The Gregorian chant on this album interprets Old Testament texts in an authentically Christian sense, giving them a poignant and sometimes tragic character.
Compositional Technique
Most of the texts used in the 'Prayers for difficult times' section are from the Old Testament, relating to personal or national dramas of Israel's history.
Album & Artwork
This recording is titled 'Prayers for difficult times' and features Gregorian repertoire expressing human sentiments of distress, anguish, and confident prayer.
Compositional Technique
The prayer attributed to Jeremiah on this album features a melody that is more ornate than the Lamentations, taken from an antiphonary of the Abbey of Silos in Spain.
Historical Context
The dramatic responsory 'Media vita' was so famous in medieval Christendom that a 14th-century Church council prohibited its singing without a bishop's permission.
Compositional Technique
The Litany of the Saints, featured on this album, has a musical form that reflects the practices of the 13th century.
Composition History
The Feast of Corpus Christi (Fête-Dieu), which this album celebrates, was instituted in the 13th century.
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