| GREGORIAN CHANT
Pope Gregory 1 (540-604) was the greatest of a number of pioneering Popes, who sent out missionary teams of monks across Europe to evangelise, to encourage the faithful and to standardise forms of worship. He made a collection of 3,000 tunes that were in common use which musically and historically form the most important single body of melodies ever written. Now known as Gregorian chant or Plainchant (cantus planus) they influenced church music until the 17th Century and are still at its heart today.
The early Christians were unsure of using music in worship because of its associations with pagan entertainment but finally agreed that singing with devout words was a good thing. In the words of St Basil (330-387) ‘ God blended the delight of melody with doctrines in order that through the pleasantness and softness of the sound we might unawares receive what was useful in the words…..for this purpose these harmonious melodies of the psalms have been prepared for us’.
These melodies were not written down at all until the 5th or 6th Century and a system of musical notation not invented until the 12th Century. We do know however that psalm singing was at the core of worship, as in the Jewish synagogue, with Greek as the accepted language in the early years (hence the words eucharist and kyrie eleison which were retained after the official change to Latin).
The different methods of singing the psalms in Gregorian chant paralleled practise in the synagogues: - direct, responsorial and antiphonal. In direct psalmody the words are sung in simple syllabic style without any additional material, the verses shared alternately between a solo and group or a divided chorus (men versus women and children in the early days). In responsorial psalmody the whole was sung by a solo cantor while the congregation responded with a single word, often alleluia or amen after each verse. In antiphonal psalmody a short sentence was introduced for all to sing before and after the psalm.
Later on the final syllable of an alleluia or amen was extended in a melismatic, spiritual outpouring of music. These melodic additions were memorised and in time had sequences of words added to them. Often these were poetic paraphrases of bible passages and given rhythmic or rhyming patterns thus formed the first hymns. Other passages of the bible were recited by the method of cantillation - chanting on a single note or monotone. To avoid complete monotony, inflections were introduced at the beginning or end of a phrase to give shape and variety.
The easily memorised hymns proved very popular with congregations. St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (339-397) widely regarded as the originator of hymnody, wrote many to counter heresies and to strengthen the faith of his flock. He said “The singing of praise is the very bond of unity when the whole people join in the single act of song.”
In the purest form of Gregorian chant, the single melodic line is unadorned by harmony and unaccompanied by musical instruments, the texts deriving their beauty from the natural inflections of speech and the gentle rhythm of the inward and outward breath. From Pope Gregory’s time onward, there were many additions of text, music and instrumental accompaniment (organs were in use from the 9th Century onward) each generation adapting the melodies to suit their own taste. By 19th Century many felt it necessary to restore the chants to their older, purer form. Thus in 1904 scholars and musicians, including the monks of Solesmes, met in Rome to mark the thirteenth centenary of the death of St Gregory. This Gregorian congress officially adopted the restored melodies for general use.
CREDITS
Tracks sung in Latin/Greek:
The Choir of St Etheldredas, Ely Place. London
Recorded at Douai Abbey by Lance Andrews
Tracks sung in English:
The Choir of All Saints, Margaret Street, London
Directed by Harry Bramma
Assistant Organist Andrew Arthur
Except:
Track 11 Thee We Adore
The Choir of St Edmundsbury Cathedral
James Thomas - Director of Music
Michael Bawtree - Assistant Director of Music
Track 13 Creator of the Stars
The Choir of Ely Cathedral
Paul Trepte - Organist & Director of Music
Scott Farrell - Assistant Organist
Executive Producers: Richard Martin & Peter Sternberg
Compilation Producer: Eric Wyse
(P) & © MMIV Classic Fox Records
www.foxrecords.co.uk
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP SERIES
Classical music can be a most exhilarating and satisfying sensory experience. However you uncover the gems of classical masterpieces, whether on a recording or in a live concert, the genius of the composer, as well as the emotional and spiritual underpinings all contribute to the uniqueness of each piece.
For Christians there is an added bonus to listening to much of this kind of music, since it was, in fact the praise and worship music of its time. This was the music that came out of the church, written to encourage and inspire believers to turn their attention toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you ever listened to a passage of classical music and felt something spiritual, that you couldn’t put your finger on? Many of these composers lived lives that were intensely spiritual, and used their music as a way to communicate their faith. Sounds like the contemporary Christian music scene of today, doesn’t it?
The Masterworks of Worship collection is an opportunity for you to sink into some of the greatest sacred classical masterpieces ever composed. You may have heard some of the music before, but perhaps you’ve never taken the time to find out what they were really saying in the lyrics. Here is a chance for you to pump new life into your daily worship through an inspirational connection with the classics as you find that these composers have put into words the thoughts you’ve only had in your heart.
The following notes provide an insight to each composer and their work. Wherever possible lyric translations have been included for pieces performed in languages other than English - a resource which we hope will provide you with the greatest possible understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of these celebrated classics.
TITLES AVAILABLE IN THE SERIES:
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 1
1. Handel - MESSIAH (Highlights)
2. Mozart - CORONATION MASS
3. Brahms - REQUIEM
4. GREAT CHORUSES (With Full Orchestra)
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 2
1. Bach - ST. JOHN’S PASSION (Highlights)
2. Vivaldi - GLORIAS
3. Haydn - CREATION (Highlights)
4. GREGORIAN CHANT
MASTERWORKS OF WORSHIP VOLUME 3
1. Beethoven - MISSA SOLEMNIS
2. GREAT INSTRUMENTALS
3. Rachmaninov - VESPERS
4. Stainer - CRUCIFIXION
Produced by Eric Wyse
Executive Producers: Peter Sternberg & Richard Martin
(P) & © MMIII Classic Fox Records
www.foxrecords.co.uk |
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