A Treasury of Gregorian Chant, Volumes I & II

There's a reason the Church still sings these sacred Latin hymns after hundreds of years. There's a reason interest in Gregorian chant continues to grow. Somehow, it still expresses the awe and reverence we feel before the Creator of heaven and earth.

Exceptional singing, classic repertoire
Somehow, these simple, prayerful tones and words still capture the mystery of the soul's journey back home. Among the many chant recordings released in recent years, O Lux Beatissima stands out for the exceptional quality of the singing and the music selected.

Sung with an obvious zeal for this music
Directed expertly by Dean Applegate, Cantores in Ecclesia delivers a superb performance, with perfect timing and balance, pure intonation, smooth transitions and an obvious zeal for this repertoire. Within the first phrases of the first track, you understand why they won gold medals in all categories in the Fifth International Palestrina Competition in Rome.

Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Gregorian chant
The choir's well-trained men's, women's and children's voices resonate beautifully in the live acoustics of the chapel at The Grotto, the National Shrine of Our Most Sorrowful Mother. Founded in 1985, Cantores in Ecclesia is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony.

All the best-known Latin hymns
O Lux Beatissima features all the best-known traditional Gregorian hymns, including "Ave Maria," "Salve Regina" and "Ubi Caritas," as well as two Mass ordinaries, the Missa Simplex and the Missa de Angelis. Cantores in Ecclesia sings the hymns entirely in Latin, most of them a cappella. Some hymns feature the men's voices, some the women's and children's, and some simple organ accompaniment.

A first-rate recording by a first-rate choir
A first-rate recording by a first-rate, professional choir, O Lux Beatissima provides an excellent musical setting for reflection, meditation, retreats and any time we feel the need for the peace and devotion of these timeless chanted prayers. Includes more than 73 minutes of music.

An indispensable resource for devotional listening
This CD recording provides a wonderful example of how Gregorian chant can be integrated into everyday parish life throughout the year. Since this collection avoids chants that are specific to major holy days or liturgical seasons, it will become an indispensable resource for liturgical leaders who need basic resources, or for anyone looking to learn more about this method of singing the liturgy.

Simple, elegant beauty
This collection includes every part of the sung Mass, not just choir music. The fully sung Mass is one of the most festive and authentic ways to celebrate the Eucharist. Using Gregorian chant is not simply singing at Mass—it is singing the Mass. Each part of the liturgy, no matter how small, has its own distinctive musical setting. The simple, elegant beauty of the chant's pure melody, sung in unison without harmony or embellishment, allows everyone to participate.

Shared among priest, choir, and assembly
The essence of the sung liturgy is dialogue: call and response, invocation and Amen. Many of the chants in this collection also alternate between men and women. And because it's easier for large groups to sing in unison than to speak in unison, these dialogues are central to the continuity and energy of the sung Mass. Since pieces are shared among priest, choir, and assembly, everyone has time to reflect and listen.

An inspiring listening experience
What immediately comes to mind when we think of the sung Mass is the Ordinary: the Kyrie (5), the Sanctus (20), the Agnus Dei (27) and other pieces useful week after week. Of the eighteen different Gregorian settings of the Ordinary, this CD includes the standard melody for Sundays throughout the year. The opening gambit of the Kyrie is catchy, with its varied ninefold repetition. The rest of the Mass is focused around a series of recurring themes that beg to be repeated from one week to the next. The dismissal (32) reiterates the original Kyrie melody, bringing the whole service to a satisfying sense of closure.

Nothing to distract from Christ's message
The three scriptural readings are sung to three distinct melodies, each adapted as necessary to the day's text. The first reading (8) is proclaimed with the trumpet-like descending figures suitable for the voice of an Old Testament prophet. The second, New Testament reading (10) tends to sound more urgent, like St. Paul's style of teaching. The third and simplest, the Gospel (12), allows nothing to distract from Christ's pure message.

Join the choirs of angels in singing God's praises
Perhaps the most striking selection is the Preface (19), in which the celebrant invites the assembly to join the choirs of angels in singing God's praises. Mozart himself admired the simple dignity of this composition, telling a friend he would gladly trade all his own tunes for having written this one.

Accommodate the Scripture readings & the mood of the season
The most complex aspect of the Gregorian Mass is the Proper, music which changes each week to accommodate the Scripture readings and the mood of the season. Because of their wide vocal ranges and adventurous melodies, these chants are usually sung by a choir, small group or soloist, and can easily be added individually to the Mass.

Reflection and meditation
The Gradual (9) and Alleluia (11), the most ornate pieces, serve as reflections between the weekly Scripture readings. These long chants provide a moment of repose in the midst of the Mass. The gorgeous music emulates the stained glass and intricate stonework of the churches in which it was first sung. Like traditional Christian art, it inspires us to meditate on what the Creed calls "things visible and invisible."

An impressive collection
Don't miss this impressive collection of classic Gregorian chants. No collection of Gregorian music can be complete without these basic and beautiful melodies.