Chants: Ritual Music

Reclaiming Community

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 16, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 16, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reclaiming Records
• ASIN: B00005O6ER
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,074 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Beginning of the Earth

2. Touching Her Deep

3. Air I Am

4. Rise With the Fire

5. Snake Woman

6. Goddess Medley

7. We Are the Flow

8. Silver Shining Wheel

9. Where There's Fear There's Power

10. Hecate, Cerridwen

11. Return to the Mother

12. Born of Water

13. Air Moves Us

14. Water and Stone

15. We All Come from the Goddess/Hoof and Horn

16. Koré Chant

17. Sun King

18. We Are Alive

Editorial Reviews

Paul Beyerl, The Unicorn, vol. VXII, #1

Overall, listening to Starhawk and friends is more than pleasing--it is moving and exhilarating. I highly recommend this tape.

Product Description

A very popular teaching tape, this album features chants taught through Reclaiming's classes and rituals, many of which are now familiar to Pagans around the globe. 21 great chants in all, performed by a small chorus with some hand drumming. Chants are written by many different people, including Starhawk, Rose May Dance, Raven Moonshadow, Shekhinah Mountainwater, Z. Budapest, and Ian Corrigan (among others). All lyrics are included in the CD booklet.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simple chants and songs for the Pagan revival, May 31, 2005

By	Storm Faerywolf (Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Collected here are several simple chants and songs inspired by the practices of Pagan Witchcraft. Intended more as a teaching tool rather than as an 'easy listening' piece, Chants provides several tracks that are appropriate for use in circle and for inducing trance. Most of these chants are naturally (and appropriately) repetitive, while a few others will classify more as songs whose melodies and rhythms are bound to delight and inspire. If you are looking for something to sit back and relax with while sipping a glass of wine then look elsewhere, but if you are intending to learn a body of material than can be used or adapted for circle or coven use then Chants fits the bill nicely.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD for rituals and classes, October 10, 2005

By	Bill Dewey/Reclaiming Quarterly (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This simply-recorded CD contains 19 of the most-loved chants from Reclaiming-tradition Witchcraft. The arrangements are simple and clear, making it easy to learn chants in a few listens.

If you are wanting chants and songs for small rituals, classes, or other events, this is the CD to get.

The CD is not "easy listening," and might not make the best background music for a Pagan-themed art opening. Most chants are drums-and-voices only.

But the recording is actually very listenable, and I enjoy putting it on from time to time, just to be reminded of an old chant I've forgotten about.

Reclaiming also produced "Second Chants," which is more polished music in the same vein; and "Let It Begin," which is music from the Spiral Dance ritual. Both are excellent.

If you want to learn useful chants for ritual and classes, "Chants" is the CD for you.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chants that will have you singing along in no time, April 1, 2003

By A Customer

When I think of music from the Pagan community, this album is the first that comes to my mind. The rich combination of both male and female vocals makes this music sound like you are right there with them as they sing. Pretty soon you'll be singing along too, blending right in with the chorus. The drumming in the tracks really gets your blood pumping too. If you're familiar with Libana's interpretation of the chants, you might find this album a refreshing change, the interpretations are more primal and less syrupy sweet.

The absolute best songs on this album are "Air I Am", "We Are the Flow", "Silver Shining Wheel", "Born of Water", "We All Come from the Goddess/Hoof and Horn", and "Kore Chant". And the other half of the album will blow you away too.

The only thing I'm not keen on is that I can't find a CD copy of this anywhere. Magnetic media has its drawbacks, not being good for the long term. It would be a shame for this album to pass out of circulation, so much good work went into making it.