/r/GregorianChants

Photograph via snooOG

Welcome to GregorianChants , the #1 place for church music sung as a single vocal line in free rhythm and a restricted scale (plainsong), in a style developed for the medieval Latin liturgy.

/r/GregorianChants

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2

Can someone help me identify this chant?

Im not sure whether this is considered Gregorian or not (Also ignore the video)

1 Comment
2024/10/26
21:37 UTC

2

Help with identification

I've been trying to find out what chant is this for a few days now, but I can't find it anywhere. I would be immensely grateful if someone could help me.

2 Comments
2024/10/24
02:19 UTC

23

What do you think of the theory that Gregorian chant in medieval times was actually supposed to be performed more fluidly and melismatically, sounding more like Byzantine chant, unlike the modern Solesmes method which is sung rigidly, all notes equally spaced out? (Example performances linked.)

During the Renaissance, I understand that Gregorian plainchant underwent a decline and was replaced with polyphonic choir singing for the preferred style of liturgical music, and that when Gregorian chant was sung, it was sung supposedly in a 'corrupted' way (not sure what these meant, but by the 19th c. it perhaps meant that it was sung operatically??) The monks of Solesmes Abbey in 1899 developed a reform of Gregorian chant which they believed revived the authentic medieval style, and this has since been the standard guideline for singing Gregorian chant for the past century. Stylistically, the Solesmes method is rather rigid, with all notes given equal (short) length and evenly spaced out; sequences such as gloria patri etc. also have the tendency to be sung fast.

However, at least one choir who posts on Youtube subscribes to the theory that Gregorian chant in the Middle Ages was actually supposed to be sung more fluidly, slowly and melismatically, with the singer able to improvise hold certain notes longer or collapse notes together, resulting in a style that probably sounds closer to Byzantine chant. Marcel Pérès' Ensemble Organum seems to also follow this line of thinking when performing non-Gregorian Latin Rite chant traditions (like Old Roman, Ambrosian or Mozarabic.)

To illustrate, here is the same chant sung first in the Solesmes method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uxk-dBdAgE

And in this particular choir's (Ecole Grégorienne) 'fluid' style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY_mUWD3xsA

Here the cantor of Ecole Grégorienne does the same, singing the same chant first in the Solesmes method, then in the 'neumatic' method (which I think, was an earlier attempt at reconstructing a more authentic medieval style) and then finally in his 'folk' style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wZM8bGyWQQ

Personally, having read the works of art historians like Bissera Pentcheva on chant, liturgy and art in medieval churches, I lean towards this theory. Pentcheva's work in the beginning focused on the Byzantine East, with Hagia Sophia, but later expanded to apply the same theories to the Latin West in churches like Santa Maria Antiqua (specifically with the Easter Vigil Exsultet scroll) and the Abbey of Ste. Foy in Conques. The gist is that medieval church spaces created a multi-sensory divine experience combining sights and smells for worshippers: light from windows and candle-light reflected off shiny surfaces like gilding or mosaic tiles, or even the clergy's vestments, the smell of incense and the sound of chant reverberating throughout the building. By studying acoustics, when chanting it has been found that medieval churches in both the East and West are designed actually to muffle or obscure the sound of the chant; Pentcheva thinks that liturgical chants weren't necessarily meant to be understood clearly, but to come across as pure sound reflecting off surfaces like the church apse, with the intelligibility of the actual words confused. Medieval worshippers supposedly found that this sound was divine, and that the chants were "icons of sound".

Another reason possibly to lean towards the theory of 'fluid' performance of Gregorian chant which I can note is how, often I observe that Gregorian chants seem to be very short, so in modern churches when performed (especially the Offertory and Communio they often have to be supplemented with a second hymn or musical piece.) Perhaps they seem short because the chanters following the Solesmes method are singing it too fast, and are meant to slow down and draw out each of the notes.

3 Comments
2024/10/06
00:32 UTC

8

Square note is a good free app for Gregorian chant

It has all the propers and everything and has an organ and notes that help. Please download

3 Comments
2024/09/23
12:56 UTC

1

Gregorian chant sampled in "All in the same breath" by Croatian Amor

Can anyone identify the vocals sounding in this track?

This article implies it's gregorian chant.

Would love hear it in original. Thanks in advance!

0 Comments
2024/09/15
21:51 UTC

5

I can’t find the song

Hello wonderful people,

I saw a mesmerizing chant on YouTube. But unfortunately I can’t figure out the name of the song they are singing. Can someone help please?

Thank‘s and god bless.

4 Comments
2024/09/11
10:30 UTC

2

When was Credo III written?

Hello! I'm planning on introducing Credo III to my students (https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=749). Does anyone have a reliable citation for when it was probably originally written?

3 Comments
2024/09/10
03:21 UTC

1

Adiasthematic manuscripts for Hymns

Hi, I'm searching for a manuscript containing adiasthematic notations for the hymns of the Divine Office. Is there anything comparably authoritative as the Hartker for antiphons out there?

0 Comments
2024/09/09
12:06 UTC

6

Christian seeks information on Gregorian chant

Hi, i am not sure if this is the correct place. I grew up in the Christian church (NG church) but i always admired the catholic choirs and Gregorian chants.

I have strayed from the path into atheasim after looking for God in logic and at my lowest I decided to follow Him even if it goes against all logic and reason.

To get to the point I have found myself repeating the lords prayer as much as I can and want to develop this into doing chants instead. Is there a book i can read that can help me learn this form of meditation?

7 Comments
2024/09/06
18:38 UTC

11

Anyone know the name of this song? Its gorgeous.

7 Comments
2024/08/27
20:06 UTC

2

does anyone know this music from werner herzog's encounters at the end of the world? it is very moving

2 Comments
2024/08/06
15:47 UTC

3

Name of a chant?

Hello, does anyone know the name of this chant?

2 Comments
2024/08/04
20:35 UTC

1

Getting to know Gregorian Chants

Hello everyone! I hope this kind of post is not redundant. I would like to know more about Gregorian Chants— I’ve been a classical music listener for quite some time, but never properly explored this area of music. Where should I start from? Are there any essential/begginer recordings? What are the most notorious Gregorian Choirs in the world that I absolutely should look into/know about? Are there any books about Gregorian Chants that you especially recommend?

I’ve listened to “Cantate Domino” LP by the Sistine’s Chapel Choir and found it absolutely charming. I’ve also listened to Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso, and loved both over time.

Thank you!!

2 Comments
2024/07/11
15:40 UTC

2

There was a chant video that has been hidden on youtube…

There is a hidden Gregorian chant video that has been hidden on youtube that i always listened too. its the one with Jesus on the cross in the church. I have no idea why it was hidden but if anyone has another link to this video im referring to or the author of this video could you please link it here?

0 Comments
2024/07/05
15:25 UTC

4

I’ve obsessively listened to this for months now, multiple times daily, and I need to know what it means. GREGORIAN CHANTS | ANGELIC CHOIR

I have no idea how to research this out,I’d be grateful for any advice. If not, I may have to jump some chain of command and take this straight to the Pope ☝🏼

4 Comments
2024/07/04
08:20 UTC

4

Chant for Gregorian Exam - Help to choose

Hello, next week I am taking my final "Gregorianik" exam at college, and I can choose between one of the following chants, which will be prepared with a Schola. From the difficutly both are similar, and I really like both. Therefore I wanted to ask if you could choose for me. The option is between Univeri (GT 16) and Fuit homo (GT 569). I will be preparing the restituited version from the Gr. Novum, but for this two, the chants are basically identic.

5 Comments
2024/05/30
16:09 UTC

1

Can someone find me this music?

My fiancée just loved this interpretation of "Tota Pulchra", but i can't find the whole music, just this tiny part of it. It's French IBP seminarians' and I can't even find the album for purchasing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9TGN5_GdRM

2 Comments
2024/04/15
13:19 UTC

1

I just found out that macs have a built in text to speech voice (Good News) that can sing any text in Gregorian chant, but which mode is it?

0 Comments
2024/04/06
01:33 UTC

0

Is there such thing as Gregorian chant that is distinctly separate from the Catholic Church?

As in, it was composed and recorded within another sect or denomination?

3 Comments
2024/03/26
01:30 UTC

4

Vox Clamantis - Beata Viscera

1 Comment
2024/03/20
19:11 UTC

2

Does anyone know where to find more of this album?

It's by Marcel Peres in 1992. There is used to be a 2 hour version of this on Youtube with more songs not included here, but I can't find it. I looked for it everywhere and it's not on their official Youtube channel. It's the most beautiful music I've ever heard and it doesn't even have music in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWQtArnPwGg&t

3 Comments
2024/03/11
00:36 UTC

6

A contemporary Breviary mostly in Plainsong (Thought this sub might appreciate the culmination of my recent passion project)

0 Comments
2024/02/28
19:44 UTC

4

Greogorian chant radio program

Want to share there is a program called Sicut Luna Perfecta in the spanish classical radio dedicated to Gregorian chant. You can hear it on the rtve app. Lots of programs uploaded.

4 Comments
2024/02/22
13:00 UTC

8

Salve Regina, guitar solo version

5 Comments
2024/02/09
07:56 UTC

2

Request: Corde Natus Ex Parentis, in the style of Jesu Dulci Memoria

This is a weird request. I love Corde Natus Ex Parentis, but I heard an arrangement once, years ago, where it was arranged in a mysterious style reminescent of the "Jesu Dulci Memoria" I have linked here. Actually, it was part of an arrangement where each verse was done in a different style of harmony, progressing through musical history.

I obviously don't have the musical vocabulary to describe exactly what I'm asking for. I'm hoping someone can read my mind, and tell me what I'm looking for.

https://youtu.be/TBKY63zh4jY

https://youtu.be/N15RZxgIJY4

0 Comments
2024/02/08
01:31 UTC

3

Anyone know where to find good recordings of Gregorian chants in English?

4 Comments
2024/02/07
18:54 UTC

4

Can someone tell me the original chant used in this anime (Ergo Proxy) soundtrack?

Hello everyone, recently I've been doing some researches in order to find out what is the original version of the gregorian chant used in the soundtrack of the anime Ergo Proxy (2006), composed by Ike Yoshihiro.

The track in question is "New Pulse" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RyDuyjgd2Q). The chant sings two distinct melodies, the first one is clearly from Kyrie Eleison, but I haven't been able to identify the second one (starting at 01:26 and repeated at 02:00). I don't know if this could be helpful to identify it, but I've tried to play it with Ableton's VoiceBox and notes seem to be D#, G, F, A#, G#, G, F (in this order).

One more thing: when I tried to look for any clues on Shazam, it recognized New Pulse as the song "Possibilities" by Blue Nomad. The song has the exact two melodies used in the soundtrack sang with a gregorian chant. My guess is that Blue Nomad sampled New Pulse, but since I couldn't find any info about the song release date, I can't tell for sure.

Do you think it comes from an existing chant? Or could it be an addition made by the composer? Thank you for your time and help!

0 Comments
2024/01/05
14:42 UTC

4

Interesting Spanish 17th century Introit out of the Common of Doctors of the Church

Hello, This incomplete hymn (In medio Ecclesiae cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/In_medio_Ecclesiae) is the introit of The Common of Doctors of the Church. I wonder what that actually is. Also there are three versions by Dufay, Anonymous and Briccio. What version is this (see link)? Thanks in advance, JH

1 Comment
2023/12/29
12:00 UTC

0 Comments
2023/11/25
19:19 UTC

3

Info requested

This has been in my family for over fifty years . It’s framed and the text and music seem to be written on skin, not parchment. Any ideas about this ? I wonder where it came from and what chant it is . Thanks

5 Comments
2023/11/20
01:12 UTC

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