Customer Reviews

Gregorian Christmas: Chants & Motets

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

 

 

This is a beautiful collection of soothing Christmas chants and motets...Put this in your CD player and you'll have trouble getting upset about the person who just cut you off for the last parking space at the mall! An excellent-quality recording for an amazing price...

Not technically Gregorian, because of some polyphony. But this is one of the best selections of this kind of music that I've heard. Compare to expensive monastery or convert CDs, and others, and this is one you put on the CD changer more than the rest. Found it in a bargain bin at Fry's. Amazing CD.

The disk -- focused on Christmas music -- includes both chant and polyphony so it is not strictly "Gregorian." As a recording by one of the most renowned ensembles for the interpretation of chant it is available at a ludicrously low price. The singing is accomplished, but there are no useful notes or texts.

The play list is correct, the one with the ability to listen to clips. This CD has 14 tracks, beginning with "Puer natus est nobis" (the Introit) and ending with "Magnificat anima mea Dominum." The list that says ON THIS CD is a totally different list of chants. I do not know what it is doing on this page.

There is no Mozart. There are sparse credits in the liner notes. The recording appears to be of a group calling itself Capella Gregoriana, although nothing is said about them. Predominantly chant, there are times when the selections move to motets, the natural outgrowth of chant, being simutaneous independent plain songs as it were, combined to form a melodious and rhythmic whole much as partner songs do. Highly recommended, this is an excellent budget album. Just be sure that you understand that you are getting the 14 tracks that you can listen to, not the list that says other tracks are on the CD. As for the Christmas feel, it is certainly reverent and soothing. It is not festive. If you like chant, you will appreciate this album. I certainly do. If you are looking for festive type Christmas music, find another source.

There is an interesting descrepancy in who recorded these - the listing says: "Performed by Schola Hungarica Conducted by László Dobszay" while the cd itself simply says "Capella Gregoriana". I suspect the listing is more accurate given the overall quality of this recording. Other than a phrase in Procedentem Sponsum where I find the high notes to be less than ideal, the recording has voices clearly used to chant with careful unisons that keeps the words understandable. The first cut Dies est laetitia is my favorite. This is definately an acceptable album of traditional Christmas music - very traditional.

Beautiful musical rendition of Christmas music. Soothing and lilting, it'll help you get centered or reconnected or whatever it is you need for stress relief. A fantastic CD at a great price!

I suspect this CD was made by the Choirs of the Cathedral of The Magdeline in Salt Lake City. Utah.

I had attended a mass there and heard the boys choir. I am no critic of choirs or music.

But the sound they made in that Cathedral was indeed otherworldly. A great treat!

You should go there for a concert even if you are not Cathloic.

This is a very polished and well trained choir.

I've used this for years as part of my meditation regime and never realized that I've never done a review for it.

When I listen to it just after my morning meditations, it always bring up solem divine feelings in me that bring some tears to my eyes.

The people who perform this work really capture the divinity in it. I'm really not interested in who the creators or performers are. All I know is that what they did work for me.