Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Christmas in the Cloister: Traditional Gregorian Chants

Today is the release of Jade's newest album, Christmas in the CloisterChristmas in the Cloister is Jade Music's first collaboration with the Nuns of Mount St. Mary's. The album combines traditional Gregorian Chant with more recent and popular Christmas Carols. 
 
 
1. Christmas Midnight Mass (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion)
2. Christmas Lauds Hymn: A Solis Ortus Cardine
3. Third Mass of Christmas Morning  (Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion)
4. Susani
5. In Dulce Jubilo
6. Il est Ne
7. Silent Night
8. How Far to Bethlehem
9. Coventry Carol
10. While Shepherds in Meadows
11. Welcome, Son of Mary
12. Lullay, My Liking
13. The Christmas Child
14. Abbey Bells
 
At the time of the founding of Mount St. Mary's, in the age-long tradition of the Church, the music for the Eucharist and the Divine Office was all Gregorian Chant in Latin. However, almost from the beginning, the sisters sang a program of carols before Midnight Mass.

The community, which began with thirteen sisters, grew rapidly, and by 1962, there were over sixty members. We were blessed with two outstanding mentors: Dom Desroquettes, O.S.B. for chant, and C. Alexander Peloquin, director of music at the cathedral of Providence, Rhode Island, for polyphony. It seemed a good time to make a recording—a long-playing record at the time--Christmas in the Cloister.

That was 50 years ago. Since good music has a timeless appeal, and since there is a growing interest in chant, this seemed like a good time to reissue the original record as a CD.

It is only natural that song, the inseparable companion of joy and love, is so often on the lips of the contemplative. This recording is a celebration of God's greatest expression of love for us - the gift of Christ. The song in which the sisters are here reflecting on the mystery of Christmas is of two kinds: first, Christmas Biblical texts set to ancient and prayerful melodies of Gregorian Chant, and secondly, carols in modern polyphonic arrangements.  
 
I have been pleased to review the entirety of this album prior to its release and I am very pleased to fully endorse and recommend this to everyone.  Please purchase a copy today (either as a CD or digitally) and help support the Nuns of Mount St. Marys.

3 comment(s):

del_button November 6, 2012 at 11:26 AM
NBW said...

It is also on Itunes. Will the Nuns of St. Mary's still get the proceeds if purchased from Itunes?



del_button November 7, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Matthew said...

I would recommend buying on Amazon just to be sure

del_button November 7, 2012 at 11:01 AM
NBW said...

ok. Thanks, Matthew.

Post a Comment



Copyright Notice: Unless otherwise stated, all items are copyrighted under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. If you quote from this blog, cite a link to the post on this blog in your article.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links on this blog are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, for instance, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made by those who click on the Amazon affiliate links included on this website. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”