Some of the most moving and beautiful Gregorian chants are found in the Requiem Mass, one of the most frequently performed Masses of the Medieval period. It is this mass that forms the centerpiece of Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola's acclaimed recording Gregorian Requiem. Not only are two traditional masses included, but there are antiphons for the vigil prior to the funeral, antiphons changed in the church beforehand, as well as chants sung as the casket leaves the church. Included also is the sequence Dies irae, dies illa, best known for its inclusion in more modern Requiems such as those by Mozart, Verdi and Durufle. Thus, this recording presents a medieval funeral mass, as it would have been chanted in the fourteenth century.
Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola brings a wealth of experience to the chants, as they have chanted the offices for thirty years. They are particularly known for their sensitivity to text and phrasing, and have spent many years studying the rhythmic aspects of the chants as reflected in the Laon manuscript, among others. This re-release follows their tradition of subtle, elegant interpretations of the chant that are most moving and worshipful.
| How to tell one chant from another? Not easy for a non-specialist like myself. This is an unusually rich sampling from several requiem masses. |
| Michael Barnes |
| Austin360.com |
| November 27, 2006 |
| Requiem Mass The Mass for the Dead Our Price: $15.26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Requiem Father Kolbe A beautiful and majestic orchestral creation from the composer of "The Pianist" Our Price: $16.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
