REVIEW: The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos,
The Soul of Chant (Milan)
- Ali Sinclair
If I were to say that this CD is simply beautiful, would you believe me?
Gregorian chant - the sacred words of the Christian scripture, the official music of the Catholic church, the words Latin, the melody simple and singular - has existed for centuries. There are many recordings of different chants available, particularly from the Eastern European countries like Bulgaria. So what makes this recording, this choir of monks, so special?
The Soul of Chant is a recording by the original choir of Santo Dominigo de Silos - the choir of Benedictine Monks that was formed in the early 1900's to sing authentic Gregorian chant. Originally sung centuries ago, the chants were recorded between 1956 and 1962, and has been digitally remastered for this release.
The singing is light, innocent, beautiful. Listening to it, you are transported to the peace of a sun-warmed, stone-built monastery, where nothing is hurried, nothing is rushed, all is faith and all is God. God in his/her most innocent, gentle state. The voices are the echoes of childhood faith, like grown-up choirboys: there is none of the more serious, growling bass of the Bulgarian chant: this is love for God and for Good, with none of the Fear.
I put this CD on my player, and it was as if all the stupid worries and stresses of the modern world had just faded away. My town apartment was transformed into a cloister. The passing traffic was a flock of birds. The surrounding buildings, a herb garden tended my gentle hands. I became ashamed of my hurly-burly, couldn't-care-less, not-a-minute-to-think modern life. What has happened to our soul?
The CD contains five chants, or masses, each intended for a different part of the church cycle. "Mass II: Fons Bonitatis", the Kyrie in particular, is moving in the extreme. "Soul-inspiring" is probably an apt description for this recording. It's simple. And just completely beautiful.
If you don't believe me, listen to it for yourself.
