Search - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's de Laudes, The Monks of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Benoit, The Ambrosian Singers :: Gregorian Chants: The Best of the Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's

DOMINE LABIA MEA APERIES

Claudio-Miguel | California | 05/08/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

""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.



"

Unbiased reponse to Caesarmagnus

Ken Edmunds | US of A | 04/21/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Beautiful, with great depth of sound

Claudio-Miguel | 02/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One really hears the passion and life in the voices of these monks--keep in mind that this is not merely a group of singers who have assembled in the studio to record a CD, but rather, men whose lives are totally wrapped up in the mysteries of which they sing. I can really hear their struggles and love for God in their chants, and their harmonies are creative and sweet to the ear. True, if one is not familiar with this type of music--Gregorian Chant--it may sound a little spooky and strangely other-wordly. I would encourage the listener to look up on the Internet the portions of the Latin mass that are on this CD--the Gloria (#11), for example, and read the words in English along to sound of the song. That way, you can have a sense of the things about which the monks sing, which will bridge the distance between the listener and this genre of music."