Introit

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Cantus: introit - The groups first release, produced in 1997. A collection of male choral literiture from polyphony and chant to 20th Century sacred works to art songs and folk arrangements. A beautiful and quietly lambient recording.

Tracks:

Introitus: Ecce advenit
Graduale: Onmes de Saba
Communio: Omnes qui in Christo
Halleluja: Dies sanctificatus
Ofertorium: Tui sunt caeli
Hymnus: Creator alme siderum
Introitus: Gaudens gaudebo
Halleluja: Leatatus sum
Communio: Dicite Pusillanimes
Tractus Deus: Deus meus
Introitus: Misereris
Antiphon: Pueri Hebraeorum
Hymnus: Gloria
Graduale: Christus factus est
Halleluja: Hallelujah
Introitus: Resurrexi
Sequenz: Victimae paschalis laudes
Hymnus: Veni creator

Customer Reviews:

Great music, great price.......2007-05-07

I ordered this cd for a book club I was hosting on the book "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. It was perfect "mood" music for the discussion and the price was unbeatable!

Definitely Meditative.......2007-03-09

The gift that these men are able to share is worth listening to. To be quiet in yourself and allow space for this soulful chanting is an experience in itself.

Gregorian Meditation.......2007-01-13

Great CD. My wife and I listen to it almost daily. We even use it for prayer sessions. Also the product was in perfect condition and and was as advertised. We're totaly satified.

Beautiful.......2007-01-13

I have bought Volumes I and II and am very pleased with the quality, the sound, and the style of the chanting. The lyrics are amazing, many of which come straight from the Bible, especially from the Book of Psalms. Let me know of other great Chant CD's, be they Gregorian, Amabrosian, or even Greek/Byzantine.

Gregorian Chant Gems.......2005-08-27

It is wonderful to hear again the chants that are familiar to all Catholics who grew up with the Latin Mass and who remember the plain chants from the Liber Usualis. Victimae paschali laudes (the Sequence from the Easter Mass), Gaudens gaudebo in Domino (Rejoicing, I shall rejoice in the Lord), Pueri hebraeorum (the beautiful entrance song to the Palm Sunday Mass), and all the other chants. They are performed by a choir that understands the beauty and simplicity of Gregorian Chant.

Average customer rating:

Chant
Chant
PEACE FROM WITHIN
Gregorian Chant
RELAXING

Chant
Gregorian Chant , and The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chant II
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 1
Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants
Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant

ASIN: B000002SKX
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Puer Natus Est Nobis: Intriot (Modo VII)
Os Iusti: Gradual (Modo I)
Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis: Gradual (Modo V)
Mandatum Novum Do Vobis: Antiphonal And Psalm 132 (Modo III)
Media Vita In Morte Sumus: Responsorio (Modo IV)
Alleluia, Beatus Vir Qui Suffert: (Modo I)
Spiritus Domini: Introit (Modo VIII)
Improperium: Offertorio (Modo VIII)
Laetatus Sum: Gradual (Modo VII)
Kyrie XI - A: (Modo I)
Puer Natus In Bethlehem: Ritmo (Modo I)
Jacta Cogitatum Tuum: Gradual (Modo VII)
Verbum Caro Factum Est: Responsorio (Modo VII)
Genuit Puerpera Regem: Antiphonal And Psalm 99 (Modo II)
Occuli Omnium: Gradual (Modo VII)
Ave Mundi Spes Maria: Sequenza (Modo I)
Kyrie Fons Bonitatis: Trope (Modo III)
Veni Sancte Spiritus: Sequenza (Modo I)
Hosanna Filio David: Antiphonal (Modo VII)

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:

Chant.......2007-06-25

The CD was received on time and in excellent condition. I use the CD in the evenings to slow me down and get me in a relaxed mood.

Chant.......2007-03-09

It is a true to life portrail of the medieval prayer form.

Some things are ageless.

PEACE FROM WITHIN.......2007-01-09

I can't understand most of the latin words in these chants but the spirituality, harmony and the "music" in the monks' voices are refreshing to the soul. I know that several monks sing but you basically hear one voice. I would suggest that a pocket size book with the translation of each chant should accompany each CD.

Gregorian Chant.......2006-08-13

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.

RELAXING.......2006-03-24

EXCELLENT FOR RELAXING, MEDITATION, OR INTROSPECTION. WHEN I HAVE HAD A BAD DAY, I POP THIS IN ON MY WAY HOME FOR RELAXATION.

Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Fantastic
Unusual order
Getting Lost While Meditating
Calming, Centering, a bit repetitive
Great Atmospheric Music

Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants
Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Chant
Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant
Chant II

ASIN: B000001VIK
Release Date: 1994-08-30

Tracks:

Introitus: Nos autem
Graduale: Miserere
Antiphon: Immutemur
Ruf: Ecce lignum
Communio: Qui meditabitur
Hymnus: Pange lingua
Improperia: Popule meus
Halleluja: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Graduale: Haec dies
Offertorium: Terra tremuit
Sequenz: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Communio: Factus est repente
Graduale: Benedicta es tu
Halleluja: Tota pulchra es
Offertorium: Ave Maria
Introitus: Populus Sion
Antiphon: O Sapientia
Introitus: Lux fulgebit
Communio: Viderunt omnes
Halleluja: Vidimus stellam
Hymnus: Asolis ortus cardine

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic.......2007-01-19

I really liked the compilation. It relaxes and inspires me. The recording of the vocals and such is very well done. Definitely worth the money.

Unusual order.......2006-06-10

The chanting is excellently done. However, the order is a bit unusual. The chants begin with Lent/Passiontide, then progress into Easter, Advent and Christmas. That's a little odd. If you're using this to focus on the life of Our Blessed Lord (like the 15 mysteries of the Rosary), the order is off kilter. But I guess you could just program your CD player with whatever order you want.
The Latin is pronounced well on this CD. (Sometimes you can get a chant CD on which the chanters have French accents.)
Note to the reviewer who was mad about the word "cult": Forgive the translator who used that word. It sounds like a false cognate error to me. The ones who are hardest for me to forgive are those who discontinued Gregorian chant's primacy of place in the liturgy; the ones I can never understand are those who go to Novus Ordo masses. Lex orandi, lex credendi.

Getting Lost While Meditating.......2006-05-18

I'm not an expert on meditation techniques, but I do know that once while listening to this album I woke up 50 miles from my house with nothing to clothe me but a piece of chiffon, an interesting recipe for perogies tucked under my armpit, and absolutely no recollection of what had taken place. I was lead to believe by this product that being "lost" in meditation would entail no more than some deep thinking, and not many hours of unaccounted for experience and celtic tribal tattoos wrapped around my thighs.

Calming, Centering, a bit repetitive.......2006-02-21

This CD is great for creating a calm, focused environment. It can be used for meditation, relaxation,or as a sleep-aide. I have not stayed awake past the 3rd track when I listen with headphones after laying down to bed. The only complaint may be that all the tracks sound similar to me. The quality of the recording and singing is excellent. If you speak and understand Latin, you should derive even more from listening to this CD.

Great Atmospheric Music.......2005-08-23

I am a fan of many styles of music, but ordering a CD of gregorian chant was a stretch for me. This is my first album of the genre, but I'm certainly not disappointed! Lost In Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants Volume One is everything you'd expect it to be. With gregorian chant music, there never seems to be too much diversity in the songs. This is because you shouldn't buy the music as if it were your favorite band -- it is completely atmospheric music. Whether used for meditation, background music to everyday activities, or a soundtrack to a much needed relaxation session in your solitude, gregorian chant is a peaceful and almost heavenly way to enjoy some time off in another world (often in a world where you can't help but imagine monks shifting through the humble rooms of a monastery). This particular selection of chants is perfect for the genre as far as I'm concerned. It is an all men choir, and the vocals are in perfect harmony. The recording quality is excellent, with just the right amount of reverb to bring the singing to life. For any fan of gregorian chant, or for anyone newly interested in it, this is a great CD to satisfy your chanting needs. And with a price like this for 21 tracks, you can't go wrong!

Average customer rating:

efficaciously relaxing
very calming
Beautiful
Same Question As Before
Same Quation As Before

Chant II
Gregorian Chant , Ismael Fernandez de la Cuesta , and Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 1
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants
Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant

ASIN: B000002SLS
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Da Pacem, Domine: Introit
Haec Dies Quam Fecit Dominus: Gradual
Victimae Paschali Laudes: Sequence
Alleluia. Vir Dei Benedictus: Alleluia
Kyrie, Fons Bonitatis: Trope
Quam Magnificata Sunt Opera Tua Domine: Responsory
Ut Queant Laxis Resonare Fibris: Hymn
Cibavit Eos Ex Adipe Furmenti: Introit
Oculi Omnium In Te Sperant: Gradual
Spirtus Domini Replevit Orbem Terrarum: Introit
Alleluia. Veni Sancte Spiritus: Alleluia
Os Justi Meditabitur Sapientiam: Gradual
Kyrie 'Lux Et Origo'
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth
Agnus Dei, Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi
Ave Mundi Spes Maria: Sequence
Media Vita In Morte Sumus: Responsory
Salve, Regina, Mater Misericordiae: Antiphon

Customer Reviews:

efficaciously relaxing.......2007-06-27

This is exactly what I was looking for. I now have some music to play at work that is soothing and keeps me focused. It also keeps me grounded as to what is really important in life. Highly recommend it!!

very calming.......2007-01-19

these gregorian chants are very calming . If your riding in your car, walking , or just sitting . it makes for excellent listening.

Beautiful.......2005-08-28

Beautiful. Just like the first Chant. This is my "mellow out", puts me to sleep music. I didn't care for the applause at the end, but it's still a beautiful CD.

Same Question As Before.......2003-04-24

The music is flawless. Haunting, spiritual, engrossing, and above all gorgeous. This disc is nothing short of amazing. Yet I gotta ask. Why is it that a recording of BENEDICTINE monks has a cover photo of men in FRANCISCAN robes?

Same Quation As Before.......2003-04-24

Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's

Average customer rating:

Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Fantastic
DOMINE LABIA MEA APERIES
It's a stinker!!
Unbiased reponse to Caesarmagnus

Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Denis Stevens , Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's de Laudes , The Monks of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Benoit , The Ambrosian Singers , and Fr. Joseph Montalbo
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chant
Chant II
Salve Regina: Gregorian Chant

ASIN: B000001VIR
Release Date: 1994-08-02

Tracks:

Sancte Dei
Salve Sanctus Parens
In Paradisum Angeli
Sanctus & Benedictus
Conditor Alme
Organ Voluntary
Te Lucis Ante Terminum
Christus Natus Christos
Kyrie Christe Eleison
Organ Voluntary
Gloria
Puer Natus Est
Sanctus & Benedictus, II
Beata Dei
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Organ Voluntary
In Paradisum Angeli, Reprise
Dominus Exsultemus

Customer Reviews:

Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's.......2007-01-11

The CD was in perfect shape, was shipped very promptly and I have enjoyed listening to it - especially when feeling stressed.

Fantastic.......2007-01-10

The is one CD that is calming to everyone even an overactive, over excited puppy.

DOMINE LABIA MEA APERIES.......2006-05-08

"Lord Open my Lips......"

I would suggest that anyone REALLY interested in PURE, GREGORIAN CHANT to access the following Carthusian Link:

[...]

You will hear Gregorian Chants as you have never heard before.
As a former Trappist Monk, where the Choir Monks sang the Divine Office each day - a total of about 7 hours - and in the Cistercian Chant, the CARTHUSIAN CHANT is by far the most pure of the two traditional chants. The Carthusians do NOT utilize any musical instruments as is used in some Trappist Communities and Benedictine Communities.

This recording is a rather poor rendition, but seems to please some listeners. For those purists among you, access the above site.

The Carthusian Gregorian Chant has its own renditions. You will notice whenever the Nuns or Monks are chanting the 'GLORIA' that the tempo is drastically reduced, and not rushed thru.

Background noises in this recording make it difficult to really appreciate the Chant.

In the Carthusian Chants - especially those from La Grande Chartreuse, France, the diction is crisp, clear and every Latin Word is distinguishable.

It's a stinker!!.......2006-03-13

The cover art is good, but the music is horrible! This is a REALLY bad recording!

Unbiased reponse to Caesarmagnus.......2005-04-22

Agreed, the fan IS there, but I must admit they are actually singing well in the actual Solesmes style (based on these samples). I have heard superb chant and frighteningly bad chant. This is not as bad as it gets I assure you. Try to find something from a Seminary or Monastery.

Classical Evolution: Famous Gregorian Chants

Average customer rating:

Very peaceful music
Gregorian Chants Review
Answer to a prayer
Good Value
A good introduction to Gregorian Chant

Classical Evolution: Famous Gregorian Chants

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000065API
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Introitus: Nos Autem
Graduale: Miserere
Snyiphon: Immutemur
Ruf: Ecce Lignum
Communio: Qui Meditabitur
Hymnus: Pange Lingua
Improperia: Popule Meus
Hallejuja: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Graduale: Maec Dies
Offertorium: Terra Tremuit
Sequenz: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Communio: Factus Est Repente
Graduale: Benedicta Es Tu
Hallelujah: Tota Pulchra Es
Offertorium: Ave Maria
Introitus: Populus Sion
Antiphon: O Sapientia
Introitus: Lux Fulgebit
Communio: Viderunt Omnes
Hallelujah: Vidimus Stellam
Hymnus: Asolis Ortus Cardine

Customer Reviews:

Very peaceful music.......2007-06-11

I generally work for long hours at my computer and it can be stressful, I read the review for this cd , because one of my customers ( I manage Bolivia Stores at Amazon) wrote a review about this cd same as he wrote a review for one of my teas and I was very intrigued because he is a very religious person that lived in Bolivia with the Peace Corp, well... The price was great and I decided to ordered it...... I just love it, it takes away the stress of a long day !
It sound a bit boring in the beginning but once you get caught for the music is just peace all around!!

Gregorian Chants Review.......2007-05-06

The CD was delivered within the time stated and is as advertized ... good

Answer to a prayer.......2007-04-05

I have been frantically searching for a cd with some of the old Good Friday Gregorian chants I remembered from my childhood. I planned to play it as background music for our Good Friday service at a home for the elderly. I ran a search on Amazon and this was the first cd that popped up. I ordered it, thinking it would probably not arrive in time for the service. What a pleasant surprise to have it in such a short time and at such a low price. Beautiful music that would be worth purchasing at ten times the asking price.

Good Value.......2007-04-04

This collection of chants offers something for various seasons of the church year. The chants are well done, and they are useful for meditation purposes.

A good introduction to Gregorian Chant.......2007-03-29

This is a great way to be introduced to Gregorian chant, both for its quality and its low price.

Average customer rating:

Superb relaxation
What a recording
FANTASTIC!!
Please ignore the other review on this product!
It sounds like all the other chant cd's out there

Chant: The Anniversary Edition
Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chant
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants, Vol. 1
Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants
The Mystery Of Santo Domingo De Silos Gregorian Chant From Spain

ASIN: B0001XAP1A
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

Alleluia Beatus Vir Qui Suffert (Modo I)
Mandatum Novum Do Vobis
Media Vita In Morte Sumus
Laetatus Sum
Veni Creator Spiritus
Genuit Puerpera Regem
Kyrie Fons Bonitatis
Nos Autem
Super Flumina
Qui Manducat
Salve Regina
Salve, Festa Dies
Rorate Saeli De Super
Jacta Cogitatum Tuum
Jucundare
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Respice, Domine
Alleluia, Oportebat

Tracks:

Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis
Puer Natus Est Nobis
Ave Mundi Specs Maria
Spiritus Domini
Os Iusti
A Solis Ortus Cardine
Oculi Omnium
Alleluia, Dies Santificatus
Viderunt Omnes
Puer Natus In Bethlehem
Verbum Caro
Tui Sunt
Pueri Herbraeorum Portantes
Improperium
Tristis Est
Una Hora
Traditor Autem-Benedictus
Ubi Caritas

Amazon.com

This set contains the two CDs that, it must be acknowledged, just about started the Chant craze in 1994. The music was actually recorded in the 1970s and 1980s (this new set has been remastered and sounds better than the 1994-95 releases did) and was on sale in Spain and offered at the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos for some time before it became "hot." Since then, hundreds of CDs of chant and similar music have appeared, many more polished then these, but perhaps these were so special because they weren't performances: they caught actual Monks in the act of praying, and the meditative quality is undeniably real. Whatever the case, this is music for reflection, calming down, re-fueling and getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life--which may be even more needed now than they were 10 years ago. Texts are not supplied and you won't need them; it's all about reverence and mood. Doing nothing but listening to this in 25-minute chunks will allow your breathing to slow and re-energize you. Each 55-minute CD will probably put you to sleep--and this isn't meant as a criticism. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Superb relaxation.......2007-04-01

This is a wonderful compilation. I greatly enjoy listening to it when I'm working on painting or another activity where lower blood pressure is a must. Having two albums in one makes the deal even sweeter. If you alreaddy own Chant I and II, then there's no real value added, but with mine lost in a move, it was a great return of music I enjoy.

What a recording.......2006-12-01

Mystic,eternal, and meditative is how I would
describe these chants, a most perfect gift
for Christmas. This reissue sounds even better
than the ones released in the mid 90's.
I would highly recommend this recording to anyone.
The only rule is sit down, or lay back and enjoy.

FANTASTIC!!.......2006-01-25

BUYERS BE WARNED - this set should not purchased in lieu of the two original Chant CDs but rather as a supplement to them. Because although both the Amazon.com editorial review and one of the two reviews available for the Anniversary Edition both indicate it is nothing more than a remastered version of the original two Chant releases from 1994, a thorough check of the track listings at Amazon.com (and at angelrecords.com) demonstrates that this is not the case. The sequence of tracks is completely different and there are numerous tracks that appear on one of the original Chant CDs but not on the Anniversary Edition and vice versa. The most complete is the first of the two original discs as all but two of its nineteen tracks appear on the Anniversary Edition. Chant II has less than half a dozen of its tracks appearing on the Anniversary Edition.

However, this complaint aside, I love the Anniversary Edition. Although the track sequence is different from the original Chant CD and I find myself expecting certain chants to follow others, I will in time get used to the differences.

Moving on, this is not complicated material. There is no polyphonic, raucous, symphonic accompaniment. There are no rowdy, raging guitar riffs from the likes of Pepper Keenan or Jeff Loomis. There are no ultra-funky looped drum beats, booming bass, or rapped socio-political venom from the likes of the Ice Cube or Public Enemy. There is neither a Cecilia Bartoli nor a BB King to sustain things by sheer virtuosity. There are only the exquisitely simple, melodic sounds of monks singing/chanting in Latin in a great, grand hall with nary a trace of echo to be heard. This is gorgeous, sublime, invigorating music to soothe the sores of the soul and heal the hardened heart. The raw honesty and utter conviction of the `performers' on these two discs drive these pieces home with a power that more practiced and polished performers dare not dream of. Even with no transcription or translation of the chants inside the booklet, this is music to be enjoyed by everyone.

My recommendation is to procure Chant: The Anniversary Edition immediately and be thankful that such simple and supremely powerful music exists to bring some light into our seemingly ever-darkening world.

Thanks for reading.

Please ignore the other review on this product!.......2005-07-21

The other reviewer obviously does not realize that this is a re-release of both Chant I and Chant II. They have also been remastered. I highly recommend purchasing this 2-CD set because the quality is better than the originals, and the price is usually better than buying the first two separately. I wouldn't be without this in my music collection. Please do no let the ignorance of others keep you from experiencing this beautiful, ethereal music.

It sounds like all the other chant cd's out there.......2005-03-16

There is nothing special about this CD - buy Chant 1, save 5 bucks, and call it good

Average customer rating:

A MUST for a Finzi Fans!
What's in the water over there??
Marvelous introduction to Gerald Finzi
A Gem of a CD
Beautifully played, warmly recorded.

Finzi: Clarinet Concerto

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000HZXA
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Clarinet Concerto, Op. 31: Allegro vigoroso
Clarinet Concerto, Op. 31: Adagio, ma senza rigore
Clarinet Concerto, Op. 31: Rondo - Allegro giocoso
Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a: I Prelude- Allegro Deciso
Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a: II Romance- Andante tranquillo
Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a: III Carol- Andante semplice
Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a: IV Forlana- Allegretto grazioso
Five Bagatelles, Op. 23a: V Fughetta- Allegro vivace
Three Soliloquies From 'Love's Labours Lost', Op. 28: Soliloquy I: The Kings Poem
Three Soliloquies From 'Love's Labours Lost', Op. 28: Soliloquy II: Longavilles Sonnet
Three Soliloquies From 'Love's Labours Lost', Op. 28: Solilquy III: Dumaines Poem
A Severn Rhapsody, Op. 3
Romance In E Flat Major For String Orchestra, Op. 11
Introit In F Major For Solo Violin And Small Orchestra, Op. 6

Customer Reviews:

A MUST for a Finzi Fans!.......2006-09-15

This CD is a very valuable item for everyone who enjoys the orchestral works of Gerald Finzi! It is an excelent comprehension of his work! The warm method of playing the clarinet by Robert Plane and the superb support of the Northern Sinfonia conducted by Howard Griffiths makes it very pleasant to hear this CD over and over again. I used this CD several times in a classical radio program that I make myself (and I will use it in the future) and 'field reactions' to this music are most positive! Owners-to-be will certainly NOT be disappointed! Next to the very well known Clarinet Concerto this CD contains the less well known Five Bagatelles, each of which have there own sound, beauty and sphere! Love's Labour's Lost, inspired by Shakespeare's early comedy are very beautiful musical 'stills'. The Introit in F is a very well performed piece for solo violin and small orchestra and sounds like violins should sound: warm and melancholic.
This CD is (at my point of view) very recommendable!

What's in the water over there??.......2006-08-30

Ask me who has the most original and unique nationalistic classical vibe on the planet, and I'll say merry old England. Here, Finzi continues the tradition of 20th century English warmth with his pleasent melodies and harmonic hot-doggery. Check out Finzi with Delius, Warlok, Vaughn Williams, Butterworth, and Perry and you'll see what I mean by the "English sound.

Marvelous introduction to Gerald Finzi.......2004-02-27

I first became familiar with the Clarinet Concerto and five Bagatelles of Finzi through the 1991 RCA recording featuring Richard Stoltzman backed by the Guildhall String Ensemble. That was a marvelous recording but when you got to the compositions of Lawrence Ashmore, that filled the disk, it seemed to go down hill. Enjoyable works but just not of the same quality.

Once again Naxos delves into the British catalog and delivers a disc of masterful recordings. Personally I think Robert Plane's clarinet matches, if not surpasses, that of Stoltzman. The tone is rich and smooth throughout where Stolztman can get a bit harsh at times. Also Howard Griffiths does a splendid job leading the Northern Sinfonia as they provide a perfect backing for Plane on the Bagatelles and Concerto. Nicely balanced with the soloist.

For the last half hour of the disc the Northern Sinfonia takes over and we are presented with some more wonderful works by Finzi, which to me are simply superior to the Ashmore works that fill the RCA disc. I guess I really can't be too hard on Ashmore as he is the composer who wrote the wonderful arrangements of the Bagatelles performed on both disks: Finzi's original works were for clarinet and piano duo.

I also have to mention The Romance for string orchestra which alone is worth the price of the disc - a prime example of British "pastoral" music. Also the Introit for violin and small orchestra was another wonderful discovery for me and soloist Lesley Hatfield provides a heart felt performance.

Definitely one of those nice surprises from Naxos that not only matches the best the major labels have to offer but may in fact be the definitive recording. Naxos continues to produce one fine recording of British works after another. Keep it up.

(By the way, on Naxos catalog # 8.555766 Howard Griffiths returns with the Northern Sinfonia on another fine recording of Finzi works: this time the Concerto for cello and orchestra and the lush Eclogue for piano and strings. Also highly recommended.)

A Gem of a CD.......2001-02-04

Thank goodness for Naxos!

For the price of a concert ticket you can risk buying a disc like this knowing if it isn't any good, you've not really lost more than an evening's listening.

And, if it is as good as this you've got a gem of a CD introducing you to a composer who you might otherwise never hear.

I won't make massive claims for Finzi: He is a Jane Austen of a composer - provincial, light, witty and entertaining. He isn't a Beethoven or a Brahms.

Having said that, there are moments of darkness, moments of depth, especially in the Clarinet Concerto (surely this recording should mean more live performances?), but the lasting impression is more of joy and, 'Englishness'.

Elgar lies behind this music, as does Vaughn Williams, Holst and Parry - and a whole host of English music teachers (all honourable!). Finzi isn't making (...) copies, he has a voice of his own, a voice with a very strong sense of place and time.

The performances are fine - Robert Plane's clarinet sings lyrically and the Northern Sinfonia under Howard Griffiths support well giving a breath of fresh air to this neglected repertoire.

(By the way - I like Jane Austen)

Beautifully played, warmly recorded........2000-10-31

This is one of my favorite CDs. The star of the show is the wonderful clarinet concerto, expressively played by Robert Plane, but all of the other pieces bear (demand!) repeated listening. The Romance in E flat major for string orchestra is some of the loveliest eight minutes of music you could ever hope to hear.

The concerto, romance, and all of the other pieces on this CD make a great introduction to one of the lesser-known 20th century British composers. Those looking for challenging, abrasive 20th century music best look elsewhere. But even though you probably won't be challenged by Finzi, you will be entertained and moved by him -- and want to return to him again and again. His gift for melody is on full display throughout, and none of the pieces overstays its welcome.

Warm and very human music, superbly played and excellently recorded, with just enough of a sun-dappled halo around the sound to convey the right atmosphere. One of the most glorious values among the many in Naxos' ever-surprising library of bargains.

Average customer rating:

An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony

The Secret of Success

Other worldly bliss

Angelic Purity

Stunning and uplifting

An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony
Anonymous , Marsha Genensky , and Anonymous 4
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4

On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets - Anonymous 4

The Lily and the Lamb: Chant and Polyphony from Medieval England

The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen

La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France

ASIN: B0000007DL
Release Date: 1993-03-08

Tracks:

An English Ladymass: Prosa: Gaude virgo salutata (chant)
An English Ladymass: Polyphonic song: Edi beo thu hevene quene
An English Ladymass: Introit: Salve mater redemptoris Salve lux langentium Salve sine spina Salve sancta parens
An English Ladymass: Motet: Lux polis refulgens Lux et gloria
An English Ladymass: Kyrie: Kyria christifera
An English Ladymass: Gloria
An English Ladymass: Motet: Spiritus et alme Gaude virgo salutata
An English Ladymass: Song: Miro genere
An English Ladymass: Gradual: Benedicta et venerabilis
An English Ladymass: Alleluia: Alme iam ad gaudia - Alme matris dei - Alleluya per te dei
An English Ladymass: Sequence: Missus Gabriel del celis
An English Ladymass: Prosa: Gaude virgo gratiosa (chant)
An English Ladymass: Polyphonic song: Salve virgo virginum
An English Ladymass: Offertory: Felix namque (chant)
An English Ladymass: Sanctus & Benedictus
An English Ladymass: Sequence - Song: Jesu Cristes milde moder
An English Ladymass: Agnus dei: Virtute numinis
An English Ladymass: Communion: Beata viscera (chant & song)
An English Ladymass: Rondellus: Flos regalis
An English Ladymass: Chant Setting: Ite missa est
An English Ladymass: Hymn: Ave maris stella

Amazon.com essential recording

In the six years since this female quartet astonished the music world with its clear- voiced, impeccably sung renditions of medieval chant and polyphonic music, chant rose from the dark and dusty corners of classical music to enjoy a phenomenal run at center stage. New and reissued chant recordings achieved sales figures normally reserved for popular music. This is the recording that started it all (that Spanish monks disc came later), winning awards and earning near- permanent resident status on the national charts. Spiritually moving and vocally revelatory, this program re-creates a kind of mass sung in English churches during the 13th and 14th centuries. With their warm tone and perfect intonation, these four singers achieve an expressiveness that is rare among chant interpreters, most effective in the seductive, highly ornamented "Kyrie." The sound is exemplary--although a studio recording, it perfectly conveys the atmosphere of an English cathedral. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony.......2007-06-14

Beautiful and lyrical and very satisfying to listen to while working or mediating. It's everything I hoped it would be!!

The Secret of Success.......2006-04-26

An English Ladymass. 13th and 14th Century Chant and Polyphony in Honor of the Virgin Mary. Performed by Anonymous 4 (Ruth Cunningham, Martha Genensky, Susan Hellauer and Johanna Rose).
Recorded in October, 1991, at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, California.
Harmonia Mundi HMU 907080. Total time: 59’01”.

Musically, this is one of those rare, very special discs that not only sells well and then disappears into oblivion but that sells well and then stays relevant for many, many years. While re-listening to it, I asked myself again and again what the secret of its success was. A number of answers suggested themselves, none of them completely satisfactory, but all together providing something of a key. First, of course, there are the pure, vibrato-less soprano voices, combining in what some reviewers have, quite correctly I feel, termed “angelic” harmony. The booklet, unfortunately, does not give much information about the performers, but I seemed to hear here one very high soprano voice, what in English Renaissance music would be called a “mean”, plus two “normal” sopranos and an alto. The excitement of the high “mean” soprano and the narrow harmonies of the other voices can truly send shivers of delight down your spine. This is an effect that one usually only hears on discs of choral music (for example, on some of Harry Christophers’s recordings of the masses of John Taverner for Hyperion), and it is guaranteed to uplift the soul and impress with the beauty of the human voice. But added to this here are the medieval melodies, which, although often very strange to our ears, seem to reflect our common past and appear, in a certain way, to be familiar, perhaps as an echo of the joint human memory of those centuries of sacred music – or perhaps just as an individual memory of liturgical song heard in childhood. And of course, the music itself has an intensely “spiritual” flavour, with the excellent recording technique, the absolute stillness of the background and the ensemble’s decision to do without any instrumental accompaniment amounting to an invitation to meditation and devotion.

Perhaps it is indicative, however, of our post-modern age that none of my fellow Amazon reviewers appears to have reflected on the texts which Anonymous 4 have here put together (the result of painstaking musicological research, I should add). Despite all my enthusiasm for the sound and the music of this disc, I have to add that as an evangelical Christian (and as a child of the Enlightenment) I find the unabashed, sensuous Mariolatry of these medieval texts to be profoundly disturbing and, from a Protestant standpoint, utterly heretical. You don’t have to be a Catholic to enjoy the wonderful singing on this disc, but if you study the texts (which are printed in full with translations), you may, like me, become very grateful for what Martin Luther, John Calvin and their followers did for the Church.

As a footnote I should, perhaps, add that if you have enjoyed Anonymous 4's music-making, you might also like to try that of the Italian female ensemble La Reverdie, whose discs for the French label Arcana, although very different, also have some of the qualities that made Anonymous 4 so successful.

Other worldly bliss.......2006-03-25

The American Angels fly again from their permanent perch in heaven, inviting us all to accept this bliss. And they did this

recording many years ago. Timeless perfection and beauty.

Kim Thomas Hartman

Angelic Purity.......2006-01-20

It seems pointless to add another 5-star review to the list, but I have to. This CD is simply one of the most beautiful recordings ever made, and it touches your soul with every listening. If you are content, it will bolster and reinforce your tranquil mind. If you are sad or depressed, it will force tears from your eyes and rip sobs from your breast, setting you on the healing path. If you are happy, it will make you prance about your flat like a gleeful child.
It is wonderful as background music, and yet engaging enough for attentive listening. If you don't own this CD, you should buy it today.

Stunning and uplifting.......2005-10-11

The Ladymass is a special votive mass dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary - most major cathedrals would have a daily mass in the Lady chapel (a smaller worship space within the cathedral), and some churches would have special masses in honour of the Virgin on Saturdays. According to Hellauer, 'Of the English polyphony preserved from this time, almost all of which is sacred, roughly two-thirds is in honour of the Virgin.' The work here does not occur in one set piece as it might have back in the medieval times, for no complete records of this sort have survived. The Anonymous 4 have pieced together elements including chants, motets, and other mass elements to complete the task.

The voices of the Anonymous 4 are markedly different from men-and-boys choirs or monks that are typically the recording artists of this kind of music. It is often forgotten that such music was sung by women and monastic communities of nuns in the medieval time, too. One critic remarked, 'There is a captivating simplicity and directness about their performance, which naturally avoids many of the pitfalls of an overstretched attempt at reconstruction.' This is certainly true in this recording, which is wonderful in tone.

There is a spirit to the music. It is remarkable that a group with three sopranos and an alto could give such breadth and depth to the music, but it certainly is true of their performances. This particular recording is the first of theirs done for Harmonia Mundi.

-- Liner Notes --
This text accompaniment to this disc is very full, so much so that the booklet is not contained within the jewel case, but rather within a slipcover in which both the CD/jewel case and the booklet reside. The liner notes include a description of the work, a brief piece about the quartet, and the lyrics of the songs both in Latin and in translation - all repeated in English, German, and French sections.

-- Anonymous 4 --
Contrary to the implication of their name, the Anonymous 4 are not anonymous. This is a vocal quartet made up of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, and Johanna Rose at the time of this recording (Ruth Cunningham will later go on to a solo career early, and another member will join - Jacqueline Horner). They came together as a formal group in 1986, and have been ensemble-in-residence at St. Michael's Church in New York City, giving concert series in New York as well as throughout North America. They have been featured a number of times on national media in North America as well as Germany. They then went on to yet more success, eventually performing more that 1000 concerts worldwide.

Their specialty is working with chant, monophonic and polyphonic music, and working with medieval texts. According to one source, 'The group takes its name from an anonymous music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin.'

The group ended a touring career of nearly two decades in 2004.

1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4

Average customer rating:

Want to hear something spectacular?
Lovely
Perfectly lovely - wrong, but still perfectly lovely.
Year 1000--A Mass for the End of Time
A Peace Beyond All Understanding

1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4
Gregorian Chant , and Anonymous 4
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

American Angels
The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen
An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony
La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France
Gloryland

ASIN: B00004UFGW
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

Processional Hymn: Judicii Signum
Troped Introit: Quem Creditis Super Astra/Viri Galilei
Kyrie: Celestis Terrestrisque
Gloria: Prudentia Prudentium
Alleluia I: Dominus In Sina
Alleluia II: Ascendens Cristus
Sequence With Prose: Salvator Mundi/Rex Omnipotens Die Hodierna
Troped Offertory: Elevatus Est Rex Fortis/Viri Galilei
Sanctus: Ante Secula
Agnus Dei: Omnipotens Eterne
Troped Communion: Corpus Quod Nunc/Psallite Domino
Lection: Apocalypse 21:1-5
Prose: Regnantem Sempiterna
Hymn: Cives Celestis Patrie

Amazon.com essential recording

Remember all of the year-2000 nervousness in the latter part of 1999? That was nothing. As the year 1000 approached, people all over the Christian world were convinced that the Apocalypse--as depicted in the biblical Book of Revelation--and the end of the world were at hand. In one of the more interesting musical program ideas to be inspired by the turn of the calendrical odometer, Anonymous 4 revisits the original "millennium madness" with a disc of chant from around the year 1000--specifically, a Mass for the Feast of the Ascension, one of the few occasions on which the liturgy included readings from the Book of Revelation. This is the oldest written Western music to have survived, and it's difficult even to decipher (the original notation has no staff lines or clear indications of rhythm), let alone perform. Yet, the challenges involved seem to have done these ladies good: not only is their performance both assured and confident, but one can hear new facets in their vocal sound--a sound that, however beautiful it might be, some listeners find monotonous. (One new facet is Jacqueline Horner, the quartet's newest member, for whom this is the first recording.) The singers experiment with interpretation of ornaments that are indicated in the manuscript sources (there's a fascinating little trill that sounds rather like a cooing dove); in some of the chants, they add an additional line in accordance with the principles of improvising polyphony that were laid out in 10th- and 11th-century treatises. The entire program seems thoroughly considered, as well as immaculately executed. If you count on the consistently pure, silky tone and meditative quality that has made Anonymous 4 world-famous, you'll definitely find it here; if you've gotten bored with them, you might find this disc a fascinating surprise. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Want to hear something spectacular?.......2007-05-23

For most folks, Gregorian Chants are probably a little off the beaten track. This is a stellar recording that's hard to beat, and the best of my Gregorian Chant collection. You won't be disappointed.

Lovely.......2006-03-03

A lovely performance of music from the beginning of the western musical tradition. The vocal quality of the performance is first rate and the music itself is very interesting. Recommended strongly.

Perfectly lovely - wrong, but still perfectly lovely........2004-06-28

For those of you who - like me - have had a couple experiences with Gregorian Chant that moved you deeply - and now you need some Gregorian Chant for those moods when nothing else is right - this is it. "A Mass For The End Of Time" is beautiful, and rich, and the selections intense and moving. This is exactly what most people reading this are looking for. Furthermore the performers seem to have captured the spirit of the music - which is critical because this is spiritual music. So why do I give it 4 stars?

Gregorian Chant is not music that can be removed from its place and time well. It is site specific - it should be heard live in a cathedral whose walls are stone or at least in a place that reflects sound - setting up resonance inside the head. Gregorian Chant is a form of meditation that is distinctly medieval European. The group that performs "A Mass For The End Of Time" is 4 women called Anonymous. But Gregorian Chant was written for men - it has different feel when men do it. Anonymous is very good - but the music would work even better with 4 equally good male voices.

Year 1000--A Mass for the End of Time.......2004-01-04

The year AD 1000 appeared to be an apocalyptic harbringer of destruction to the devout Catholics of Western Europe. This collection of medieval chants based on themes of God's impending wrath and the judgement of the world are excellent primary sources for understanding the mystical religious mindset of the days of yore. Gregorian Chant, while different from Byzantine (Greek) and Russian chanting, is a very methodological and otherworldly form of music. It's monotone is radically opposed to the harsh discord of "rock n' roll" and "rap" music which sound like broken machinery that are so popular among all aspects of society, even the so-called "Christian rock." Although the music itself is sung in Latin, the disc is accompanied by a booklet which gives the lyrics in English translation (along with a few other languages).

A Peace Beyond All Understanding.......2002-04-30

I have always been highly suspicious of "spiritual people". Why them and not me? I was only looking for pretty music when I, a rock n roller by upbringing, purchased this CD. What followed during the listening of this CD, was a deeply meditative state as I let the music, so beautiful words cannot describe, transport me into a deeper consciousness. There I was able to pray from the deepest part of my soul. A first. It has immediately replaced my incremental valium use. I am not a meditator, not into Yoga, don't even like people who are, but this music sounds like the holy ghost if it can be personified, who pleads with such compassion for each and every one of us in a world gone mad. The gregorian chant music on this particular cd seems to be telling the story of time and man to God. It is a sad and compassionate tale that doesn't miss a detail as its heavenly and soulful sound tells in words beyond my understanding a long story filled with strife, sin, pain and sorrow, yet with such love and feeling that it catches its listener up as though it were part of the communication to God and lifts the listener to a serene place where all of the cement jungle, and hostile traffic, and hate among people seem to become the other dimension and not the dimension you find yourself in when listening to this CD. Maybe it is something different for every listener. This was my experience.

Music Track:

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