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OK, I must confess that I have no idea what the Gloriae Dei Cantores Schola cantors are actually saying, but that does not matter. In The Chants of Christmas, the ancient Gregorian "melodies" deliver a mystical aura that envelops the listener, and the mesmerizing impact is equally effective during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Although I am no expert in this genre, the professionalism of this ensemble is self-apparent. The delivery is crisp and balanced, and the intonations move seamlessly as the chants rise and fall. When Gregorian chants are beautifully executed, as they certainly are here, the product provides a magic carpet ride of relaxation, yet stimulation. For me, this music provides the ideal backdrop for contemplation on a cold December night--or any night of the year, really.

Every chant has a featured cantor who opens the piece before others join in. There is a lovely balance of male and female chants; sorry, no mixed chanting allowed!

Kudos to the Gloriae Dei Cantores Schola for their superb work on The Chants of Christmas. The talent required to deliver the tone quality and control demonstrated here is downright divine!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Cantors:
Br. Nathanael Reese
Br. Tim Pehta
David Haig
Br. Peter Logan
Luke Norman
Wayne Schuman
James Jordan
Br. Mark Bushnell
Sr.Christine Helfrich
Sr. Alicia Mitman
Sr. Lucia Smith
Cynthia Ingwersen
Sr. Sharon Hunter
Sr. Anne Furst
Betsey Bott
Kathy Schuman

The Chants of Christmas presents a document of the Gregorian chant masses first written to celebrate this most joyful liturgical season. Although the celebration of Christmas is a more recent development than that of Easter, dating from the fourth century, it has an abundance of exquisite chant masses from which to choose. Four masses constitute the celebration of Christmas: Missam in Vigilia--celebrated before the Night Office; Missam in Nocte--celebrated after the Night Office, at "Cock-crow"; Missam in Aurora--celebrated at dawn; and Missam in Die--celebrated at the hour of Terce. It is fair to say that no other celebration in the Church Year contains so many masses.

From the Website:

The Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola is dedicated to the singing and study of Gregorian chant. Its expertise and experience come from daily chanting of the Liturgy of the Hours as well as the Ordinary and Proper of the Mass at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans, MA. Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola conducts chant workshops, performs in concert with Gloriæ Dei Cantores, and has recently completed a set of three recordings under the direction of Dr. Mary Berry, CBE, head of the Schola Gregoriana in Cambridge, England. This series titled "A Celebration of Faith in His Name" features Gregorian chant illuminating the life of Jesus. The Schola has been critically acclaimed in both Europe and the U.S. for its proper regard for rhythmic flexibility, and a sensitivity to both musical and textural phrase.

Gloriae Dei Cantores Schola

The Chants of Christmas

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