New Age or world-beat curiosity?Monk chic of the sort that made the Dalai Lama a superstar?The example of ambient acts sampling plainsong for its otherworldly buzz?Whatever the reasons forChant'sastonishing worldwide sales, the music itself transcends such minor mysteries.
Extant for 1,500 years, Gregorian chantpsalm-based Latin melodies sung seven times daily in certain Catholic monasteriesis some of the most purely entrancing sound ever composed. This no-frills recording of Spanish monks captures with perfect clarity the intensity and intimacy of this form of prayer. Modest, unison singingno tricks, no virtuositythe chanting comes from the heart, unselfconscious and nakedly direct.
Love to listen to this. I have a 6 cd changer with Jazz/new age on one cassette and this is one of the albums in the set. When friends are over and hear it, they want to know what that is.