Customer Reviews

Christmas at St. Michael's Abbey: Chants for the Three Masses of Christmas

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
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This is a terrific Christmas album, great to listen to when driving :) The voices feel very young, dynamic and filled with energy. The church bell at the beginning defines the location and creates authenticity. It's wonderful to hear such beautiful chant performed in the United States.

It is very difficult to take it all in when you are at St. Michael's Abbey for the midnight Holy Mass. The chant, the warm candle lighting, the incense and much more. I am very visual and in order to appreciate the nuances of the Gregorian chant I close my eyes and take it in. Well, then I miss the beauty of the low light. This recording lets me take in the Chant by itself. Next Christmas I will enjoy again the Midnight Mass with a better appreciation for Gregorian Chant. As the late JPII wrote in his letter to artists "Gregorian chant, were beauty is wedded to truth". Thank you St. Michael's Abbey for this great recording.

The music is incredibly beautiful - true Gregorian chant by a devoted, talented group of priests. Their voices truly convey the spirit of Christmas and Jesus Christ's birth.

This is a fantastic CD. The fact that my son's religion teacher Father Charbel of JSerra Catholic High School, and a Norbertine Priest, chants on this CD makes it special however even if I knew no one on this CD, it is one that I would buy for myself or for a friend! Already I sent one to my sister in Northern California!
Several times already, when I have been stressed and needed some peace, I played this CD and felt the peace of Christ come over me.
I would encourage anyone to buy this!

I bought this recording because it contained the three masses of Christmas, a "novelty." on the long list of sacred music. I was somewhat disappointed. There is no explanation as to why the long tradition of 3 masses of Christmas originated. Also the Norbertines of Grimbergen have produced recordings (with another company) which better illustrate the Norbertine mode of adding an extra long note after a series of long notes ( Grimbergen does it in a sublime way). "Gregorian" chant has become fashionable these days. This recording will probably please listeners who are not too demanding or not too familiar with the intricacies of one of the most beautiful music in the western tradition.