Chant

Gregorian Chant (Artist), The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000002SKX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,623 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Vocal & Song
  #3 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Sacred & Religious
  #3 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Chants

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Thanks to good marketing, good cover art, and good luck, this disc probably has sold more copies than most other recordings of Gregorian chant put together. It's often quipped that most of those discs have been listened to exactly once and put away--to the puzzlement of many musicians and critics, who point out that there are more beautiful, more varied performances by professional singers available. Yet the singing of these Spanish Benedictines has a special quality that probably explains this disc's popularity--a reverent serenity that no doubt stems from the fact that the monks are actually praying, not just performing. Granted, Chant can become a bit monotonous with repeated listening, but it really gives you the sense of devotion that has always been the purpose of "Gregorian" chant. If this recording (ahem) enchants you at first, wonderful. If you get bored with it later, don't give up--there has been an extraordinary variety of styles and sounds over the 1,500-year history of plainchant, so go exploring with Anonymous 4, Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Sequentia, or Ensemble Organum. You won't be sorry. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Standard Bearer for the Genre! Calm, Peaceful, Beautiful!, August 18, 2005

By	Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have to admit that when I got this disc, it was more out of curiousity as it had done very well commercially and although I had read about Gregorian Chants, I had no idea what they were and thought that this would be a good way to find out.

Well, the sound quality of the recording was quite decently done and what struck me was the calm, serene vibes I was getting from listening to the tracks. And then it struck me that there were no musical accompanyments and it was just these guys with their voices!

So simple and yet so beautiful were the sounds coming out of the disc. A great stress reliever and to think that this kind of music has been around for millenia! Highly recommended!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for when you need to chill out, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

Unbelievably soothing music. Really good for when you need to smooth your feathers after a bad day.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gregorian Chant, August 13, 2006

By	Angel Max - See all my reviews

I purchased this item because one of my children has been going through the Tomatis method of auditory integration training to correct some auditory processing issues that affect his ability to communicate. The Gregorian Chant was recommended as a follow up because of its many and pure sound frequencies. After listening to different samples of the Chant, I picked the one sung by the Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos for its sound clarity. Also, it has been interesting to see the reaction of all my children. Two of them weep when they listen to the chant and the other one seems be soothed by it. As an adult, it is this soothing effect from the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos that I find most fascinating.