Chant (album)

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Chant
Studio album by Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Released	March 15, 1994
Recorded	1973
Genre	Gregorian chant
Length	58:26
Label	Angel
Producer(s)	Maria Francisca Bonmati
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos chronology
	Chant (1994)	Chant II 1995)

Chant is an album of Gregorian chant, performed by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos at their monastery in northwest Spain. It was originally released on LP in 1973, but became a major release when it was re-released by Angel in 1994 and strongly marketed. It is the best-selling album of Gregorian chant ever released.

The Monasterio Santo Domingo de Silos began singing Gregorian chant in the 11th century (before that, they used Mozarabic chant). The Seminary of Logroño invited the monks to record an album of chant to popularize it among parishioners.

It peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 music chart, and was certified as triple platinum, meaning 3 million copies were sold in the United States. Worldwide, the album sold around 6 million copies. The performers were interviewed on the Tonight Show and Good Morning America.

In 1998 it was reissued as a gold-audiophile CD by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. In 2004, it was re-issued along with its sequel Chant II as Chant: The Anniversary Edition by Angel/EMI Classics.

The album was spoofed by the Benzedrine Monks of Santa Domonica in their album Chantmania, which included Gregorian-inspired versions of notable pop songs.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Puer Natus Est Nobis": Introit (Mode VII)
2. "Os Iusti": Gradual (Mode I)
3. "Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis": Gradual (Mode V)
4. "Mandatum Novum Do Vobis": Antiphonal And Psalm 132 (Mode III)
5. "Media Vita In Morte Sumus": Responsorio (Mode IV)
6. "Alleluia, Beatus Vir Qui Suffert": Alleluia (Mode I)
7. "Spiritus Domini": Introit (Mode VIII)
8. "Improperium": Offertorio (Mode VIII)
9. "Laetatus Sum": Gradual (Mode VII)
10. "Kyrie XI A": Kyrie (Mode I)
11. "Puer Natus In Bethlehem": Ritmo (Mode I)
12. "Jacta Cogitatum Tuum": Gradual (Mode VII)
13. "Verbum Caro Factum Est": Responsorio (Mode VII)
14. "Genuit Puerpera Regem": Antiphonal And Psalm 99 (Mode II)
15. "Occuli Omnium": Gradual (Mode VII)
16. "Ave Mundi Spes Maria": Sequenza (Mode I)
17. "Kyrie Fons Bonitatis": Trope (Mode III)
18. "Veni Sancte Spiritus": Sequenza (Mode I)
19. "Hosanna Filio David": Antiphonal (Mode VII)

[edit] Credits

• Jay Barbieri, Art Direction
• Angel Barco, Engineer
• Maria Francisca Bonmati, Producer
• Ismael Fernandez de la Cuesta, Director, Liner Notes, Direction
• David Foil, Liner Notes
• Ted Jensen, Mastering
• Francisco Lara, Director, Direction
• Marvin Mattelson, Cover Design, Cover Art