Chant: Music for the Soul

Artist: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz
Number of Discs: 1
Total time: 53:14
Label: Decca
Availability: In stock
Item #: 5190136

List Price: $17.98
Member Price: $11.98

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Review

Decca's recording of chant sung by the Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz in southern Austria fulfills the purpose of this type of album: mellow, slow, reflective, unison chant melodies for general audiences. The CD has high production values; the sound is exceptionally clean and clear, with just enough resonance to evoke a monastic atmosphere. The singers have light, pleasant, natural-sounding tenors and baritones, and their voices blend smoothly. Their singing is more expressive than many performances of this repertoire, with a subtle use of dynamic shading that follows the melodic contours of the chant. In addition to antiphons, {

esponsories}, and hymns, the album includes music for complete services: a requiem and an order of compline. Two of the most satisfying tracks are simply the tolling of the bells of the monastery, with birdsong in the background. The notes, which reflect a Roman Catholic spirituality, don't identify the source or specific era of the chants being sung, but simply describe them as "Gregorian." The volume of the album is loud, and the listener will probably want to adjust the levels down if the goal is to establish an appropriately contemplative atmosphere. ~ Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

Chant is a single CD from The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz singing, as the subtitle tells us, music for the soul. This disc could not have been more aptly named, for it is certain to set listeners in a pensive, reflective mood.

The background of Chant is very interesting. Earlier this year, the record label Universal UK placed ads in various religious publications encouraging monks and sacred singers to submit demos to be considered for a major recording contract — sort of an American Idol for sacred music. The monks of the Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz in Vienna applied for the ad by sending a clip they had posted on YouTube and an overnight sensation was born. Of course, it helped that Pope Benedict XVI declared this monastery as one of his favorites.

While Chant cannot be classified as Christmas music, we have just received special permission from the record label to offer it to our members and simply could not pass up the opportunity to include it in this, our Christmas issue. Since its release, Chant has been at the top of the classical charts for six weeks (at the time this issue of the Review was published) after debuting at 183 in the top 200 and being named a "Top 5 Heatseeker." In the UK this CD debuted at number nine on the pop charts.

—Elaine Sutcliffe

Quotes

"Wherever we join in singing, praising, exalting and worshipping God, a little bit of Heaven becomes present on earth." —Pope Benedict XVI (in Stift Heiligenkreuz September 9, 2007)

Into Paradise (In Paradisum); Stift Heiligenkreuz Bells; Mass for the Dead (Requiem); Night Prayer (Compline); Stift Heiligenkreuz Bells; Spirit of the Lord (Spiritus Domini).

The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz.

Tracks + Soundclips

Chant: Music for the Soul
	1.	In paradisum, antiphon by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 4:28
	2.	Subvenite, responsory in mode 4 by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:28
	3.	Libera me, Domine, de Morte Eterna, responsory by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 4:26
	4.	Church Bells by Recorded Sound Length: 1:36
	5.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:00
	6.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 1:38
	7.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:40
	8.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:10
	9.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 3:40
	10.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:46
	11.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:50
	12.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:44
	13.	Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 1:08
	14.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:49
	15.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 1:24
	16.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:33
	17.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 3:46
	18.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 1:12
	19.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:27
	20.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:40
	21.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:17
	22.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:12
	23.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:47
	24.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:47
	25.	Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 0:19
	26.	Church Bells by Recorded Sound Length: 1:00
	27.	Veni creator spiritus by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:32
	28.	Spiritus domini, introit in mode 3 by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 2:38
	29.	Factus est repente, comminio by Chant, Gregorian Vocal Ensemble: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz Length: 1:17

Performances

In paradisum, antiphon by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Subvenite, responsory in mode 4 by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Libera me, Domine, de Morte Eterna, responsory by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Church Bells by Recorded Sound

Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Missa pro defunctis by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Office of Compline by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Church Bells - Stift Heiligenkreuz Bells by Recorded Sound

Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Veni creator spiritus by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Spiritus domini, introit in mode 3 by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

Factus est repente, comminio by Chant, Gregorian

Performer(s): Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz (Vocal Ensemble)
Recording location: Sanctuary of the Relic of the Holy Cross, Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz

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