Monastery Gift Shop" (see Web Site "christdesert.org"). Make an effort to support this ancient way of life and hospitality. Let's keep the monks chanting and praying for you and for me - ceaselessly - and even more CDs are bound to follow!
NOTE: If you like this chant CD, you might also like "Mystical Chants of Carmel" by the Carmelite monks of Wyoming (also available here on Amazon) who are presently raising funds to build a new monastery to last 1,000 years. See their two Web Sites "carmelitemonks.org" and "newmountcarmelfoundation.org" for more information. While you are there you can also try some of their truly "heavenly coffee" (at "mysticmonkcoffee.com"), if you are so inclined.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have a sizable collection of chant CDs and this is by far the best. Although this is a group recording you can often hear the beautiful individual voices which makes it even more appealing. I listen to it frequently during my daily walks and it leaves me with a feeling of peace and a more acute awareness of my everyday world.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In a world running amuck, this CD provides many restful & meditative moments of enjoyment. The Monks of the Desert, like most devotional communities, embody the basic elements of peace & relaxation which elude those of us caught up in a frenetic existence. The pace of modern life is stressful. Is there any doubt that it fills our lives & being with harmful effects? Pain, disease, shortening of life, antagonism, despair...all may be traced to stress & tension brought on by swimming in the roaring stream of contemporary society. So, I urge you to chill out with this warm & wonderful music of chants. Let the voices of these Christian brothers fill your soul & mind & being with a quieting energy from somewhere deep in the universal source. It will bring you to a quiet time & relaxed state of mind that passes all understanding. May peace prevail...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Everybody's a singer
Riding the wave of monastic chants - a pretty good example of how ordinary the voices are in a religious community. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Paul Leddy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Monks of the Desert CD
This CD made a much-appreciated gift. The monks not only sing beautifully, they brew great beer. Their story is included on the CD case.
Published 1 month ago by grace
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
Not quite as " dynamic" as some of the other chant collections I have heard, as this appears to be a smaller group of monks. Still, it is very uplifting to listen to. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Just An Opinion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music to soothe the soul and nourish the heart
I keep listening to this wonderful music. It fulfills the promise of its title bringing the spirit of blessing, peace and harmony to my home.
Published 1 month ago by Sheila Klein
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, the monks are good
Of course, it all comes down to the singing, and if they Monks weren't good, we wouldn't be discussing them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John J. Puccio
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT
This is a Great CD. Perfect for relaxing and meditating. Most of all the price was right................................................................. Read more
Published 3 months ago by maggie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely uplifting music
I always enjoy hearing these monks sing! This is a special monastery for me and so to have a new work from them is a true blessing! Read more
Published 3 months ago by elliepinksneaker
4.0 out of 5 stars
After visiting the Southwest I stumbled upon, Monks of the Desert
The album begins with a distant bell. Different from the European Monasteries this is a very nice addition to any music library.
Published 3 months ago by Jim
3.0 out of 5 stars
Blessings, Peace and Harmony
The chant is lovely - the cd could use more enhanced technology to bring out the best of their voices
Published 3 months ago by halina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Change the atmosphere
My office needsed this to help calm us down during this hectic period of time. Christmas in a church office is not peaceful, but this music certainly helps.
Published 5 months ago by J. Putnam
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
