Customer Reviews

Gregorian Book of Silos

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

 

 

Perhaps the most wonderful chant CD ever! If you are a fan of Gregorian Chant and/or the monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, this CD is sure to please. Having listened to most of their albums, I have to say that this is probably the best.

I got this used, but there are 2 CDs. CD 1 is as listed by amazon above: The Liturgy of the Dead / Requiem Mass (Traditional EF), followed by Mass XI <<Orbis Factor>> (for Sundays throughout the year).

CD 2 has 6 Antiphons, Canticles, or Hymns to the Blessed Virgin, the propers for Mass IX <<Cum Iubilo>> (Blessed Virgin Mary), and finishes with 6 Eucharistic chants, two of which I have never found elsewhere in my hundreds of chant albums (this is particularly nice since chant albums tend to recycle the same popular songs while routinely neglecting various hard to find chants).
The original recording is said to be 1955, before the changes (3 threes in the Kyries, etc.). A later (1963?) recording of the Cum Jubilo was already on their "Soul of Chant."

A great, sedate recording if you can take the organ accompaniment, which is relatively prominent and has a hypnotic, droning effect I have never heard on a chant CD before; it is interesting if only for its novelty, but it enhances the CDs meditative quality. The insert is a flimsy 2 pager without the lyrics, translations, notes, etc. one expects (and gets) with finer classical chant recordings.

Great CD. My wife and I listen to it almost daily. We even use it for prayer sessions. Also the product was in perfect condition and and was as advertised. We're totaly satified.

...an absolutely beautiful collection of chant. As other reviewers have pointed out, an organ is featured here - not always a feature for chant. This is done in the back, typically to establish a base tone for the vocalists, which rises and falls with the voices. It does become a "drone" of sorts and, indeed, is hypnotic and captivating. It is not bothersome nor grating in the least and, in fact, I find that it only adds to the overall beauty and increases the ability to fall into that state of worship, praise and adoration of Him.

This is a stunning, two-disc collection. I purchase the MP3 download so cannot comment on the attributes (or cost) of the actual, physical product, but as a download, this set is well-worth its cost, many times over.

Highly recommended.