Second Communion

Second Communion

ASIN: B00005ONNB

Editorial Reviews
Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2002
[4 stars] "...deeply substantive improvisation and composition.... exquisitely well-crafted, gloriously unfettered dialogue... By any measure, a tour de force."

Product Description
In his much-anticipated follow-up on OmniTone to the acclaimed Swimming, French hornist/composer Tom Varner once again charts new territory in this intimate and musically direct tribute to iconic trumpeter and composer Don Cherry.

Second Communion vivaciously explores Cherry's concept of musical beauty through dauntless and whimsical Varner originals and Cherry masterworks, including the groundbreaking Cherry masterpiece suite, Complete Communion.

The dynamic quartet — that includes Tony Malaby on tenor, Cameron Brown (who actually performed Complete Communion in Cherry's band as a 19-year-old in Copenhagen) on bass, and drummer Matt Wilson (whose melodically colorful drumwork is often compared to Ed Blackwell, Cherry's longtime drummer) — is augmented on several tracks by special guests, guitarist Pete McCann and trumpeter Dave Ballou (here on cornet).

Second Communion

Second Communion,Tom Varner,Omnitone Records,Avant-Garde Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop,Tribute Albums

Russian Medieval Chant: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Average customer rating:

A Paul Hillier desert island CD

Russian Medieval Chant: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Russian Orthodox Chant , Anatoly Grindenko , and Russian Patriachate Choir
Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Russian Medieval Chant

Russian Easter: The Canon of St. John Damascene

Russian Chant for Vespers

Russian Divine Liturgy

The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church

ASIN: B0000260SL
Release Date: 1995-03-21

Tracks:

The Great Litany
The First Antiphon: Psalm 102
The Little Litany
The Second Antiphon: Psalm 145
Hymn
The Beatitudes
Troparion (Mode 7)
Troparion (Mode 8)
The Entrance With The Gospel
Troparion (Mode 4)
Troparion (Mode 7)
Troparion (Mode 1)
Kondakion (Mode 8)
Kondakion To Our Lady (Mode 6)
Trisagion
Prokimenon (Mode 3)
Hymn Of The Cherubim
Litany
The Creed
Anaphore
Communion Chant
Hymn To Our Lady
Litany
Exclamation: The Lord's Prayer
Exclamation
I Shall Drink From The Chalice
Blessing: Hymn
Final Blessing

Customer Reviews:

A Paul Hillier desert island CD.......2005-06-06

Anatoly Grindenko is a man with a mission. A viola da gambists by training, in addition to having given the world premier performance of Sofia Gubaidulina's Sonata for double-bass, harp and percussion, he is most notable as a pioneer in the Russian early music field, exploring the lost world of Russian Orthodox music with its deep history that can be traced to origins of the Orthodox church in Russia. It was always going to be a matter of time before the early music movement caught up with the Slavonic early music world and unearthed forgotten gems in the libraries of the East that would inevitably sound astonishingly exotic - even revelatory - to naive Western ears. The discoveries here more than fulfill every expectation, for they are an extraordinarily exotic hybrid of influences, with Byzantine ones mixed with Slavonic ones, plus a dash of Gregorian chant for flavour, all of which gradually has blended together to form its own unique character over the centuries. The Russian Patriachate Choir that he formed is one of the finest choirs that you will ever hear. What contrasts them with the Tallis Scholars or the practice of Paul McCreesh is that he performs the works in liturgical context before going on to record them, often for up to 3 years in order for his interpretations to fully mature. The historical practices he revives are long forgotten and he works closely with a musicologist in bringing this ancient world with it mysterious cyptic notation to light.

The works recorded here represent examples of znammeny raspev, a style of Orthodox plain chant dating back to the eleventh century. The music here is taken from a manuscript compiled in the seventeen century that comes from the library of the Spiritual Academy of the St Sergei Holy Trinity. Excellent musicological background and details are provided in the liner notes by Anatoly Grindenko and Marie Bogomolova, including pictures of examples of the znamia notation system which the original manuscripts use.

Amongst the select few - often professional musicians - that have been fortunate to discover Grindenko's works, he has developed a devoted following. Anyone who has only ever heard Western early music will surely be amazed by the sounds that can be discovered here. Nothing you will have heard before will ever prepare you for the initial sheer impact of the sound that this choir makes. It has an almost overwhelming hypnotic energy and a visceral impact of great intensity, which contrasts markedly with the bright and squeaky clean polite sounds that have inexplicably come to dominate the Western early music movement.

What more can I say when in an interview for Goldberg early music magazine, none other than Paul Hiller - arguably the leading choral director in the world today - included this CD in his list of 10 desert island CDs, saying:

"I buy every recording that Anatoly Grindenko and his Russian male choir make. For this list [of 10 desert island CDs] I choose Russian Medieval Chant-the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (Opus 111). (Their CD of 19th-century sacred music is also delicious.)"

Grindenko has made a number of recordings on Opus 111, and every one of them is a complete revelation. The quality of the choral singing is absolutely superb, and the sound quality of the Opus 111 engineered recordings is some of the finest of choral music that I have heard - at worst excellent, at best audiophile quality. For anyone who has ever even remotely enjoyed a recording of plain chant, Hildegard von Bingen, or who has even the slightest interest in early music this recording is an absolute must!!! This sort of issue disappears without notice so get it NOW while you can.

Extraordinary.

Average customer rating:

English Choral Music, 1514-1682

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

European Choral Music 1525 - 1751
Treasures of English Church Music
Abide With Me
A Vaughan Williams Hymnal
The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral

ASIN: B0000064AT
Release Date: 1998-02-17

Tracks:

Alleluja, I Heard A Voice - Christ Church Choir
Give Ear O Lord - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Hosanna To The Son Of David - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: When David Heard - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: O Lord, Grant The King A Long Life - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Give The King Thy Judgements - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Christ Church Choir
Ninth Service: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
Ninth Service: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir

Tracks:

Missa Mater Christi: Introitus: Rorate coeli desuper - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Kyrie: Rex splendens - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Gloria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Oratio: Deus, qui de beatae Mariae - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Epistola: Lectio Esaie prophete - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Alleluya, Ave Maria - Alleluya, Christus resurgens - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Sequentia: Ave mundi spes Maria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Evangelium: Sequentia sancti evangelii secundum Lucam - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Credo - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Offertorium: Ave Maria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Oratio Secreta - Praefatio - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Sanctus - Benedictus - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Canon - Pater noster - Pax Domini - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Agnus Dei - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Communio: Ecce virgo concipies - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Post Communio: Gratiam tuum quaesumus Domine - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Ite missa est - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Antiphon: O Wilhelme, pastor bone - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Antiphon: Mater Christi sanctissima - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC

Tracks:

Mass Propers For All Saints: Introitus: Gaudeamus omnes - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Kyrie - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Gloria - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Gradualis: Timete Dominium - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Credo - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Offertorium: Justorum animae - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Sanctus; Benedictus - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Communio: Beati mundo corde - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Agnus Dei - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudibus in Sanctis - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudate pueri Dominum - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudate Dominum - Christ Church Choir

Tracks:

Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Introitus: Cibavit eos - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Kyrie - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Gloria - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Gradualis: Oculi omnium - Byrd
Mass Propers For the Feast Of Chorpus Christi: Sequentia: Lauda Sion salvatorem (Plainsong) - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Credo - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Offertorium: Sacerdotes Domini - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Sanctus - Benedictus - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Communio: Quotiescunque manducabitis - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Agnus Dei - Byrd
Processional Hymn: Pange lingua gloriosi - Byrd
Hymn To The Blessed Sacrament: Ave verum corpus - Byrd
Hymn To The Blessed Sacrament: O salutaris hostia - Byrd

Tracks:

Propers For The Nativity: Introitus: Puer natus est nobis - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Kyrie - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Gloria - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Gradualis: Viderunt omnes fines terrae - Dies sanctificatus - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Credo - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Offertorium: Tui sunt coeli - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Sanctus - Benedictus - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Communio: Viderunt omnes fines terrae - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Agnus Dei - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Antiphon: Hodie Christus Natus est - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Hymn: Christe redemptor omnium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Antiphon: O admirabile Commertium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Hymn: A solis ortus cardine - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Response: O magnum misterium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Tracks:

Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Ex eius tumba: Sospitati dedit aegros - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Dum transisset sabbatum (I) - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Audivi vocem de caelo - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Dum transisset sabbatum (II) - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Kyrie le Roy - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Alleluya V. Veni electa mea - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Magnificat a5 - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Ave Dei Patris filia - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC

Tracks:

The Lord Even The Most Mighty - John Taverner
O Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me - John Taverner
I Will Love Thee - John Taverner
O Lord Our Governor - John Taverner
How Doth The City - John Taverner
Blessed Is He Whose Righteousness - John Taverner
Hear, O Heav'ns - John Taverner
Who Hath Believed - John Taverner
Out Of The Deep - John Taverner
Hear Me O Lord - John Taverner

Tracks:

The Lord's Prayer - Christ Church Choir
The Second Service: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
The Second Service: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir
Gaude, gaude, gaude Maria - Christ Church Choir
Filie Ierusalem - Christ Church Choir
Reges Tharsis et insule - Christ Church Choir
Spiritus sanctus procedens - Christ Church Choir
Laudem dicite Deo nostro - Christ Church Choir
Hec dies - Christ Church Choir
Impetum fecerunt unanimes - Christ Church Choir
Libera nos, salva nos - Christ Church Choir

Amazon.com

It doesn't get much more authentic than this! These eight CDs present music by William Byrd, Thomas Weelkes, Henry Purcell, John Blow, Matthew Locke, the little-known Pelham Humfrey, John Sheppard, and John Taverner--all recorded in Dorchester Abbey, Oxford, England, and sung by the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford's great all-male choir. Their heritage goes back to Taverner himself. Their sound is both pure and lush, their singing immaculate. This is music in the finest English tradition, beautiful, devotional music for all seasons. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating:

Spiritual Chants
Monsignor Guiseppe Biella , Josef Schabasser , Choir of the Vienna Hofburgkapelle , and Choir of the Polifonica Ambrosiana
Manufacturer: Special Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Gregorian Chant

ASIN: B000009KMS
Release Date: 1994-09-27

Christ in Gethsemane - Maundy Thursday: The Office of Tenebrae & The Ceremony of Foot Washing

Average customer rating:

Christ in Gethsemane - Maundy Thursday: The Office of Tenebrae & The Ceremony of Foot Washing

Manufacturer: Solesmes
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Vespers And Compline

ASIN: B000003XH3
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Average customer rating:

The latest chapter in an ongoing work of astonishing beauty.
Excellent CD

Second Communion
Tom Varner
Manufacturer: Omnitone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Swimming
Out of Airplanes
The Window Up Above: American Songs
2Gether
Voice in the Night

ASIN: B00005ONNB
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Tracks:

Watts '56
Complete Communion: Complete Communion
Complete Communion: And Now
Complete Communion: Golden Heart
Complete Communion: Remembrance (My Folks)
Complete Communion: Paris Ambulance Song/Complete Communion (Reprise)
Cherryco
Don's Big View
Leaving Malaga
Elephantasy
Don's Hymn

Album Description

In his much-anticipated follow-up on OmniTone to the acclaimed Swimming, French hornist/composer Tom Varner once again charts new territory in this intimate and musically direct tribute to iconic trumpeter and composer Don Cherry.

Customer Reviews:

The latest chapter in an ongoing work of astonishing beauty........2002-11-23

In a review I wrote for Tom Varner's last Omnitone release,Swimming, I wrote about his emergence as one of the great composers in the jazz tradition. This CD only solidifies that status. The only contemporary of Varner's that I find to be his consistent equal is Henry Threadgill.
On the album, Varner pays homage to Don Cherry and, in particular, Cherry's great CD Complete Communion. The group plays a full version of that suite as well as Elephantasy and Cherryco. That last song Cherry played with John Coltrane on another great CD, The Avant-Garde. This music had great impact on Varner as a young man. Heck, it had great effect on all of us who had the good fortune to be exposed to it.
Varner has surronded these great compositions with his own that reflect Varner's feelings about various stages of Cherry's career and life. As always with Tom Varner's work, the compositions are wonderful. They show a tremendous variety of voicings and mood.
The band is exceptional. Along with Varner on the french horn, the personnel are Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone, Cameron Brown on the upright bass, Matt Wilson on the drums with Pete McCann and Dave Ballou sitting in on guitar and cornet respectively. Pete McCann gets more solo space here than on the Swimming CD and makes the most of it. He makes me want to hear the CDs released under his own name. Malaby increasingly impresses. Here he is playing the role that the young Gato Barbieri played on the original Complete Communion. Malaby plays with every bit as much passion and with more technical skill. Dave Ballou's sound merges beautifully with that of Varner and Malaby. He has the daunting task of playing the Don Cherry role. He does so by displaying his own gorgeous tone and imagination. I have said it before and it is reaffirmed every time I hear him but Cameron Brown is one of the great bass players of the last twenty plus years. As a young man, Brown played some of these same pieces with Don Cherry. He brings that history with him and plays with his usual full tone and calm brillance. The man does not show off- he simply lifts everybody up and carries them along on the shoulders of his beat. Wilson is a great partner in rhythm.
This is the fifth CD I own by Varner. I now plan to go back to his earliest works as well. What we are witnessing with Varner is an ongoing work of astonishing beauty. A man of intelligence, humor and warmth writing music that captures all of those qualities which thereby enriches us all. How can we not feel appreciation for what he has given us?

Excellent CD.......2002-11-12

I think this is an great CD, featuring fine performances by all the musicians and well-crafted compositions by Varner, which complement beautifully the three Cherry pieces presented. Varner's pieces move through many moods, but never lack warmth, and convey a cohesive vision throughout the album. The rapport between the musicians is obvious, as is their intent to realise Cherry's artistic ideals both individually and collectively.

Tracks:

Introitus: Laetare Jerusalem
Alleluia: Laetare Sum
Responsorium: Ingredeinte Domino
Offertorium: Confirma Hoc Deus
Lamentatio: Et Egressus Est A Filia Sion
Offertorium: Super Flumina Babylonis
Lectio: Jube Domine Nos Tibi Laudes Canere
Communio: Jerusalem Surge
Hymnus: Urbs Jerusalem Beata
Graduale: Omnes Des Saba
Offertorium: Ezulta Stis Filia Sion
Introitus: Da Pacem Domine
Bonus Track
Bonus Track

Average customer rating:

Dreadful
great compilation!
Gregorian Insight Look

Eternal Chant

Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants

ASIN: B000002J2X
Release Date: 1994-10-25

Tracks:

Viae Viri Sancti - Psalm 109: Dixit Dominus
Qui Sedes
Rorate Caeli
Beginning Of Christmas Vespers: Harmonized Invitatory
Jubilate
Ecce Advenit
Alleluia: Justus Germanibit
Ave Regina Caelorum
Allelua: De Profundis
Lamentation O Vos Omnes
The Three Mary's At The Tomb
Good Friday Improperes
O Oliva Fructifera
Ave Maris Stella
Alleluia - Canticle Of The Creatures
Alleluia: Exultabuntur
Sanctus IX
Veni Creator

Tracks:

Alleluia, Veni, Domine
Antiphons For Advent: Jucundare Filla Sion
Alma Redemptoris
Sanctus
Stirps Jesse
Juncundare
Ne Timeas
Ave Maria
Ecce Virgo
Jerusalem Surge
Beata Dei Genitrix
Christe Redemptor
Genuit Puerpera
Dominus Dixit
Salve, Sancta Parens
Tecum Principium
Kyrie Simplex
Ambrosian Gloria
Viderun Omnes
Ave Maria
Alleluia Dies Sanctificatus
Hodie Christus
A) Magnum Hereditatis Mysterium, B) Magnificat

Tracks:

Bells & Footsteps
Diffusa Est
Reading: Isaiah ch. 40, Verses 4-8
Jam Christus
Magnus Dominus (Psalm 47)
Birds & Bells
Genuit Puerpera
Angelus Ad Pastores Ait
Ecce Jam Noctis
Jam Lucis
Servite Domino
Bells
Alleluia: Lapis Revolutus
Terribilis
Introit: Da Pacem
Gloria X
Venite
Alleluia: In Exitu Israel
Dues, Deus, Meus
Christus Resurgens
Bells & Birds
Et Venerunt Festinantes
Verbum Caro
Sanctorum Meritis
Magnificavit Sanctum & Magnificat
Bells & Deus In Adjutorium
Hymn: Te Lucis Ante Terminatum
Ecce Nunc Benedicite
Slave Regina

Amazon.com

Here's a set that for many collectors will slam the monk's gate on further chant acquisitions. In other words, this could be as close to a definitive compilation as there ever will be. What's more, it's beautifully packaged, intelligently programmed, and authentically performed--by real monastic, cathedral, and abbey choirs in authentic locations in France. The three discs were compiled from the catalog of Studio SM, a French label that has specialized in recording chant for more than 40 years. Although there is some variance in sound quality and in the performing styles of the different choirs, the overall production values are impressive. Solemn and uplifting moments mingle with the charming: during one of the selections, we hear both the bells and birds of Tarnie Abbey. The 40-page booklet contains extensive liner notes, photographs, texts, and translations. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Dreadful.......2004-11-28

A real stinker. The engineer has tried to create that "big cathedral sound" using reverb. And boy did he ever use it! Each cut starts out cleanly for a second or two until the reverb kicks in. The result is muddy, confused noise. The last note of nearly every line sounds out of tune because the reverb rarely catches up. Wish I could get my hands on the original tapes. Very good book though, or this would be a zero star rating.

great compilation!.......2002-11-07

i am doing a performance art work based on umberto eco's "the name of the rose." the novel takes place in an abbey, and the story is structured around the daily pattern of prayer observed by the monks. i was hoping to find some nice recordings of gregorian chant, but i wasn't prepared to find EXACTLY what i needed! what a nice surprise -- not everything in life has to be suffering and pain i suppose... i digress. the quality of the recordings is excellent, and i really appreciate the abient noises in the background (bells, doors opening, birds, wind, etc). these sounds are proof of the authenticity of the experience -- you are hearing the monks as they progress through their day -- it is so nice to hear something that wasn't constructed electronically in a sound studio. the collection is great for people who want relaxing and/or spiritual music, but it is also very important to those students of monastic life who want to understand better the daily rituals that make up a monk's life. you might also be interested in this compilation if you are studying music history or music appreciation, or if you are interested in hearing music sung in latin (a good resource for language students). all in all this is the best gregorian chant collection i've been able to find after much searching: great sound quality, consistency (same people's voices, same acoustics, etc) logical progressions through the provided selections, and reasonable pricing. this compilation is also great if you need a thorough survey of gregorian chant

Gregorian Insight Look.......2000-05-11

Consist of 3 CD's - An overview of Gregorian Chant - A Monk's day in Chants - Advent and Christmas This compilation is good for who want to know more of Gregorian Chants

Jerusalem: Gregorian Chant and Early Polyphony

Average customer rating:

Jerusalem: Gregorian Chant and Early Polyphony

Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004SDI0
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Amazon.com

With the year 2000 upon us, one theme on which performers of medieval music have focused is Jerusalem, a city that has been for centuries the focus of the millennial (as it were) aspirations of both Jews and Christians. Late in 1998, Gothic Voices released an excellent recording of medieval works centered on Jerusalem as the goal of the Crusaders. On this disc, Brigitte Lesne and Discantus perform a program of sacred music about Jerusalem as spiritual objective--both the earthly city (as Zion, the focus of longing for the ancient Israelites in their exiles in Babylon and Persia) and the "New Jerusalem," the heavenly abode of peace described by St. John in the Book of Revelation. The works Lesne has gathered include a variety of medieval forms: majestic organum in the style Perotin cultivated at Notre-Dame in Paris, a gently dancing triple-time motet from the 13th century, a 1,000-year-old hymn with two-part harmony improvised according to medieval principles, and (of course) plainchant.

With any recording of medieval music by an all-female vocal ensemble, comparisons with the phenomenally successful Anonymous 4 are almost unavoidable. While nobody can quite match Anonymous 4's silky, extraordinarily unanimous sound, Discantus is just as skillful, with a full, earthy sound and pointed rhythmic delivery (in contrast to the ethereal smoothness of their American colleagues). This recording may not sell as well as "An English Ladymass," but it's every bit as good. --Matthew Westphal

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music