Gregorian Chant

[Maxentius]

Does anyone use Gregorian Chant any more? I read that the RCC is trying to revive the practice. Also, are there any Lutheran Churches which use Gregorian Chant?

FWIW, I think Gregorian Chant sounds sublime, but much of it also sounds the same.

Finally, does anyone know the name of the chant the monks (I think they are monks) sang when they carried the pope in state?

[Constantine]

The tricky thing about the Gregorian is that it has to be done right...or else it sounds pretty bad. We tried to start using it again at my Parish but at the time our music director was from Nashville and tried to spice it up with his own blend and....well it just wasn't pretty.

But if it is done correctly, the Gregorian chant is beautiful.

[spl_cadet]

It's still the official music of the Church. A Nobertine abbey near here uses it. I would suspect that every Indult (Traditional Latin Mass by permission of local bishop) Mass would use it as well.

[Maxentius]

The tricky thing about the Gregorian is that it has to be done right...or else it sounds pretty bad. We tried to start using it again at my Parish but at the time our music director was from Nashville and tried to spice it up with his own blend and....well it just wasn't pretty.

But if it is done correctly, the Gregorian chant is beautiful.

I think it is pretty cool. Must it be done in Latin?

I also agree that it is a genre of music that does not mix with some others, like Hip-Hop and Mozart for instance.

Do they use Gregorian Chant in the East?

[Rusty T]

Do they use Gregorian Chant in the East?

Not that I'm aware of. But the chants in the East are related to Gregorian from what I gather. All monophonic chant (found in most ancient churches) probably developed from a common inheritance from Jewish practices. I love Byzantine Chant as well as the chanting of the Coptic Church. But my favorite chants have to be from the Valaam Monastery in Russia.

rusty

[Maxentius]

Hey Rusty,

Not that I'm aware of. But the chants in the East are related to Gregorian from what I gather. All monophonic chant (found in most ancient churches) probably developed from a common inheritance from Jewish practices.

I remember reading this somewhere.

I love Byzantine Chant as well as the chanting of the Coptic Church. But my favorite chants have to be from the Valaam Monastery in Russia.

rusty

I have a CD of the Ukrainian Choral Baroque singing a mass. The music was written by an Italian who liked Orthodox music so much he converted and made some himself.

Anyway, I lose something because I don't speak Ukrainian. It makes the music, like some of Bach's Chorales, less useful for religious purposes and more like entertainment, which I think is sad. (habeo lingua Latina, just not enough.)

[Rusty T]

The Valaam choir has chants in English as well as Russian. If the chants I had were on CD, I would have worn them out. Thankfully .mp3's are a bit more durable.

rusty

[spl_cadet]

I think it is pretty cool. Must it be done in Latin?

Nope. I've heard it in English. And I've actually got a collection of modern songs done in Gregorian Chant.

[furay]

The Valaam choir has chants in English as well as Russian. If the chants I had were on CD, I would have worn them out. Thankfully .mp3's are a bit more durable.

rusty

OT, but since we're talking about chanting.... Rusty, do you know the name of the Romanian Orthodox Album that Steve Robinson was playing on 'Our Life in Christ' a few months back? That music is hauntingly beautiful and I think I might like to track down a hard copy to purchase. Thanks.

[Rusty T]

In their show notes they list the artist as unknown. You could email them and at least ask where they got the music files from.

rusty

[furay]

In their show notes they list the artist as unknown. You could email them and at least ask where they got the music files from.

rusty

Thank you. I just might do that!