Chant (Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos album)

For the 2008-11 recordings, see Heiligenkreuz Abbey.
Chant
Studio album by Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Released March 15, 1994
Recorded 1973
Genre Gregorian chant
Length 58:26
Label Angel
Producer Maria Francisca Bonmati
Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos chronology
Chant
(1994)		 Chant II
(1995)

Chant is an album of Gregorian chant, performed by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos at their monastery in Burgos, Spain. The music was recorded perhaps as early as the 1970s, but it did not sell significantly until it was re-released by Angel in 1994 when it was strongly marketed as an antidote to the stress of modern life.[1] Chant is the best-selling album of Gregorian chant ever released. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 music chart, and was certified as double platinum, meaning two million copies were sold in the United States. Worldwide, the album sold around six million copies.

Performers

The monks of Santo Domingo de Silos have been singing Gregorian chant since the 11th century (before that, they used Mozarabic chant). There was a break in the tradition the nineteenth century when the abbey was closed by the government as part of the so-called Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal. The abbey was reestablished with the help of monks from Solesmes Abbey in France. Solesmes is known for its commitment to plainsong and the Solesmes style of singing has influenced the Spanish monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.[2]

Sources agree that the music had been recorded some years before it achieved worldwide fame. However, the exact dates appear to be elusive. According to the Gregorian Association, Chant consists of recordings made 1972-1982.[3] AllMusic suggests that most of the music was recorded around 1980, while there is a greater proportion of music recorded in the 1970s in the follow-up album Chant II. Also according to Allmusic, a seminary in the Spanish city of Logroño invited the monks to record a vinyl album of chant in order to popularize it among churchgoers.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [4]

Reviewers expressed surprise at the commercial success of the album.[1] Not only had Gregorian chant been a specialist market for record companies before the 1980s, but also other monastic choirs, such as that of Solesmes Abbey, had enjoyed a higher profile as recording artists than the Silos monks.[2]

The monks normally follow a routine based on their monastic duties. However, following the commercial success of Chant they made publicity appearances and were interviewed on The Tonight Show and Good Morning America.

Sequel albums

Chant Noël: Chants For The Holiday Season was released 1 November 1994,[5] with Chant II released 17 October 1995[6] and Chant III on 17 September 1996.[7]

In 1998, Chant was reissued as a gold-audiophile CD by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. In 2004, it was re-issued along with its follow-up, Chant II as Chant: The Anniversary Edition by Angel/EMI Classics.

The album was spoofed by members of the comedy rock band Big Daddy, performing as the Benzedrine Monks of Santa Domonica, in their album Chantmania,[8] which included Gregorian-inspired versions of notable pop songs. Sandra Boynton also produced a book and CD entitled Grunt: Pigorian Chant from Snouto Domoinko de Silo.[9]

Track listing

  1. "Puer Natus Est Nobis": Introit (Mode VII) – 3:36
  2. "Os Iusti": Gradual (Mode I) – 2:49
  3. "Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis": Gradual (Mode V) – 2:39
  4. "Mandatum Novum Do Vobis": Antiphonal And Psalm 132 (Mode III) – 1:41
  5. "Media Vita In Morte Sumus": Responsorio (Mode IV) – 6:11
  6. "Alleluia, Beatus Vir Qui Suffert": Alleluia (Mode I) – 3:10
  7. "Spiritus Domini": Introit (Mode VIII) – 3:46
  8. "Improperium": Offertorio (Mode VIII) – 2:36
  9. "Laetatus Sum": Gradual (Mode VII) – 2:17
  10. "Kyrie XI A": Kyrie (Mode I) – 1:06
  11. "Puer Natus In Bethlehem": Ritmo (Mode I) – 1:58
  12. "Jacta Cogitatum Tuum": Gradual (Mode VII) – 3:34
  13. "Verbum Caro Factum Est": Responsorio (Mode VII) – 4:04
  14. "Genuit Puerpera Regem": Antiphonal And Psalm 99 (Mode II) – 2:56
  15. "Occuli Omnium": Gradual (Mode VII) – 3:21
  16. "Ave Mundi Spes Maria": Sequenza (Mode I) – 4:18
  17. "Kyrie Fons Bonitatis": Trope (Mode III) – 4:00
  18. "Veni Sancte Spiritus": Sequenza (Mode I) – 2:42
  19. "Hosanna Filio David": Antiphonal (Mode VII) – 0:42

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Lister, David (29 March 1994). "Plainsong soars up the charts". The Independent. London. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Selective Chant Discography, The Gregorian Association (London, England)
  3. ↑ Monks of S. Domingo de Silos, The Gregorian Association
  4. 1 2 Chant at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  5. ↑ Chant Noël at Amazon.com
  6. ↑ Chant II at Amazon.com
  7. ↑ Chant III at Amazon.com
  8. ↑ Chantmania at Amazon.com
  9. ↑ Grunt at Amazon.com
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