Chant (Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos album)

For the 2008-10 recordings, see Heiligenkreuz Abbey.

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	Maria Francisca Bonmati
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 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 #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 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 the abbey 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 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]

Reviews

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

• Allmusic link

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 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,^[8] which included Gregorian-inspired versions of notable pop songs. Sandra Boynton also produced a book / CD entitled Grunt: Pigorian Chant from Snouto Domoinko de Silo.^[9]

Track listing

1. "Puer Natus Est Nobis": Introit (Mode VII) – 3:36
2. "Os Iusti": Gradual (Mode I) – 2:49
3. "Christus Factus Est Pro Nobis": Gradual (Mode V) – 2:39
4. "Mandatum Novum Do Vobis": Antiphonal And Psalm 132 (Mode III) – 1:41
5. "Media Vita In Morte Sumus": Responsorio (Mode IV) – 6:11
6. "Alleluia, Beatus Vir Qui Suffert": Alleluia (Mode I) – 3:10
7. "Spiritus Domini": Introit (Mode VIII) – 3:46
8. "Improperium": Offertorio (Mode VIII) – 2:36
9. "Laetatus Sum": Gradual (Mode VII) – 2:17
10. "Kyrie XI A": Kyrie (Mode I) – 1:06
11. "Puer Natus In Bethlehem": Ritmo (Mode I) – 1:58
12. "Jacta Cogitatum Tuum": Gradual (Mode VII) – 3:34
13. "Verbum Caro Factum Est": Responsorio (Mode VII) – 4:04
14. "Genuit Puerpera Regem": Antiphonal And Psalm 99 (Mode II) – 2:56
15. "Occuli Omnium": Gradual (Mode VII) – 3:21
16. "Ave Mundi Spes Maria": Sequenza (Mode I) – 4:18
17. "Kyrie Fons Bonitatis": Trope (Mode III) – 4:00
18. "Veni Sancte Spiritus": Sequenza (Mode I) – 2:42
19. "Hosanna Filio David": Antiphonal (Mode VII) – 0:42

Personnel

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

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} David Lister (1994), Plainsong soars up the charts, The Independent
2. ^ ^{a b} Selective Chant Discography, The Gregorian Association (London, England)
3. ^ Silos, The Gregorian Association
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ [2] Chant Noël at Amazon.com
6. ^ [3] Chant II at Amazon.com
7. ^ [4] Chant III at Amazon.com
8. ^ [5] Chantmania at Amazon.com
9. ^ [6] Grunt at Amazon.com