Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas in Latin and English
Track Listings
| 1. O Sapientia: O Antiphon | ||
| 2. Ad te levavi: Introit for the 1st Sunday of Advent | ||
| 3. O Adonai: O Antiphon | ||
| 4. Lord, Come and Save Us: Responsory for Advent | ||
| 5. O Radix Jesse: O Antiphon | ||
| 6. Populus Sion: Introit for the 2nd Sunday of Advent | ||
| 7. O Clavis David: O Antiphon | ||
| 8. Creator of the Stars of Night: Advent Vesper Hymn | ||
| 9. O Oriens: O Antiphon | ||
| 10. Jerusalem surge: Communion for the 2nd Sunday of Advent | ||
| 11. O Rex gentium: O Antiphon | ||
| 12. Gaudete in Domino: Introit for the 3rd Sunday of Advent | ||
| 13. O Emmanuel: O Antiphon | ||
| 14. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Medieval Advent Hymn | ||
| 15. Proclamation of Christmas | ||
| 16. Dominus dixit ad me: Introit for Christmas Midnight Mass | ||
| 17. From East to West: Christmas Lauds Hymn | ||
| 18. Christmas Lauds Antiphons | ||
| 19. Reading for Vigils: Is 9:2-7 | ||
| 20. O Great Mystery: Responsory |
Editorial Reviews Fr. Columba Kelly, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, finished his doctorate in church music at Musica Sacra in Rome just as Roman liturgy was moving from Latin into English. During the last thirty-five years, in addition to his teaching, Fr. Columba has created a body of English chant based on the natural word rhythm of spoken word. Presently there are over 1,800 responsories and antiphons in the liturgical books at Saint Meinrad Archabbey. This music, which represents only part of his work, forms the day-to-day music of the Archabbey. The English antiphons on this CD give an indication of Fr. Columba's achievement. Two years ago a small group of young monks gathered to sing select pieces of the Latin chant. In the process, Fr. Columba began to explore the possibility of recreating melismatic chants for English texts developed to fit (more or less) the Latin melody. Although the music for the English is similar to that for the Latin, it is not the same. Rather it has been carefully crafted to respect the rhythm and meaning of the English text. In addition, Fr. Columba has created wholly new compositions such as the responsorial psalms for the Third Sunday of Advent and for Christmas Midnight Mass in the melismatic idiom; both are contained on Gregorian Chant for Advent and Christmas in Latin and English. The CD was recorded in the Archabbey Church with its natural resonance of six seconds. This ideal acoustic allows this monophonic music to create its own shifting harmonies. All of these compositions are an attempt to recreate the tradition for our own time. With its free rhythm and modal sonority, chant has a decidedly modern sense. Under Fr. Columba's direction The Saint Meinrad Gregorian Schola gave a concert on September 3, 1999 at Chicago's Ravinia Festival and on June 4, 2000 in Rome as part of the Benedictine Jubilee Celebration at Sant' Anselmo. The monastic life and prayer at Saint Meinrad Archabbey began in 1854, with the coming of monks from the Abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland. This revered Swiss monastery was itself founded in 934 at the hermitage of St. Meinrad, who had been killed by robbers in 861. One of the most important manuscripts the early medieval notation is still the monastic library of Einsiedeln. Benedict in his Rule for Monks describes monastic life as a search for God. Gregorian Chant for Advent and Christmas in Latin and English is both a celebration of that great tradition and a testament to its vitality. Very little of the music written for Advent has been recorded. This CD contains all of the justly famous "O" Antiphons which are sung at Vespers on the seven days before Christmas. Each antiphon, sung both in Latin and English, celebrates a title of the messiah. The first antiphon begins with "O Sapientia" that is "O Wisdom." (audio clip) The CD also features the great introits for the first three Sundays of Advent, the famous Vesper hymn, and the ever favorite "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" which is based on the "O" Antiphons. The Christmas section opens with the Solemn Proclamation of Christmas sung in the Archabbey Church at the beginning of First Vespers. Fr. Alaric, the present choirmaster, is cantor for this proclamation and also for a new composition by Fr. Columba used as the response at Midnight Mass. This new piece explores the most complex reaches of the chant tradition. The great introits for the Midnight Mass and the Day Mass of Christmas are exceptional pieces from the Gregorian repertoire. The first captures the quiet awe of midnight while the second trumpets the birth of a king. (audio clip) The Christmas hymns for Lauds and Vespers are particularly fine and are largely unknown. They deserve more recognition. The schola also sings the lovely medieval hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten." Various antiphons are woven together. Those for Christmas Lauds are particularly charming. The CD ends with the haunting communion chant for Epiphany and the Marian antiphon used for Advent and Christmas.
About the Artist
Fr. Columba Kelly, O.S.B., D.Mus.Sac. Director and Composer for the Saint Meinrad Gregorian Schola
Album Description
"Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas" contains some of the great pieces of Latin chant composed for Advent and Christmas during the early middle ages (c. 800 A.D.). In addition, Fr. Columba Kelly, O.S.B. has taken these chants and recreated them for English words. The early Latin chant, even in its most complex forms, served the meaning of the words. The sound, accent, and rhythm of the words formed the essential basis of this music. Fr. Columba has given these ancient chants a new life by wedding them to the words of new English texts. These new compositions allow English speaking audiences to appreciate the relationship between the music and the words.
Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas in Latin and English, Music, Traditional, The Gregorian Chant Schola of St. Meinrad Archabbey, Columba Kelly
Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas in Latin and English
Music Info:
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