Customer Reviews

Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first bought this album on vinyl on the old World Series label during the late sixties. I was struck at that time by the difference between the live singing and studio chant. I was, at that time, a college student majoring in music. Since then, from the vantage point of a 35-year career in music and teaching, I am struck anew by the quality of this disc, and I'm so glad this album made it to disc! I have used this disc for years, teaching Lutheran choirs to sing Gregorian chant and many years of European History students have been amazed at the "live" quality.
I usually start the sessions with the Santo Domingo de Silos recordings, then move to Clervaux. Without exception, every class has remarked on the bells as the choir enters before the Te Deum and the entrance of the bird. Chant becomes, for my students, not an old dead thing, but a living, breathing continuing tradition of prayer, praise and worship. This disc is a must for both the novice just beginning to study chant, and for the conniseur, who has studied for years.

If you are looking for a spare, bare bones, Gregorian chant recording as it is sung day to day in many monasteries still (even in these post-Vatican II days) this is a safe bet. The monks sing in the eight unadorned modes of gregorian canticles, accompanied only by an organ tone to begin.
For purists, this disc is a joy, and a boon to anyone searching for music to truly relax or consider life's mysteries by. Recordings such as these are hard to find, and even more so inexpensivley with such quality. Buy with confidence.

Gregorian Chant is not 'sung' but rather prayed. The spirit of Gregorian Chant has been captured and presented here by the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of St. Maurice & St. Maur in Clervaux.

These good men are true fathers of the chant yet are childlike in their prayers to the Heavenly Father. The monastic life of prayer and submission to the Divine is fully captured in every detail. The brief and simple organ intonement followed by the distant noise of a monk's bench seat before prayers like the Lauda Sion speak volumes of the simple day to day life of Benedictine Monasticism. The bells before and during the Te Deum (To God we Give Thanks) are reminiscent of a child trying with everything he can to get the Father's attention . . . to give a simple thank you.

The entire album plunges one into the silence of the soul: prayer, where the key to the heart of God is unlocked. Throughout the CD the sounds of the monk's movements are captured. Unlike other expensive sacred works, this CD captures the surrounding 'noise' and manages to remind the listener of the embodiment of prayer - the soul animating the body in intimate communication with God.

No Gregorian Chant CD that I own can bring the body and soul together like this one.

I have a collection of around 25 chant cds and this is by far my favorite of all - the rendition of "Victimae Paschali Laudes" is so natural and this version of "Salve Regina" is the one I always play before retiring at the end of the day - remembering how, in the SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN, Thomas Merton described the monks a Gethsemani Abbey doing the same thing each evening... This is also the only cd I bought separate copies for home, car and work.
Great for reading and meditation as well.

This recording is a rare example of pure Gregorian Chant in the Fontgombault style from the mid 20th century. What distinguishes this style of Gregorian Chant to others, is its gentle, legatic feel; incredibly fuild, and incredibly surreal; unlike the hard rhythmic style of other eras. This style seems especially suited to honor to the Blessed Virgin. Everything about this CD transcends this world. Even the unique tonal inflections of the lead voice is quite moving and intimate; one can sense a sort of longing and anguish to one day meet Our Lord.

We are very blessed to have captured this quasi-heavenly exchange in an audio recording, nearly 50 years old.

When I picked this cd up used for $2 I was thinking "Well this will probably be one of those cd's that I listen to once and then it will end up in my pile of cd's". Well little did I know that this would be one of the most played cd's I own. This is one of the best chant cd's I have ever heard (and I've heard plenty). The music is very beautiful and moving without being... well emotionalistic. If you love chant or are interested in it, check this cd out.

Amazing recording. If you go the abbey in Clervaux, Luxemburg (as I did) you can to this day hear live and spontaneous the music of these very monks. Everything about this recording is genuine. If you listen very carefully, you can hear a bird join in the chant at around the 4:45 mark of the Te Deum...

This is my first-ever review, and I have to say, I am just amazed by this CD. Blown away. It is more than just chanting to me. I hear a whole level of emotions, particularly in "Adoro Te." I play this recording over and over, and each time, I am still amazed by how beautiful it is. If you must own only one CD of Gregorian Chant, make it this one.

This is an excellent cd. The emotion present in the monks' voices, espcially in the "Salve Regina" is deeply moving and beautiful. Highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of Gregorian chant, and a great first buy for someone who just wants to know what Gregorian chant sounds like.

I bought this disk while feeling depressed and not being able to focus. The chanting soothed me and gave me some piece of mind. Why then not 5 stars, you ask? Because the sound lacks a bit of clarity despite the remastering and the performance is good, but not exceptional.