In Dulci - Salve Festa Dies: Gregorian Chant for Seasons of the Year [CD]

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Gregorian Chant for Seasons of the Year Gregorian chant represents the continuingmusical tradition of the Catholic Church. In legend, at least, theregularisation of Christian chant has been attributed to the sixth century PopeSt. Gregory the Great. Gregorian chant is, in fact, the form of plainchant thatlargely but not entirely replaced local forms of chant during the Middle Ages.Manuscript sources are preserved from the 10th and 11thcenturies, but these are clearly part of an earlier tradition. The termGregorian chant is generally acceptable, in popular usage, to describe theofficial chant of the Church. This chant has musical value and interest initself. Its historical musical importance is immeasurable, since much of theliturgical music of the Middle Ages and of the Renaissance was based onmelodies drawn from this body of music. In later years, particularly in thenineteenth century, the connotations of elements of the chant continued as partof the common fund of music to which composers might refer, notably in thechant for the Dies irae (Day ofWrath) from the Requiem Mass, the opening notes of which provided a thematicallusion for Liszt's Totentanzand an idee fixe for Rachmaninov.Gregorian chant is monodic, modal and in freerhythm. It has a single melodic line, without harmonic or polyphonic elements;it came, at least, to make use of the eight church modes, scales represented bythe white notes of the modern keyboard and starting on D (Dorian mode), E(Phrygian mode), F (Lydian mode) and G (Mixolydian mode), the names drawn fromthe different ancient Greek modes; the rhythm of the chant follows that of thewords. It is possible to classify types of chant very simply as syllabic,neumatic and melismatic. Syllabic chant takes one note to a syllable,represented generally in the musical settings of the Psalms. Neumatic chant mayuse groups of from two to four notes to a syllable, as often in the hymns ofGregorian chant, and melismatic chant indicates the use of a large group ofnotes for one syllable, as found in the florid music for the Alleluias of theliturgy.The liturgy of the Catholic church centres onthe Mass. The Ordinary of the Mass, the elements that remain constantthroughout the year, includes Kyrie(Lordhave mercy), Gloria (Glory be toGod in the highest), Credo (Ibelieve), Sanctus (Holy, holy,holy) and Agnus Dei (Lamb ofGod). The chants of the Proper of the Mass are those that differ from day today, according to the season or the saint or event to be celebrated. The Properconsists of introit, gradual, alleluia, tract, offertory and communion, towhich may be added sequence and possible tropes, these last representingadditions to the liturgy, musical, verbal or both, many of which were removedin the changes that took place as a result of the Council of Trent in thesixteenth century.In addition to the Mass, the worship of theChurch also includes the Divine Office, its origins in earlier Jewish practice.Matins begins after midnight, often at 3 a.m.

Ecce Dominus Veniet

Veni, Domine

Populus Sion

Dicite Pusillanimes

Verbum salutis

Ecce Nomen Domini

Puer Natus Est

Alleluia: Dies sanctificatus

Vidimus Stellam

Laetabundus

Prosternimus preces

Media Vita

Christus Factus Est

Crux Fidelis

Vexilla Regis

Quem quaeritis - Resurrexi

Salve Festa Dies

Alleluia: Christus resurgens

Victimae Paschali Laudes

Factus Est Repente

Salve Sancta Parens

Ave, Maria

Gaude Maria - Inviolata