Search - Schola Antiqua :: Music for Holy Week / Gregorian Chant

The Correct Way to Chant

Gustav Mahler | Miami, FL | 03/31/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For over forty years, John Blackley has been heroically advocating the performing of Gregorian chant in proportional rather than equal rhythm. Unlike the system currently and erroneously perpetuated by the Solesmes Abbey, when performed with proportional rhythm notes are held for one or two beats rather than notes chanted with equal rhythm. Performing chants when, with rare exception, notes are sung with the same "beat" goes completely counter to current musicological research. Despite this, I recently attended a chant conference in South Florida during which proportional rhythm was never mentioned once by ANY of the presenters!



However, aside from these academic considerations, I don't see how even the most jaded and hostile Solesmes adherent can resist these beautifully detailed performances. Listen for the trill-tremolo-slides on quilismas (rather than just holding and swelling on the lower note.) Also, listen for the quarter-tone turns which occurs frequently, reminiscent of the Mosarabic style.



You can find many of the Schola's discontinued recordings available through the [...] website. Also some great free downloadables. In particular, the "Rhythm in Western Music..." document not only includes 119 pages of very tight, well written and informative text but also the scores of a couple of dozen chants transcribed in proportional rhythm notation and first class recordings of nearly all the transcribed works...including the entire Easter Sunday Propers with transcriptions in proportional notation! If you are interested in chant, you should follow up on this."