Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos - Chant: The Anniversary Edition
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Free Music Notes for Chant: The Anniversary Edition
Free Music Review: Two Sublime Discs for the Price of One
Hit: 5 Stars
It must be said first and foremost that the sound of these two C.D.'s is outstanding. Compared to other chant recordings, this one is distinctive for its clear resonance. No wonder it started a whole trend over a decade ago when The Benedictine Monks of Santo Dominigo de Silos entered the top ten of music recordings.
For those who have the patience, the vascillating sounds of monks singing their praises to the Lord can have a sublime effect. If you give these recordings a chance, they can transform one to the serenity it is meant to elicit. They have the power of prayer through the modem of music to lift and transform one up from the harried world of work and worry.
At $10.00 the price of entry is inexpensive indeed for dissolving tension and relieving one's worries over the material world. Although previously released, they mix recordings from the original classic with worthy follow-ups. The first disc is a masterpiece, but the second disc I find to be even more placid in its delivery. Whichever you prefer, the results are celestial indeed.
Free Music Review: Watch out...
Hit: 3 Stars
For what it is, this CD set is decent. If you're reading this, you probably already know that this is not a set aimed at the serious medieval music fan. The liner notes printed on the folded insert contain little historical background (rather, they attempt to explain why the Chant I and II CDs were so popular when released in the mid-1990s). Also, texts for the chants are missing--a serious oversight on EMI's part. It would have cost them pennies more per set to include full texts and translations. My other gripe is with the sound. I don't have the "original" Chant I and II CDs to compare, but the sound on this Anniversary set is riddled with irritating digital artifacts--these recordings sound like poorly encoded MP3s. The artifacting is caused by the application of too much "noise reduction" to reduce tape hiss (these recordings were originally made in the 1970s and early 1980s). I don't necessarily expect these CDs of 30-year-old recordings to sound as good as present-day recordings, but I'm disappointed that the engineer(s) at EMI allowed so much digital artifacting to creep in (it is most audible on sibilances). If you plan to listen to these CDs quietly or on an inexpensive portable CD player, the digital artifacting likely will not be a problem, but if you plan to listen to this CD on a decent stereo or home theatre, it can be distracting.
Casual listeners looking for one or two CDs of medieval chant for relaxation may be well-served by this inexpensive set. It isn't "bad." The performances are sincere and pleasant. If you're looking for soothing or calming music, you can't do any better than Gregorian chant, but the sound and packaging of this set leave something to be desired. Medieval music buffs may want to pass on this one. I received my copy as a gift; I'll keep it, but I wouldn't buy it again. There are so many better chant recordings available.
Free Music Review: Superb relaxation
Hit: 4 Stars
This is a wonderful compilation. I greatly enjoy listening to it when I'm working on painting or another activity where lower blood pressure is a must. Having two albums in one makes the deal even sweeter. If you alreaddy own Chant I and II, then there's no real value added, but with mine lost in a move, it was a great return of music I enjoy.Free Music Review: What a recording
Hit: 5 Stars
Mystic,eternal, and meditative is how I would
describe these chants, a most perfect gift
for Christmas. This reissue sounds even better
than the ones released in the mid 90's.
I would highly recommend this recording to anyone.
The only rule is sit down, or lay back and enjoy.
Free Music Review: FANTASTIC!!
Hit: 5 Stars
BUYERS BE WARNED - this set should not purchased in lieu of the two original Chant CDs but rather as a supplement to them. Because although both the Amazon.com editorial review and one of the two reviews available for the Anniversary Edition both indicate it is nothing more than a remastered version of the original two Chant releases from 1994, a thorough check of the track listings at Amazon.com (and at angelrecords.com) demonstrates that this is not the case. The sequence of tracks is completely different and there are numerous tracks that appear on one of the original Chant CDs but not on the Anniversary Edition and vice versa. The most complete is the first of the two original discs as all but two of its nineteen tracks appear on the Anniversary Edition. Chant II has less than half a dozen of its tracks appearing on the Anniversary Edition.
However, this complaint aside, I love the Anniversary Edition. Although the track sequence is different from the original Chant CD and I find myself expecting certain chants to follow others, I will in time get used to the differences.
Moving on, this is not complicated material. There is no polyphonic, raucous, symphonic accompaniment. There are no rowdy, raging guitar riffs from the likes of Pepper Keenan or Jeff Loomis. There are no ultra-funky looped drum beats, booming bass, or rapped socio-political venom from the likes of the Ice Cube or Public Enemy. There is neither a Cecilia Bartoli nor a BB King to sustain things by sheer virtuosity. There are only the exquisitely simple, melodic sounds of monks singing/chanting in Latin in a great, grand hall with nary a trace of echo to be heard. This is gorgeous, sublime, invigorating music to soothe the sores of the soul and heal the hardened heart. The raw honesty and utter conviction of the `performers' on these two discs drive these pieces home with a power that more practiced and polished performers dare not dream of. Even with no transcription or translation of the chants inside the booklet, this is music to be enjoyed by everyone.
My recommendation is to procure Chant: The Anniversary Edition immediately and be thankful that such simple and supremely powerful music exists to bring some light into our seemingly ever-darkening world.
Thanks for reading.
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