Search - Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos :: Chant: The Anniversary Edition

FANTASTIC!!

Kermit Morris | Boise, ID | 01/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!

jc | 07/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Two Sublime Discs for the Price of One

Rocky Raccoon | Boise, ID | 03/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It must be said first and foremost that the sound of these two C.D.'s is outstanding. Compared to other chant recordings, this one is distinctive for its clear resonance. No wonder it started a whole trend over a decade ago when The Benedictine Monks of Santo Dominigo de Silos entered the top ten of music recordings.



For those who have the patience, the vascillating sounds of monks singing their praises to the Lord can have a sublime effect. If you give these recordings a chance, they can transform one to the serenity it is meant to elicit. They have the power of prayer through the modem of music to lift and transform one up from the harried world of work and worry.



At $10.00 the price of entry is inexpensive indeed for dissolving tension and relieving one's worries over the material world. Although previously released, they mix recordings from the original classic with worthy follow-ups. The first disc is a masterpiece, but the second disc I find to be even more placid in its delivery. Whichever you prefer, the results are celestial indeed."