What was Gregorian music like before the twentieth century? That is the question that this special CD has raised. The roots of the contemporary authentic performance practice of Gregorian chant are already at the end of the nineteenth century. Out of dissatisfaction with the church music of their time, French church musicians wanted to go back to the roots of pure Gregorian music. However, this CD
… shows how Gregorian chant sounded before this musical revolution in France. And that sounds amazing, compared to what we are used to today. The beginning of the CD immediately opens the ears: no sober unison, but rich chords and an expressive singing technique. But the unison also sounds different, namely many times slower than you hear nowadays. The Requiem Mass that can be heard on the CD, from 1840, is beautifully sung by only four singers. By the way, they are not quite the first: fifteen years ago Marcel Pérès recorded a CD (djx0085) with Gregorian music as it sounded in the 18th century. (TC)more
