Few musical traditions have endured in such pure form as has the practice of Gregorian chant, and in its representation here by the Benedictine moniales (cloistered sisters) of Saint Mary’s Abbey in Quebec, we hear the refined style revived in the early 19th century in Solesmes, France. For the Benedictines the singing of chant is an integral part of daily life–the moniales engage in this form of prayer “seven times a day and once at night”–and as such it takes on form and meaning beyond either music or speech. As anyone who lived through the chant craze in the 1980s knows, even apart from their liturgical context these songs can be quite appealing to listen to, with their gently undulating melodies and free, improvisatory-sounding rhythms.
The moniales of Saint Mary’s make a uniform if very girlish tone, and, as we might expect, deliver the long lines and varying phrases as one voice. While most listeners probably won’t immediately recognize the majority of the chants, there are several oft-used ones, including the Easter sequence “Victimae paschali laudes”, the hymn “Panis angelicus”, and the Kyriale VIII (of the Angels). The sound, recorded at Saint Mary’s Abbey, is very resonant yet clear and complementary to the voices. The bells at the opening and closing of the program add a welcome touch of authentic atmosphere.
