Great compilation!
Jack Kirven | Charlotte, NC | 11/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i am doing a performance art work based on umberto eco's "the name of the rose." the novel takes place in an abbey, and the story is structured around the daily pattern of prayer observed by the monks. i was hoping to find some nice recordings of gregorian chant, but i wasn't prepared to find EXACTLY what i needed! what a nice surprise -- not everything in life has to be suffering and pain i suppose... i digress. the quality of the recordings is excellent, and i really appreciate the abient noises in the background (bells, doors opening, birds, wind, etc). these sounds are proof of the authenticity of the experience -- you are hearing the monks as they progress through their day -- it is so nice to hear something that wasn't constructed electronically in a sound studio. the collection is great for people who want relaxing and/or spiritual music, but it is also very important to those students of monastic life who want to understand better the daily rituals that make up a monk's life. you might also be interested in this compilation if you are studying music history or music appreciation, or if you are interested in hearing music sung in latin (a good resource for language students). all in all this is the best gregorian chant collection i've been able to find after much searching: great sound quality, consistency (same people's voices, same acoustics, etc) logical progressions through the provided selections, and reasonable pricing. this compilation is also great if you need a thorough survey of gregorian chant"