Chant II (album)

For the 2008-11 recordings, see Heiligenkreuz Abbey.
Chant II
Studio album by Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos
Released October 17, 1995
Recorded 1973
Genre Gregorian chant
Label Angel
Producer Maria Francisca Bonmati
Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos chronology

Chant
(1994)		 Chant II
(1995)		 Chant III
(1996)

Chant II is an album of Gregorian chant, performed by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos at their monastery in Burgos, Spain. It was recorded in the 1970s, but did not sell significantly until it was re-released by Angel in 1994 when it was strongly marketed as an antidote to the stress of modern life.[1] It is the best-selling album of Gregorian chant ever released. It peaked at #5 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 monks normally follow a routine based on their monastic duties. However, following the commercial success of Chant they made publicity appearances and were interviewed on The Tonight Show and Good Morning America.

Performers

The monks of Santo Domingo de Silos have been singing Gregorian chant since the 11th century (before that, they used Mozarabic chant). In the nineteenth century the French monks of Solesmes Abbey played a part in the reestablishment of Santo Domingo de Silos after the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal. The Solesmes style of singing plainsong has influenced the Spanish monks.[2]

Sources agree that the album includes material recorded in the 1970s. According to the Gregorian Association, Chant II consists of recordings made 1972-1982.[3] According to Allmusic, a seminary in the Spanish city of Logroño invited the monks to record a vinyl album of chant in order to popularize it among churchgoers.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]

Reviewers expressed surprise at the success of the album.[1] Gregorian chant had been a specialist market for record companies before the 1980s and moreover other choirs, such that of Solesmes Abbey, enjoyed a higher profile as recording artists in this repertoire.[2]

Sequel albums

Chant Noël: Chants For The Holiday Season was released 1 November 1994,[5] with Chant II released 17 October 1995[6] and Chant III on 17 September 1996.[7]

In 1998, Chant was reissued as a gold-audiophile CD by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. In 2004, it was re-issued along with its follow-up, 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,[8] which included Gregorian-inspired versions of notable pop songs. Sandra Boynton also produced a book and CD entitled Grunt: Pigorian Chant from Snouto Domoinko de Silo.[9]

Track listing

  1. "Da Pacem, Domine: Introit"
  2. "Haec Dies Quam Fecit Dominus: Gradual"
  3. "Victimae Paschali Laudes: Sequence"
  4. "Alleluia. Vir Dei Benedictus: Alleluia"
  5. "Kyrie, Fons Bonitatis: Trope"
  6. "Quam Magnificata Sunt Opera Tua Domine: Responsory"
  7. "Ut Queant Laxis Resonare Fibris: Hymn"
  8. "Cibavit Eos Ex Adipe Furmenti: Introit"
  9. "Oculi Omnium In Te Sperant: Gradual"
  10. "Spirtus Domini Replevit Orbem Terrarum: Introit"
  11. "Alleluia. Veni Sancte Spiritus: Alleluia"
  12. "Os Justi Meditabitur Sapientiam: Gradual"
  13. "Kyrie 'Lux Et Origo"
  14. "Gloria In Excelsis Deo"
  15. "Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth"
  16. "Agnus Dei, Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi"
  17. "Ave Mundi Spes Maria: Sequence"
  18. "Media Vita In Morte Sumus: Responsory"
  19. "Salve, Regina, Mater Misericordiae: Antiphon"

Personnel

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lister, David (29 March 1994). "Plainsong soars up the charts". The Independent (London). Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Selective Chant Discography, The Gregorian Association (London, England)
  3. ↑ Silos, The Gregorian Association
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chant II (album) at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  5. ↑ Chant Noël at Amazon.com
  6. ↑ Chant II at Amazon.com
  7. ↑ Chant III at Amazon.com
  8. ↑ Chantmania at Amazon.com
  9. ↑ Grunt at Amazon.com