Customer Reviews

Chants de L'Eglise de Rome: Période byzantine

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is an attempt to decipher the notes of ancient Christian chants found at the Vatican library that date back to VII - VIII centuries, when parts of Italy were still under the power of Byzantine emperors, and the Christian Church was not divided into the Catholic and Orthodox halves.

This music is solemn, ascetic and has a certain oriental flavor - let's not forget that Christianity originated in Middle East and the very word "Christian" was coined in Antioch, Syria. To me these chants sounded a bit like singing of the Mount Athos monk choir.

Good pick for all those exploring the roots of European, Christian and Mediterranean cultures irrespective of later splits and schisms.

Byzantuim is Atlantis of European culture, and each new finding in the Byzantinists throws a new light on the history and culture of European (both West and East) civilization.
This CD allows us to listen to newly deshiphered Old Roman Chants of 7th-8th centuries. In that time Rome and Italy were under strong Byzantine influence, Christan Church was united and so this music presents us very modern in its spirit multicultural Christian Chants. The voice of the Greek cantor Lycourgous Angelopoulos freely flowing in this sacred space supported by the choir of Ensemble Organum. Some features of this music would remind you Gregorian Chants, some - music of Greek Orthodox Church. The manner of singing sometimes remindes me even Russian folksongs (it`s my own non-academic association), so the synthesis of different elements brings us refreshing, new and suddenly modern sounding spiritual Christian music.
So the record is very impressive, beautiful. If you like meditative Gregorian Chants or if the problems of relationships between the West and the Orient are interesting for you - you would like this CD. Thanks to Marcel Peres! My real rate of this record - 10 stars.