sacred miscellany

The only order that has never needed reform! Enjoy the differences between this version of the Salve regina and that of the Benedictines or the Roman antiphonale.

So nice and smooth - and with the unhurried quality I associate with monastic singing. Not dragging, but not sounding as though they're thinking of what they want to do next. This monastery was the birthplace of my two salterios. One went to a dear friend, the other to the Abbey of St. Meinrad. Enjoy the abbey's website -  https://www.encalcat.com/ .

A composer from Norway, a women's ensemble in the Netherlands - and with this piece a felicitous combination.  Based on one of the best chants out there. You can learn more about Gjeilo (pronounced Yay-low) from his website . The ensemble Vocaal Kerkrade also has a website in Dutch . And sometimes just listening is enough!

After two weeks in Greece, I thought you deserved music from a place I'll never visit - Mount Athos. Low and slow - and faintly reminding me of Tibetan chant. Just let it wash around you and enjoy the graphics.

Today, January 6th is the Solemnity of the Epiphany in the Western Church, the 12th Day of Christmas. For the churches still using the Julian Calendar, it is December 24th, Christmas Eve. This chant for the Ninth Hour reflects the Eastern understanding that celebrates the wise men at Christmas Eve. Epiphany, also known as Theophany, in the East is a commemoration of Christ's baptism in the Jordan. A look at the lyrics will show the poetic contrast between God's power and human weakness, something that was a marvel to Byzantine poets. Today He Who holds the whole creation in His hand is born of a Virgin. He Whose essence none can touch is bound in swaddling-clothes as a mortal man. God, Who in the beginning fashioned the heavens, lies in a manger. He who rained manna on His people in the wilderness is fed on milk from His mother's breast. The Bridegroom of the Church summons the wise men; the Son of the Virgin accepts their gifts. We worship Your birth, O Christ. W...

Christmastide continues with New York Polyphony's performance of this lovely work by Andrew Smith. Learn more about this contemporary British-Norwegian composer here . And more about New York Polyphony here . Four fantastic voices performing a piece that combines the chant with lovely polyphony.

Here we are in the Twelve Days of Christmas - and I'm going to post something every day! This season has given birth to so much beautiful music that it's hard to know where to start (and when to stop). Now it's time for some Orthodox Christmas music from Alaska. Ephratha in the Nativity context refers to Bethlehem. It's also a woman's name and a source of endless confusion as to its location either north or south of Jerusalem. It derives from the Hebrew root for "fruitful" or "to bear fruit." Learn way too much by going  here . In the meantime, just sweep up those pine needles and remember that Christmas has just begun!

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas Eve! This recording of the proclamation from St. Bernard Abbey is so clean and clear that it was a favorite among many I sampled. How wonderful it was and is that the hope of Israel was fulfilled! And may all your celebrations be a joy!

Well, we've made it to Advent IV. And since I was just in France, here is a lovely Ave Maria Dominicain that was composed for the 800th anniversary of the Order of Preachers (2015). The composer was Andre Gouzes, O.P. of the Abbaye de Sylvanes; the choir is the Choeur Saint-Ambroise, an ensemble devoted to the performance of his works. Just listen! Then if you'd like to know more about Andre Gouzes and Sylvanes, go here . More about the Choeur Saint-Ambroise, go here . And if you don't hear from before before Christmas, may you and all who are dear to you be blessed in the Nativity!

The quintessential Advent prosa with a lovely alternation between chant and harmonization. The harmonization is by Perruchet, about whom I know absolutely nothing. Just enjoy the music! Why early?  I'm going on the road and didn't want to miss Advent I.

This Byzantine hymn to the Mother of God (Theotokos) was composed in 718 after an Arab attack on the city of Constantinople was foiled. Here are the details, taken from the blog "Orthodox in the District." In 717-718, led by the Saracen [Umayyad] general Maslamah [full name: Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik, called Μασαλμᾶς in contemporary Byzantine accounts], the Arab fleet laid siege once more to the city. The numerical superiority of the enemy was so overwhelming that the fall of the Imperial City seemed imminent. But then the Mother of God, together with a multitude of the angelic hosts, appeared suddenly over the city walls. The enemy forces, struck with terror and thrown into a panic at this apparition, fled in disarray. Soon after this, the Arab fleet was utterly destroyed by a terrible storm in the Aegean Sea on the eve of the Annunciation, March 24, 718. Thenceforth, a special “feast of victory and of thanksgiving” was dedicated to celebrate and commemorate these ...

Great visuals accompanying the chant from this Spanish monastery of Carthusian nuns. The music starts around 1:20, if you're impatient. The strict rule and hermetic life of the Carthusians makes the some of the other contemplative orders look like slackers. In some ways, it is reminiscent of the very limited cenobitic life of many monasteries on Mount Athos. One of the most interesting points about St. Bruno's order is that has never needed reform. Another is the privilege at the time of the Council of Trent that allowed them to retain their own rite because of the age of their order. (This was also true of Dominicans, Carmelites, and Franciscans, IIRC.)

Sacred Miscellany Reborn Once upon a time, there was a blog called "Sacred Miscellany." I was the author and I loved it. And then one day, it was time for something new. And now it's time for something old and new. I have one great love - a cappella sacred music.  And that love demands to be shared! ALL a cappella sacred music. Byzantine, Latin, Southern, Georgian (the country), Corsican, Russian, etc.  Old and new. Anonymous and composed. Chant and polyphony. Just voices and just sacred. My own musical history includes Russian polyphony and Western Gergorian chant and polyphony. I've been a singer, a director, an arranger, and an occasional composer. My goal is similar to the old Sacred Miscellany: to capture, share, and comment on the wondrous variety of music out there through YouTube links, Sound Cloud, interviews, and links to fascinating places. I hope you'll join my for the journey! 

This is my first post using Open Live Writer for this new Sacred Miscellany. And thus it is somewhat of a test. Here’s a bit of chant from France as a lovely test: You don’t have to wait until evening to listen to this recording of Song of Simeon sung by the Fraternites de Jerusalem!